"Gil has been one of soccer's leading figures in the last two decades," said Florentino Perez, president of Real Madrid, Atletico's crosstown rival.
"He was a personality in the world of sport. He shook things up and guided, with many difficulties, a big club like Atletico," said Jose Maria Echevarria, president of the Spanish Olympic Commitee.
Gil's tenure as president of Atletico, Madrid's second soccer club, was a stormy one, marked by his tendency to fire and hire coaches at a whim.
Gil made a total of 23 coaching appointments, including such renowned figures as Italian Arrigo Sacchi and Argentinian Cesar Luis Menotti. In a six-year spell he changed coaches 19 times. Some were fired within weeks of getting the job.
Despite Gil's capricious nature, Atletico won the Spanish league and Cup double in 1996. During the team's celebrations, Gil stole the limelight by riding triumphantly through the streets of the capital on his horse Emperor.
Only four years later, Atletico was relegated to the second division, the first time it had lost its place in the top flight for 66 years. It took the team two seasons to return to the first division.
Gil repeatedly fell foul of soccer's governing bodies for his blistering verbal attacks on players, coaches and referees. Only three weeks ago, he lambasted Atletico players after a third straight loss.
In February 2000 he was hospitalized briefly for an irregular heartbeat, and in January 2003 he underwent surgery to have a pacemaker fitted.
Funeral arrangements were not immediately known.
His body would be taken to the Vicente Calderon stadium so that Atletico fans could pay their last respects, the club said.
He's survived by his wife, Maria de los Angeles Marin Cobo, and three sons and one daughter.
RSS