MADRID: Real Madrid have paid tribute to honorary president and European Cup-winning hero Amancio, who has died aged 83.

Amancio scored 155 goals in 471 appearances and won nine league title with Madrid whom he joined from Deportivo de La Coruna in 1962. In 1964 he was a member of the Spain team who defeated Soviet Union 2-1 in the Estadio Bernabeu in the finals of the European Championship.

He was nicknamed El Brujo (The Wizard) during his playing days as outside or inside right. His death was announced on the official Real Madrid website, with Karim Benzema also paying tribute on Instagram, writing: Farewell, wizard. Always in our hearts.’

A statement read: “Real Madrid CF, its president and its Board of Directors deeply regret the death of Amancio Amaro, honorary president of Real Madrid and one of the great legends of our club and of world football.

“Real Madrid would like to express its condolences and affection to his wife Consuelo, his children Óscar, Belén, Amancio, Patricia, Marcos and Claudia, his brother Juan Carlos, his grandchildren and all his relatives, colleagues and loved ones. He has always been an example for Real Madrid fans and for the entire world of sport.

“In 1966 he won the sixth European Cup for Real Madrid at the Heysel stadium in Brussels, in a historic final in which he scored our team’s first goal to beat Partizan Belgrade. In addition to the 1966 European Cup, Amaro wo nine Leagues and three Spanish Cups with Real Madrid.”

Later he had a brief coaching spell in charge of the Madrid senior team and also coached Castilla, Real’s nursery team who he led to the second division title – the only nursery team ever to manage the feat.

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