Barney Corkhill's A Tribute To... series returns! In this series I look at legends and past masters of sport.
Today's tribute is to the man who played for three different countries, and had a huge part in guiding Real Madrid to five successive European Cups—Alfredo Di Stefano.
Regarded by many as the greatest all-round footballer of all time, Di Stefano was a footballing phenomenon.
Although apparently a deep-lying centre forward, with an astonishing, free-scoring goal record, his balance, vision, and passing skills were those of a midfielder, and his overall contribution to the team play was unselfish and inspirational.
Born on the 4th July, 1926 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Di Stefano was born to Italian parents. Working on a farm, Di Stefano found little time to play football. However, his love for the game prevailed.
At 12-years-old, Di Stefano joined Los Cardales, a local youth team. He guided them to an Amateur Championship. It wasn't long before he was drafted into River Plate's first team, making his debut on the right-wing at just 16.
He spent three years as a bit-part player, behind the likes of Adolfo Perdernera and Labruna, two greats of Argentinian football. In 1946, at 20 years of age, Alfredo Di Stefano was loaned out to Huracan.
River Plate soon came up against Huracan and Di Stefano. The youngster showed River Plate what they were missing by scoring the opening goal, and ultimately winning goal, after just 15 seconds.
He was soon recalled from his loan and became a permanent fixture in the River Plate side. His fantastic performances ensured the youngster spearheaded the most feared attack in South America.
However, his quality drew jealousy, and from jealousy comes hate, and hate spawns violence. In a game in 1947 he scored the winning goal, before being attacked by the opposing fans, and had to be taken to hospital.
It didn't seem to get to him, though, as he was soon back scoring goals, and eventually helped River Plate to the league title, finishing top scorer in the process, in his first season back at River Plate.
Di Stefano's 27 goals in 30 matches accounted for a third of all River Plate's goals that season, and he was voted the South American Player of the Year.
1947 was a year to remember for Di Stefano on the international stage as well, as it was the year he made his first appearance for Argentina. The appearance came in the Copa America, due to an injury to another Argentinian striker.
Di Stefano made an instant impact. The man who had been taken to the Copa America as a reserve helped Argentina to a 7-0 thrashing of Bolivia. He was one of the first names on the team sheet for the rest of the tournament, scoring five more goals in his next five games.
He finished second top scorer of the Copa America that year, but only played one more match for Argentina, again scoring. He ended his Argentine international career with seven goals in seven games.
In 1949 a players strike over wages prompted many to head elsewhere to look for professional football. Di Stefano found it in Colombia, for Millionarios.
No transfer fee was paid as Colombia weren't part of FIFA, so Millionarios got one of the brightest starts in world football for free. He took Colombia by storm.
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