Madrid, Mar 22 (IANS): Former Real Madrid president 76-year-old Lorenzo Sanz died on Saturday of coronavirus. His son, who plays for the Real Madrid basketball team, made the announcement on Twitter.

"My father has just passed away. He did not deserve this ending and in this way," tweeted his son, Lorenzo Sanz junior.

"One of the best, bravest and hardest-working people I have ever seen. His family and Real Madrid were his passions."

According to the Spanish media reports, Sanz had chosen to stay home with a mild fever so as to not contribute to the already saturated health service in Spain.

After eight days of fever, he was admitted to a hospital where tests confirmed that he had coronavirus.

Sanz was president of the Spanish giants between 1995 and 2000 in which time Real signed stars like Davor Suker, Pedrag Mijatovic, Roberto Carlos Clarence Seedorf, Steve McManaman and Nicolas Anelka, with the Frenchman being the most expensive player in the world at the time.

In 1998, Real won the European Cup a seventh time. It was the first time they won the premier continental title of Europe since 1966.