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UEFA President's Award: Di Stéfano's memories

"It was a magnificent spectacle; people were very happy," said 2007 UEFA President's Award recipient Alfredo Di Stéfano as he recalled his first European Cup triumph.

UEFA President's Award: Di Stéfano's memories
UEFA President's Award: Di Stéfano's memories ©UEFA.com

Given the UEFA President's Award in 2007 to recognise his status as one of the great players of his age, Alfredo Di Stéfano enjoyed looking back on the first edition of the European Champion Clubs' Cup, which he won with Real Madrid CF in 1955/56.

Born in Buenos Aires in 1926, Di Stéfano was the driving force in the Madrid side that were European champions for five successive seasons between 1956 and 1960, and he recalled the first of those triumphs, against Stade de Reims particularly fondly.

"We played against Reims in Paris," he told UEFA.com. "It was important – the atmosphere was festive. The final didn't come with the same responsibility as the next ones to come because it was the very first European Cup. We had already won two Latin cups, in Paris and in Madrid. It was more joyful without so much worrying or dedication to win. It was a magnificent spectacle; people were very happy."

View the video above to hear more from Di Stéfano.