By Myles Palmer
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Two weeks ago Philippe Auclair was in Paris for the 50th Ballon d’Or award ceremony, which is run by France-Football magazine.
Ronaldinho was the European Footballer of the Year, succeeding Shevchenko.
Philippe was on a table with Bobby Charlton, Denis Law, Eusebio, Luis Figo, Alfredo di Stefano, and his hero Giacinto Fachetti, a tall Italian full back known for his raids down the left wing.
Di Stefano said, “I watch all the Arsenal games. Their play has life in it; their forwards know how to move on the pitch. I love the way they play football.”
So there you have it : Di Stefano, the greatest player in the finest club team of all time, is a Gooner.
When I interviewed George Best he said, “When I was a kid, Di Stefano and Real Madrid were amazing.”
Most of my generation would say the same. They were amazing. We did not know football could be like that.
There was no player like Alfredo Di Stefano.
As my Dad used to say about his special heroes, “When they made him, they threw away the mould.”
Di Stefano had astonishing skills, a huge engine, and colossal authority. He was a fabulous passer and a fantastic finisher.
In my mind’s eye I see a compact, balding figure in centrefield, always moving, always shaping attacks, an imperious leader who demanded high standards from those around him
If a pass went a yard too far away from him, Di Stefano would glare and point to the blade of the grass where he wanted the ball. This used to make me laugh out loud. I had never seen anybody do that.
The other players in his all-white dream teams were not mugs – Puskas, Gento, Canario, Del Sol, Santamaria. Marquitos – but Alfredo Di Stefano was the guv’nor and everyone knew it
He was a giant, a complete footballer, better than Beckenbauer, Cruyff or Maradona.
He won two titles in Argentina starting in 1945, four in Colombia, eight in Spain, and he was European Footballer of the year in 1957 and 1959.
He was top scorer in the Primera Liga five times.
He won five European Cups and scored in every final.
If Alfredo Di Stefano loves Arsenal so much, he should be invited over as Arsene’s guest ASAP. He is 79.
AFC should fly him over, with his best friend or favourite relative, for Arsenal’s next European Cup game in February.
He should have lunch with the players at the training ground the day before the match. He should sit with Fabregas, Pires and Almunia.
December 9th 2005