Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Luis Suárez Miramontes | ||
Date of birth | 2 May 1935 | ||
Place of birth | A Coruña, Galicia, Spain | ||
Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | ||
Playing position | Attacking Midfielder | ||
Youth career | |||
Perseverancia | |||
1949–1953 | Fabril | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1953–1954 | Deportivo La Coruña | 17 | (3) |
1954–1955 | España Industrial | 21 | (6) |
1955–1961 | Barcelona | 122 | (61) |
1961–1970 | Internazionale | 256 | (42) |
1970–1973 | Sampdoria | 63 | (9) |
Total | 458 | (115) | |
National team | |||
1957–1972 | Spain | 32 | (14) |
Teams managed | |||
1975 | Inter Milan | ||
1975 | Sampdoria | ||
1975–1976 | SPAL | ||
1976–1977 | Como | ||
1977–1978 | Cagliari | ||
1978–1979 | Deportivo La Coruña | ||
1980–1988 | Spain U21 | ||
1988–1991 | Spain | ||
1992 | Inter Milan | ||
1994 | Albacete | ||
1995 | Inter Milan | ||
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. |
Luis Suárez Miramontes (Spanish pronunciation: [ˈlwis ˈswaɾeθ miɾaˈmontes]; born 2 May 1935), also known by the diminutive Luisito, is a Spanish former footballer and manager. He played as a midfielder for Deportivo de La Coruña, CD España Industrial, FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, Sampdoria and Spain. Suárez is regarded as one of Spain's greatest players; he was noted for his elegant, fluid, graceful style of play. 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 Barcelona team of the 1950s before he joined Inter Milan where he reached his prime as deep lying playmaker for the legendary Grande Inter team of the 1960s. He played a pivotal role in the success Herrera's Inter Milan side, and was one of the primary creative forces in the squad, due to his ball skills, vision, and passing range. He retired as a player in 1973, after three seasons at Sampdoria.
Suárez subsequently began a career as a coach and has managed Inter Milan 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 Milan.