Luis Suarez Miramontes, who is widely recognized as one of Spain's greatest players, has sadly passed away at the age of 88.
The Spanish football federation has confirmed his death through a brief statement, expressing their condolences to Suarez Miramontes' relatives and close friends.
Luis Suarez had an illustrious career as a midfielder, playing for Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Sampdoria from 1953 to 1973.
Fondly known as "The Architect," he is credited with pioneering the role of the modern attacking midfielder. Although he was born in Galicia, a region in northwest Spain, Suarez achieved most of his success in Italy with Inter Milan. His accomplishments with Inter include winning the European Cup in 1964 and 1965, as well as securing three Italian league titles. After winning two Spanish league titles with Barcelona, Suárez made the move to Inter.
In Italy, Luis Suarez was adored and became one of the league's most revered midfielders while playing for Inter Milan under coach Helenio Herrera during the 1960s.
He received the prestigious Ballon d'Or award in 1960 and was a runner-up in 1961 and 1964. To this day, he remains the only male player from Spain to have won this accolade.
Suarez was also a part of the Spanish national team that clinched the 1964 European Championship, marking their first major international title. Following his retirement in 1973, he had three coaching stints with Inter Milan and also served as the manager of Spain's national team from 1988 to 1991.
Paying tribute to him, Inter Milan conveyed their condolences and shared a eulogy:
"FC Internazionale Milano, along with its president Steven Zhang, Vice President Javier Zanetti, CEOs Alessandro Antonello and Giuseppe Marotta, coach Simone Inzaghi and his staff, the players, and the entire Inter community, mourn the loss of Luis Suarez. As we remember him, we extend our support to his family members.
"Bidding farewell to Luisito fills us with profound sadness: the nostalgia for his flawless and incomparable football, which indeed inspired generations, intertwines with the memory of an extraordinary footballer and a phenomenal, outstanding player for Inter.
"We will miss him dearly because, as [legendary coach] Helenio Herrera preached, 'If you don't know what to do, give the ball to Suarez'."