Former Spain and long time Atletico Madrid coach, Luis Aragones has died today according to media reports coming from Spain.
Aragones will forever be remembered for guiding Spain to its first international football trophy at EURO 2008, this kicked off an era of unprecedented success for La Roja that has seen them win a World Cup in 2010 and retain their European title in 2012, while remaining firmly the best team in world football for the last 6 years.
Prior to taking the reins of the national side after EURO 2004, La Roja were seen as the biggest underperformers in world football as they lurched from early exit after early exit from World Cups and European Championships, despite having a strong league and plenty of talented players. Under Aragones' guidance, he united the best of Barcelona and Real Madrid along with his familiar charges from his time as coach at Atletico Madrid, inc. one Fernando Torres who scored the winner in the Final in Vienna in 2008.
While Aragones would coach many club sides in Spain, Atletico Madrid will be the club forever associated with his name having had three stints there as a coach - and was of course a former player there for 10 years.
Not everything was a bed of roses for Aragones - indeed, he will also be remembered as one of the most controversial ever coaches in world football, having once tried to motivate Jose Antonio Reyes with racist references to French striker, Thierry Henry. Aragones was fined for that but refuted that he was a racist.
Aragones retired after a season coaching Fenerbahce and had recently been suffering from serious illness. He was 75.
#RIPLuisAragones
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