Official Statement: Passing of José Emilio Santamaría

Real Madrid C. F., its president, and its Board of Directors deeply regret the passing of José Emilio Santamaría, one of the greatest legends of our club and world football.

Real Madrid wishes to express its condolences and affection to his wife Nora, his children Nelson, Nora, Beatriz, José, Silvia, and Javier, his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and all his family, teammates, and loved ones.

José Emilio Santamaría joined Real Madrid in 1957 from Club Nacional de Football (Uruguay) and wore the club's jersey for nine seasons until 1966.

He won 4 European Cups, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 6 La Liga titles, and 1 Spanish Cup with Real Madrid, across 337 matches. Santamaría was part of that legendary team that won the first European Cups in history consecutively, initiating the universal legend of Real Madrid.

For Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez, "Santamaría will always be remembered as one of the great symbols of our club. He was part of a team that will remain in the memory of all madridistas and football fans worldwide. Alongside Di Stéfano, Puskas, Gento, and Kopa, that team began building the myth of Real Madrid. Santamaría always exemplified the values of our club, and until his last moment, Real Madrid was the great passion of his life."

With Club Nacional de Football, he won the Uruguayan Championship four times. He was an international player 25 times with Uruguay and 16 times with Spain. He played in the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland with the Uruguayan national team and the 1962 World Cup in Chile with the Spanish national team.

As a coach, Santamaría began his career the year after retiring as a player, in Real Madrid's youth academy. He managed the Spanish Olympic team at the 1968 Mexico Olympics and the 1980 Moscow Olympics. In 1982, he was the Spanish national team coach at the World Cup in Spain.

From 1971, and for seven seasons, he managed R. C. D. Espanyol in 252 matches, becoming the coach with the most official matches in the club's history.

José Emilio Santamaría passed away at the age of 96. Real Madrid extends its condolences to all madridistas. Rest in peace.

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