A statement from his family confirmed the former Spain team manger had died this morning at the Centro de Madrid clinic in the country's capital.

After winning the European Championships in 1964, perennial underachievers Spain went more than four decades without adding to that title.

But all that changed in 2008 when Aragonés guided his country to victory at the European Championships in Austria and Switzerland.

A goal from Fernando Torres was enough to see the Spanish overcome Germany in the final at the Ernst-Happel Stadion in Vienna.

Aragonés stepped down from the manager's job soon after that victory over Germany, but was widely credited with laying the foundations for a golden period in Spanish football as the national side went on to claim its first ever FIFA World Cup crown in South Africa in 2010, before retaining the European Championship title in 2012 in Poland and Ukraine.

"Without doubt he paved the way for this latest period that has been so successful," said current Spain manager Vicente del Bosque, who took over from Aragonés in 2008.

"He had a lot of experience as a coach and personally I had a special affection for him.

"I knew he had a health problem but I never imagined it would come to this.

"We will remember this day with a lot of sadness."

During his playing career, the Madrid native represented Spain on 11 occasions and enjoyed his most successful spell at Atletico Madrid where he scored 172 goals in 372 appearances, winning three La Liga titles in that time.

But it was in the dug-out where he made his name.

He guided Atletico to the La Liga title in 1977, not long after retiring as a player, and also led them to three Copa del Ray wins in 1976, 1985 and 1992 as well as the Intercontinental Cup in 1974.

Spanish players celebrate with Luis Aragonés after he guided them to Euro 2008 success in Vienna ©Getty Images



A statement from the President of Atletico Madrid, Enrique Cerezo, expressed condolences for Aragonés family and described him as a "legend".

"One of the greatest Rojiblancas [red and whites] legends has left us," said Cerezo.

"Luis Aragonés was a great player and coach, but above all a great person and a friend.

"On behalf of the whole club, I want to express our condolences to his family."

Aragonés spent time in charge of Catalan giants Barcelona overseeing a Copa del Rey win in 1988, before spells at Espanyol, Sevilla, Valencia, Real Betis, Real Oviedo and Real Mallorca.

After leaving the Spanish hot-seat, he spent one season in charge of Turkish outfit Fenerbahçe but left in 2009.

In 2005, Aragonés was fined £2,460 (€3,000/$4,044) by the Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) for racist comments made about French striker Thierry Henry, when he compared him with then Arsenal club-mate and Spanish player Jose Antonio Reyes.

Aragonés claimed he did not intend to cause any offence and was merely "motivating" his players.

The RFEF "expressed its grief and shock at the death of Luis Aragonés" in a statement this morning, adding: "[He was a] former player and coach of several Spanish and global clubs and the Spain national team at the beginning of their glorious success on the worldwide stage."

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