LUIS ARAGONES (SPAIN) 2008
Picture : Luis Aragones received the IFFHS Trophy in Madrid.
IFFHS AWARDS – THE WORLD’S BEST NATIONAL COACH 2008 : LUIS ARAGONES (SPAIN)
PRESENTATION
José Luis Aragones Suarez, ( 28 July 1938 – 1 February 2014), was an international Spanish Player and one of the greatest coaches in the World. He managed his teams during 1151 matches from November 1974 to June 2009 ( 610 matches with Atlético de Madrid) !
Aragones started his playing career with CD Getafe in 1957, before signing with Real Madrid where he spent the most time on loan to other clubs, especially Hercules (17 goals in 24 matches). In 1960, he joined Oviedo, then 3 years in Betis Sevilla (1961-64) where he played 86 matches with 33 goals. In 1964, Aragones signed at Atlético Madrid and stayed there ten years, playing 265 matches and scoring 172 goals (free kick specialist). He won 3 La Liga titles (1965/66, 1969/70, 1972/73) and 2 Copa del Rey (1964/65, 1971/72). He was capped 11 times with the Spanish National team (3 goals) between 1964 and 1972 .
He retired as player in 1974 at Atlético de Madrid and became immediately coach of the club. In his first period as manager (1974-1980), he won the La Liga title (1976/77), the Copa del Rey (1975/76) and the FIFA Intercontinental Cup 1974 ! After a quick step at Betis (1981), he returned to Atlético Madrid for his second period (1982-1987). He won again the Copa del Rey (1984/85) and the Supercopa de Espana (1985).
He signed one season with FC Barcelona, winning the Copa del Rey in 1987/88, one season with Espanyol Barcelona before going agin back to Atlético de Madrid (1991-1993). He won again the Copa del Rey (1991/92) and moved to several clubs in Spain (Sevilla, Valencia, Betis, Oviedo, Mallorca) before a last trip as manager of Atlético Madrid (2001-2003). He helped the club to join again La Liga (Segundo Division title 2001/02) and after a stay in Mallorca, he was nominated Manager of the Spanish National Team in 2004.
Until 2008, he built a fantastic team and brought Spain to the win of the UEFA Euro 2008 in Austria/Switzerland. He was crowned the same year as THE WORLD’S BEST NATIONAL COACH by IFFHS.
He became then the Head Coach of Turkish Club Fenerbahce where he stopped his manager career in June 2009 after 1151 matches as Manager (610 with Atlético de Madrid and 54 with Spain National Team). He died on February 2014 aged 75.