Luis Suárez Miramontes

"Luisito Suárez" redirects here. For the Uruguayan footballer, see Luis Suárez. For other people named Luis Suárez, see Luis Suárez (disambiguation).
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Suárez and the second or maternal family name is Miramontes.
Luis Suárez

Suárez with the Spain national team in 1962
Personal information
Full nameLuis Suárez Miramontes
Date of birth2 May 1935
Place of birthA Coruña, Galicia, Spain
Height1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Playing positionCentre Midfielder
Youth career
Perseverancia
1949–1953Fabril
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps†(Gls)†
1953–1954Deportivo La Coruña17(3)
1954–1955España Industrial21(6)
1955–1961Barcelona122(61)
1961–1970Internazionale256(42)
1970–1973Sampdoria63(9)
Total458(115)
National team
1957–1972Spain32(14)
Teams managed
1975Internazionale
1975Sampdoria
1975–1976SPAL
1976–1977Como
1977–1978Cagliari
1978–1979Deportivo La Coruña
1980–1988Spain U21
1988–1991Spain
1992Internazionale
1994Albacete
1995Internazionale
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).

Luis Suárez Miramontes (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈlwis ˈswaɾeθ miɾaˈmontes]; born 2 May 1935), also known by the diminutive Luisito,[1] is a Spanish former footballer and manager. He played as a midfielder for Deportivo de La Coruña, CD España Industrial, FC Barcelona, Internazionale, Sampdoria and Spain. Suárez is regarded as one of Spain's greatest players; as a player he was noted for his elegant, fluid, graceful style of play.[2] Nicknamed El Arquitecto (The Architect) he was noted for his perceptive passing and explosive shot and in 1960 he became the first Spanish-born player to be voted Ballon d'Or. In 1964 he helped Spain win the European Championship. Suarez originally achieved prominence as a creative inside forward or attacking midfielder for the great FC Barcelona team of the 1950s before he joined Inter where he reached his prime as deep lying playmaker for the legendary Grande Inter team of the 1960s.[3] He played a pivotal role in the success Herrera's Inter side, and was one of the primary creative forces in the squad, due to his ball skills, vision, and passing range.[4] He retired as a player in 1973, after three seasons at Sampdoria.

Suárez subsequently began a career as a coach and has managed Internazionale on three separate occasions, the last two on a caretaker basis. Suárez has also coached both Spain U21s and the senior Spain team. He was in charge of the latter for 27 games and led them to the second round of the 1990 World Cup. He has also coached several Italian and Spanish club sides. He is currently a scout for Inter.

Biography

Early career

Suárez was born in A Coruña, Galicia. He lived on Avenida de Hércules in the neighborhood of Monte Alto.

He began his professional career with Deportivo de La Coruña in 1949 and worked his way through the junior sides before making his La Liga debut with Deportivo on 6 December 1953 in a 6–1 defeat to FC Barcelona. Among his team mates at Deportivo were Pahiño and Arsenio Iglesias. He played 17 games and scored 3 goals for Deportivo during the remaining season. In 1954 he transferred to CF Barcelona but spent most of the 1954–55 season playing for CD España Industrial in the Segunda División.

FC Barcelona

Between 1955 and 1961 Suárez was a regular in a FC Barcelona team that also included Ladislao Kubala, Zoltán Czibor, Sándor Kocsis, Ramallets and Evaristo. With Helenio Herrera as coach, the club and Suárez won a La Liga/Copa del Generalísimo double in 1959 and a La Liga/Fairs Cup double in 1960. Suárez was also voted Ballon d'Or in 1960. One of his last games for FC Barcelona was the final of the European Cup in 1961 which they lost 3–2 to S.L. Benfica.

Internazionale

In 1961 Suárez became the world's most expensive footballer when FC Barcelona sold him to Internazionale for 250 million Italian liras (£142,000). The move saw him follow his mentor Helenio Herrera.

Suárez became a regular in the Great Inter team that won three Serie A titles, two consecutive European Cups and two Intercontinental Cups. Between 1961 and 1970 he made 328 appearances for Inter and scored 55 goals.

Spain

Suárez also played 32 games for Spain and scored 14 goals. He made his debut on 6 December 1957 in a 6–1 victory over the Netherlands and represented Spain at both the 1962 and 1966 World Cups. However his greatest achievement with Spain came in 1964 when, together with Josep Maria Fusté, Amancio Amaro, José Ángel Iribar and Jesús María Pereda, he helped them win the European Championship. He played his final game for Spain in 1972.

International statistics

Spain national team[5]
YearAppsGoals
195764
195832
195955
196073
196110
196220
196310
196420
196520
196620
196700
196800
196900
197000
197100
197210
Total3214

International goals

# Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1. 10 March 1957 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain   Switzerland 1–1 2–2 1958 FIFA World Cup qualification
2. 31 March 1957 Heysel, Brussels, Belgium  Belgium 0–2 0–5 Friendly
3. 31 March 1957 Heysel, Brussels, Belgium  Belgium 0–5 0–5 Friendly
4. 8 May 1957 Hampden Park, Glasgow, United Kingdom  Scotland 2–2 4–2 1958 FIFA World Cup qualification
5. 13 March 1958 Parc des Princes, Paris, France  France 1–2 2–2 Friendly
6. 15 October 1958 Santiago Bernabéu, Madrid, Spain  Northern Ireland 4–1 6–2 Friendly
7. 28 June 1959 Silesian Stadium, Chorzów, Poland  Poland 1–1 2–4 UEFA Euro 1960 qualifying
8. 28 June 1959 Silesian Stadium, Chorzów, Poland  Poland 1–3 2–4 UEFA Euro 1960 qualifying
9. 22 November 1959 Mestalla, Valencia, Spain  Austria 2–0 6–3 Friendly
10. 22 November 1959 Mestalla, Valencia, Spain  Austria 3–0 6–3 Friendly
11. 17 December 1959 Parc des Princes, Paris, France  France 0–1 4–3 Friendly
12. 10 July 1960 Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru  Peru 0–2 1–3 Friendly
13. 10 July 1960 Estadio Nacional, Lima, Peru  Peru 0–3 1–3 Friendly
14. 26 October 1960 Wembley, London, UK  England 2–2 4–2 Friendly

Honours

Club

Country

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "Luis Suárez descubre una placa más "tocante" que el Balón de Oro".
  2. ↑ Luis Suárez
  3. ↑ The Greatest Offensive Midfielders of All-Time – Xtratime Community
  4. ↑ "Great Team Tactics: Breaking Down Helenio Herrera's 'La Grande Inter'". Retrieved 15 September 2014.
  5. ↑ Luis Suárez – Goals in International Matches

External links