MADRID (AP) – José Emilio Santamaría, the Uruguayan Real Madrid defender who won four European Cups as part of the club’s golden generation in the 1950s and 1960s before taking over as Spain’s national team manager, has died at the age of 96.
“Santamaría will forever be remembered as one of the great symbols of our club,” Madrid president Florentino Perez said in a statement on Wednesday.
The cause of death has not been made public.
Born on July 31, 1929 in Montevideo, Santamaria joined Madrid in 1957. He played alongside legends such as Alfredo Di Stéfano and Ferenc Puskas and helped them win the European Cup in 1958, 1959, 1960 and 1966.
He also played in 337 games and contributed to six Spanish league titles and other trophies.
Uruguayan international Santamaria began his coaching career in the season following his retirement from Madrid in 1966. He led the Spanish national team at the 1968 and 1980 Summer Olympics and at the 1982 World Cup, which his country hosted.
He also coached Espanyol for seven seasons from 1971.
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