MADRID, Feb. 17 (Xinhua) -- Former Spanish international Alfonso Silva died at the age of 82 on Friday in the German town of Konstanz, Spanish first division club Atletico Madrid announced on Saturday.

    The mifield icon played for Atletico for nine seasons between 1946 and 1955 and was a key member of the team that won back-to-back Spanish titles in 1950 and 1951.

    He finished his career with four seasons at Las Palmas, where he was born.

    Atletico lauded Silva on its web site as, "possibly the best player ever to come from the Canary Islands."

    Silva was capped five times and he was a member of the 1950 World Cup squad when Spain finished fourth, their best ever performace, although he only played one game in the finals in Brazil.