Napoli Coach Rafa Benitez paid tribute to “the wise man of Hortaleza,” as former Spain manager Luis Aragones has died aged 75.
Napoli Coach Rafa Benitez paid tribute to “the wise man of Hortaleza,” as former Spain manager Luis Aragones has died aged 75.
As a tactician, Aragones began Spain’s dominant era of international football by winning Euro 2008 with the tiki-taka approach.
“I have just received the news of the sad passing of Luis Aragonés this morning in Madrid,” wrote Benitez on his official website.
“Both as a player and Coach was one of the great football legends. He was a reference point for many generations of football players, Coaches and fans of our sport.
“My condolences and thoughts are with his family, friends, colleagues and fans. Rest in peace, the great ‘wise man of Hortaleza’.”
Fiorentina midfielder Borja Valero also tweeted: “He changed the mentality of Spanish football. Rest in peace, great one.”
For more on Aragones and Spanish reaction to his death, click over to our sister site Football-Espana.net