Real Madrid have confirmed the death of their honorary president and club legend Francisco 'Paco' Gento, aged 88.
Gento played for the Spanish club over the course of 18 seasons and won six European Cup titles – a record for an individual player.
The left-winger – who was capped 43 times by the Spanish national team – won a total of 24 trophies at Los Blancos including 12 La Liga titles and two Copas de España, now known as the Copa del Rey.
Regarded as one of the greatest Spanish players of all time and one of the greatest ever players in his position, Gento combined his gifted technical ability with excellent vision and bursts of acceleration.
Gento netted 182 goals across 600 appearances for Real Madrid, for whom he played between 1953 and 1971.
Born in the north of Spain, Gento graduated through Racing Santander's B team and made a quick impression when promoted to the senior side in the 1952-53 campaign.
A flu virus within Santander's first-team squad saw Gento given a chance in a top-flight game against Real Madrid that season and such was the impression the winger made, he was signed by the capital club three days later.
Nicknamed La Galerna del Cantabrico (The Gale of the Cantabrian Sea) due to his goal threat and explosive play, he established himself as one of the greatest players in the club's history and was a key player in their all-conquering European side of the late 1950s.
Gento was the only player to participate in all six European Cup wins for the club and he played a total of eight finals in the competition, in which he contributed with 30 goals across 89 matches.
Gento also appeared in a ninth European final appearance in the 1970–1971 Cup Winners' Cup final that Real Madrid lost to Chelsea.
The winger had become club captain of Real Madrid in 1967 after the exit of Alfredo di Stefano and retirement of Ferenc Puskas.
His record tally of trophies at the club was equalled by current club captain Marcelo on Sunday - as Real Madrid won the Spanish Supercopa against Athletic Bilbao (although Gento won the short-lived Small Club World Cup with Real Madrid, which depending on criteria, would still place him one trophy clear of Marcelo).
A Real Madrid statement on Monday read: "Real Madrid CF, its president and its Board of Directors deeply regret the death of Francisco Gento, honorary president of Real Madrid and one of the greatest legends of our club and of world football.
"Real Madrid would like to express its condolences and its love and affection to his wife Mari Luz, his sons Francisco and Julio, his granddaughters Aitana and Candela and all his relatives, colleagues and loved ones."
The statement concluded: "The figure of Paco Gento faithfully represents all the values of Real Madrid, and has been and will continue to be a benchmark for Real Madrid and for the world of sport.
"Madrid fans and all football fans will always remember him as one of their great legends.
"Francisco Gento has died at the age of 88. Real Madrid also extends its condolences to all Real Madrid members and fans."
Gento retired from playing in 1971 and later worked as an ambassador for Real Madrid throughout Europe while also enjoying a brief managerial career, including at the helm of Granada.
