Atlético Madrid announced on Wednesday afternoon that former player and club legend Miguel Jones, aged 81, has passed away.
The Guinean-born midfielder was with the club for eight seasons, making 129 official appearances and helped form part of the club’s formidable side in the 1960s.
Confirmed on the club’s official website, the Liga side expressed their sadness at the passing of one of their all-time great players.
Joining from Indautxu in 1959, he made his debut for Atlético in October of that year against Granada. This was to be the beginning of a long-standing relationship with the club and its fans, for whom he would score 50 goals and lift five trophies.
In 1960, 1961 and 1965, Jones secured the Copa del Generalísimo (now known as the Copa del Rey) while he would also be part of the 1962 side that lifted the Cup Winners’ Cup against Fiorentina – silverware they would secure after seeing off the Italian side in a replay of the final. One of Jones’ most memorable goals would come in that final, as he netted the first of the three Atlético scored to win 3-0 on the night.
One of the finest moments Jones enjoyed with his time at the club came during the 1965/66 campaign, where Atlético secured the league title on the final day of the season, with Jones scoring twice on the day.
An excerpt from the club’s statement read: “With the departure of Jones, the Atlético family loses another of the symbols that gave everything for this club on and off the field of play. From the club, the president, chief executive officer and our board offer their sincere condolences to all their family and friends.”
Jones’ death marks another terribly sad day for Los Rojiblancos’ and the football world’s family, following the news of Radomir Antic’s passing on Monday. José Luis Capón also tragically passed away last month.
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