Luis Aragones, who managed a victorious Spain team during the Euro 2008, died on Saturday at the age of 75, the country’s football association said.
Aragones passed away at 6:15am in the Centro de Madrid clinic in the Spanish capital, said the RFEF, who expressed their sorrow at the loss of the "Spain national coach at the start of their glorious run of success in world football."
Spain were long regarded as under-achievers, but Aragones changed that with the 2008 win, which paved the way for further triumphs under Vicente del Bosque at the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012.
Aragones recognised the need to get rid of old players such as Raul and Michel Salgado and create a new playing style based on the short-passing football.
The often eccentric coach was criticised in the Spanish press for ditching the established stars before results started to improve.
Aragones stepped down after the Euro success and then went on to coach Turkish side Fenerbahce which ended in failure after one season in 2009.
(Source FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
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