Real Madrid's honorary president and former star Alfredo di Stefano had bypass surgery Wednesday after suffering a severe heart attack on Christmas Eve.

Di Stefano, 79, came out of the operating room at Valencia's La Fe Hospital yesterday afternoon and had successfully entered a "postoperative stage of observation," the hospital press office told The Associated Press.

Di Stefano had to overcome an irregular heart beat and a fever before doctors at a specialist heart unit in the hospital could operate. At one point he had been described as being in a very serious condition.

His blood circulation improved on Tuesday and doctors said they would perform bypass surgery if his condition remained stable.

Doctors had considered carrying out an angioplasty, in which small balloons are inflated in vessels to improve blood flow, but ultimately decided a bypass was necessary because of Di Stefano’s age and past medical problems, including diabetes and a hardening of blood vessels called arteriosclerosis.

Di Stefano, born in Argentina, began his career with River Plate before moving to Colombia’s Millionarios in 1949. He arrived in Spain in 1953 and tried out with FC Barcelona before moving to Real Madrid, where he became its most illustrious player – scoring 454 goals in 684 matches.

Known as La saeta rubia – “The blonde arrow” – for his dart-like fast attacking runs, he was named European player of the year in 1957 and 1959.

Di Stefano won five consecutive European Cups, scoring in each final. He also won eight Spanish league winners’ medals and became Madrid’s honorary president in 2000.