Real Madrid's Di Stefano hospitalized for heart at

Real Madrid great Alfredo Di Stefano is in a stable condition in hospital in Sagunto near Valencia after suffering a heart attack in the early hours of last Saturday morning. According to Reuters reports available to nigeriasports.com,:"Alfredo Di Stefano was admitted to the hospital at 0045 GMT complaining of pains in his chest and tests have revealed that he had suffered an acute heart attack," doctor Victoria de la Cueva said in a statement.

"He is in the intensive care unit at the moment. His condition has improved and he is conscious. He is aware of what is going on, is stable and breathing well on his own."Doctor De la Cueva said the 79-year-old would remain under observation in the intensive care unit for at least 48 hours.

Di Stefano, Real's honorary president and record goalscorer, led the Spanish club to five consecutive European Cup triumphs between 1956 and 1960 and eight Spanish league titles. Di Stefano won the European Footballer of the Year award in 1957 and 1959.

Real president Florentino Perez and his Valencia counterpart Juan Soler said Di Stefano was in good spirits after they visited him in hospital. The reports also had it that: "I spoke to him and he was very philosophical about what had happened," Perez told reporters.

"He was even managing to have a joke with the doctors," said Soler. "He is a footballing legend and all lovers of the game hope this is no more than a scare and he will be back in action soon."

A versatile player, who could play in midfield or up front, Di Stefano began his career at River Plate in 1945 before joining Colombian club Millonarios four years later following a players' strike in Argentina.

He went on to score a remarkable 267 goals in 292 games, helping Millonarios to four league titles. Di Stefano caught Real's eye in an exhibition match in the Spanish capital to mark the club's 50th anniversary in 1953. He signed for them after a tug-of-war with arch-rivals Barcelona.

He led Real to the 1953-54 championship, only the third league title in their history, and together with winger Paco Gento he revolutionised a team that went on to dominate European football in the late 1950s.

Di Stefano played a major role in Real's five consecutive European Cup victories. He scored in every final and notched a hat-trick in the stunning 7-3 win over

Eintracht Frankfurt at Hampden Park in 1960, a match widely regarded as the best European club game. Born of Italian parents in Buenos Aires, Di Stefano played for Argentina, Colombia and Spain during his 22-year career and retired at the age of 40 in 1967, playing his final match against Celtic in Madrid.

He then went into coaching, leading Boca Juniors and River Plate to Argentine championships and steering Valencia to the Spanish league title in 1971 and victory over Arsenal in the old European Cup Winners' Cup in 1980.

Di Stefano returned to take over as Real coach between 1982 and 1984, the side finishing runners-up in the title race in consecutive seasons. He was made honorary president in 2000 when Perez came to power and has been a regular presence at official club events and player presentations. RelaTwo reasons to celebrate!