Adiós Aragones
Usually the star of a tournament is an individual player - the supreme defender as embodied by Fabio Cannavaro, an electric talent like Diego Maradona or an elegant leader like Michel Platini. But for those of us who lived and worked in Spain's Tyrolean training camp, watching a pensioner at first hand, it is Luis Aragonés who will live longest in our memory. By turns he was obsessive, gruff, humorous, gentlemanly, uproariously funny and insightful. Sometimes when you watch and listen to a coach, comparing what he tells you with what you see with your own eyes in training, you just understand that he is in "the zone". Whether a 69-year-old who has spent 51 years in professional football cares much for modern terminology like being "in the zone" is debatable. But that's where old 'Big Boots' was.

Total control
In nearly four weeks of constant training and playing he did not put a foot wrong. This man who has been so pilloried by his national press over the last few years rose above everyone, imposed his style on Spain's football, chose correctly who to take to Austria and who to leave at home and man-managed the 23 players with something close to paternal authority. "What I love best about Aragonés," explains Xavi, "is that he's demanding, he's clear in what he wants from you and if he has a row for you then once it's said it's forgotten." None of us will forget the moment when a Swedish journalist plonked a two-page spread of Sergio Ramos pictured in an Innsbruck disco in front of the Spain coach only for the 69-year-old to chide the Swede that he, himself, had also been in the disco, dancing to flamenco-pop and available for photos if only the snapper had been smart enough. He brought the house down.

Changing guard
Now Aragonés is gone. He will wave to the millions in Madrid on Monday then he will be on his way. I would say it's the final mark of a man who has made mistakes in his life but said thank you to his critics because they had made him reflect more on what he says and what he does. There is room in this life, let alone in the world of football, for those who acknowledge their errors, listen to their critics and mend their ways. It's the mark of a real man. Perhaps he will be succeeded by another - Vicente del Bosque is rumoured to be interested in the position. If so then the love for good football intertwined with winning results will endure. But for the moment, rather than look to far forward, it's enough to say thank you Don Luis. It has been an education and a pleasure to be around you. And I can name 23 happy footballers who feel exactly the same way. Do you agree that a great man has gone or do you think Spain's players did all the work for him. Let us know, and thanks for being with us on euro2008.com