Real Madrid (Spain)

Real Madrid Club de Fútbol is a professional football club based in the Spanish capital. Formed on March 6th 1902 as Madrid Football Club, Real has become one of the foremost football clubs in the world.

The clubs origins come from young academics in the city, including some graduates from Oxford and Cambridge Universities who set up Nueva Sociedad de Football, before becoming Madrid FC.

Madrid collected their first honour in 1905 when Athletic Bilbao were defeated in the final of the Copa Del Rey. The team would retain the trophy for another four seasons as Athletic, Bizcaya and Real Vigo Sporting were all overcome in subsequent finals.

In 1912 the club moved into Campo de O'Donnell after playing home matches at various locations. Madrid lifted their fifth Copa Del Rey title in 1917 after defeating Arenas, before King Alfonso XIII granted the title of Real to the club in 1920 to become Real Madrid.

A season was spent at Campo de Ciudad Lineal before the club moved to Estadio Chamartín in May 1923. Real became members of the first national Primera División in 1929; which in time would become La Liga.

The club collected the league title in 1931-32 and 1932-33 with Manuel Olivares finishing as top league scorer as the side was led by Lippo Hertzka and then Robert Firth. By this time the club had reverted back to Madrid FC from 1931 as the Second Spanish Republic took over.

The Copa Del Rey was renamed the Copa del Generalísimo under Franco’s rule. Francisco Bru was in charge of the Madrid side that lifted the Copa in 1934 against Valencia CF and then in 1936 as FC Barcelona were the beaten finalists.

Madrid and FC Barcelona forged a bitter rivalry as war engulfed the nation. An 11-1 second leg semi-final win at Estadio Chamartín under controversial circumstances merely stoked the fire further, with allegations of Franco favouring Madrid.

Following the Spanish Civil war, the club once again became Real Madrid; as Santiago Bernabéu Yeste was named as the new club President in 1945. Further Copa’s were lifted in 1946 against Valencia CF and RCD Español the following year.

Bernabéu decreed that Estadio Chamartín was not big enough for the club, so a larger Nuevo Estadio Chamartín was built and inaugurated in December 1947. However, success on the pitch was eluding the club. Bernabéu had plans to change that.

The Uruguayan Enrique Fernández was in charge of the team as it lifted the league title in 1953-54. Argentinian Alfredo Di Stéfano was the star of the show having being signed from Millonarios in Colombia.

La Fábrica, the clubs youth academy was also showing signs of fruition as Bernabéu was keen to augment the clubs own talent with big international signings. Héctor Rial aided Di Stéfano with the goals as the Spanish title was retained in 1954-55 under coach José Villalonga.

The European Cup; the forerunner to the Champions League, was initiated for the 1955-56 campaign. Nuevo Estadio Chamartín was renamed Estadio Santiago Bernabéu at the start of the season, and the President was determined that Real Madrid were going to be prominent.

Real lifted the new cup after defeating Stade de Reims 4-3 in Paris, as Rial bagged two goals, along with efforts from Di Stéfano and Marquitos. In 1956-57 the team lifted their fifth Spanish title along with retaining the European Cup.

124,000 fans packed into the Bernabéu as goals from Di Stéfano and Francisco Gento were enough to beat Fiorentina 2-0. Another double of the same competitions was completed in 1957-58, by which time Raymond Kopa and José Santamaría had been added to the squad.

Di Stéfano, Rial and Gento scored the goals to defeat AC Milan 3-2 after extra time in Brussels, while the Primera División was retained under head coach Luis Carniglia, who would return to the club after a spell away to claim further triumph.

The legendary Hungarian player Ferenc Puskás joined the club but didn’t play in the European Cup final of 1958-59 as Reims were defeated for a second time. This time the goals in the 2-0 victory came from Enrique Mateos and Di Stéfano.

 

However, Puskás was not to be denied as he bagged four goals in front of 127,621 fans at Hampden Park when Eintracht Frankfurt were destroyed 7-3 in what many consider to be the greatest club performance ever. Di Stéfano netted the other three!

Miguel Muñoz took over as coach as the academy bore fruit providing players, as Real went on to be crowned as national champions for five consecutive seasons in 1960-61, 1961-62, 1962-63, 1963-64 and 1964-65 with Puskás ending as league top scorer four times.

Other big clubs across the continent started to take great interest in the European Cup, desperate for glory. Real ended as runners-up in 1961-62 losing 5-3 to SL Benfica despite a Puskás hat trick. A Copa Del Rey win over Sevilla eased the pain somewhat.

Felo scored a consolation goal in 1963-64 as Internazionale proved too strong in a 3-1 win.

Puskás retired before Real became champions of Europe for a sixth time in 1965-66 after defeating Partizan of Belgrade as Amancio and Fernando Serena scored in the 2-1 win.

Further league titles were collected in 1966-67, 1967-68 and 1968-69 along with another Copa Del Rey triumph over Valencia CF in 1969-70 with established midfielder Pirri among the scorers.

Real reached the 1970-71 European Cup Winners' Cup final where they went down in a replay in Athens to Chelsea. A fifteenth league title was secured by Real in 1971-72 and then the Copa Del Rey arrived by way of a thumping of FC Barcelona in 1973-74; the last trophy won under outstanding head coach Muñoz.

New coach Miljan Miljanić led the team to Copa glory in his first season at the helm after a penalty shoot out against Atlético Madrid and further Spanish titles in 1974-75 and 1975-76. Luis Molowny took over the team for its title winning seasons of 1977-78 and 1978-79.

Serbian coach Vujadin Boškov took ‘Los Blancos’ to the league title in 1979-80; completing the double with a Copa win over Castilla; Real’s reserve side with Juanito and Vicente del Bosque two of the scorers.

Molowny returned to oversee yet another Copa triumph; this time against Sporting Gijón in 1981-82. Real lost the final of 1981-82 Cup Winners Cup after extra time to Aberdeen under legendary former player Di Stéfano.

Amancio also had a spell as head coach without any real success before Molowny was brought back for yet another term; whose timing proved impeccable as he arrived in time to oversee the 1984-85 UEFA Cup triumph over Videoton.

Molowny then led the team to the 1985-86 La Liga title as well as retaining the UEFA Cup with a win over 1. FC Köln. It was fine Real side, with home grown talents such as Emilio Butragueño, Manuel Sanchís, Martín Vázquez, Míchel and Miguel Pardeza being added to by the signing of Hugo Sánchez.

Leo Beenhakker arrived at Estadio Santiago Bernabéu for a successful spell that would herald La Liga titles in 1986-87, 1987-88 and 1988-89 as well as the Copa Del Rey win in the final of those seasons against Real Valladolid.

John Toshack arrived and led the team to the league title in 1989-90 before brief spells from Di Stéfano, Radomir Antić, Beenhakker returned nothing apart from hefty salaries and compensation packages as the team of the eighties broke up.

Real Zaragoza were beaten in the Copa Del Rey final of 1992-93 under coach Benito Floro as Iván Zamorano became the latest fans favourite. Former players del Bosque and Jorge Valdano both had short coaching spells; the later leading the team to La Liga triumph in 1994-95.

 

Fabio Capello was appointed as coach in 1996, taking the team to its twenty seventh La Liga title at the first attempt as he added the likes of Predrag Mijatović, Davor Šuker, Clarence Seedorf and Roberto Carlos were added to the talent of Raúl, Fernando Hierro and Fernando Redondo.

Jupp Heynckes took over after Capello departed and added Fernando Morientes to the squad. The team ended the quest to be crowned as Europe’s supreme club when a Mijatović goal defeated Juventus in the 1997-98 Champions League final.

Yet Heynckes departed after the triumph with further short reigns being enjoyed by favourite former defender José Antonio Camacho, Guus Hiddink and Toshack before del Bosque returned for a third spell in November 1999.

By now Guti and Iker Casillas had become regulars, with Steve McManaman and Nicolas Anelka being added to a talented bunch. The team won the 1999-00 Champions League with a 3-0 win over Valencia CF thanks to goals from Morientes, McManaman and Raúl.

Raúl led the scoring in 2000-01 as Real secured the league title as Zinedine Zidane and Claude Makelele were added to the side. Bayer Leverkusen were defeated 2-1 in the Champions League final of 2001-02 with a wonder goal from Zidane and an effort from Raúl.

The spending of President Florentino Pérez on a side termed ‘Galácticos’ included the additions of Luís Figo, Ronaldo and later Fabio Cannavaro and David Beckham as Real looked to dominate once again. However, despite Real going on to win the La Liga in 2002-03, problems lie ahead.

del Bosque departed and was replaced by Carlos Queiroz and then Camacho, Mariano García Remón, Vanderlei Luxemburgo and Juan Ramón López Caro without any success. Dressing room egos and high wages led to issues within the camp.

Capello was reappointed in July 2006; taking the team to its thirtieth La Liga title in 2006-07 including defender Sergio Ramos. However President Ramón Calderón still sacked him! Bernd Schuster lasted a little longer, but also lifted the league title in his only full season in charge; 2007-08.

Pérez regained the presidency and reverted to his big spending plans. Kaká and Cristiano Ronaldo were bought. José Mourinho was appointed as head coach in May 2010 after terms from Juande Ramos and Manuel Pellegrini.

Mourinho helped to deliver the Copa Del Rey triumph of 2010-11 with victory over FC Barcelona and the La Liga title in 2011-12. Luka Modrić arrived in midfield but a Copa final defeat in 2012-13 meant the end for the Portuguese boss.

Carlo Ancelotti was appointed as head coach and in 2013-14; his first season, he led Real to their tenth European Cup/Champions League win when local rivals Atlético were defeated 4-1 after extra time with goals from Ramos, world record signing Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Ronaldo.

To add to a fine season, the Copa Del Rey was also added with victory over FC Barcelona. Rafael Benítez was at the helm between June 2015 and January 2016 before he was replaced by hero Zidane who had learned his trade as an assistant.

Zidane took the side to the Champions League final where they overcame Atlético Madrid on penalties in the 2015-16 final after Ramos had scored in normal time. Real went on to enjoy an even greater 2016-17 campaign.

A thirty third Spanish leaguer title was won before the Champions League crown was lifted again following a 4-1 win over Juventus, with Ronaldo scoring twice along with further goals from Casemiro and Marco Asensio as Karim Benzema continued to lead the forward line.

Real made it three Champions League wins in a row in 2017-18 as Liverpool were defeated 3-1. Benzema opened the scoring before two later goals from Bale secured the trophy. 
Zidane resigned at the end of the campaign.

The 2018-19 campaign saw Real appoint and dismiss both Julen Lopetegui and then Santiago Solari before Zidane responded to fans wishes by returning in March 2019. The Frenchman departed once again in May 2021, as the Bernabéu received the start of a major upgrade while the team decamped to Estadio Alfredo Di Stéfano.

Coach Ancelotti returned for another spell, with the team collecting the La Liga title in 2021-22 with Benzema continuing to rattle in the goals. An incredible Champions League run saw Los Blancos end up winning the trophy for the fourteenth time when a lone Vinícius goal was enough to defeat Liverpool at Stade de France.

Osasuna were defeated 2-1 in the final of the 2022-23 Copa Del Rey thanks to a brace from Rodrygo. The club paid an initial €103 transfer fee for Jude Bellingham in June 2023.

Real Madrid CF will play in La Liga in the 2023-24 season.

My visits

Sunday 8th October 2000

Madrid was my first city on my Euro Rail tour. I’d arrived by plane the previous day and was heading to an evening match between Atlético Madrid and Racing Ferol in the second tier; which saw an unpredicted away win.

There was enough time to head to Estadio Santiago Bernabéu; where for just a few pesetas I was able to have a look inside the stadium and the club trophy room. It was certainly impressive in the days before it was roofed all the way around.

Like much of that period I later wished for the advanced phone camera of today. I took too few shots, back in the day when you didn’t know whether they’d been wasted, and you had to wait for them to be developed! The kids won’t believe it reading this.

Real Madrid 5 Sevilla 1 (Sunday March 28th 2004) La Liga (att: 65.000)

My local young Irish pal Colm Carton expressed an interest for a week away in Spain to catch some football. I suggested going before I got busy for the summer working at Lord’s around the Easter break.

We’d sailed from Portsmouth to Bilbao; missing Athletic’s home game with Real as it had been moved for TV coverage. We then took a flight to Barcelona; where the famous home club took on Celtic in the UEFA Cup.

It was then onwards to the capital for their Sunday night TV encounter with Sevilla. I’d booked us in at a Holiday Inn Express at exceptional value near to the Bernabeau. Such was the price, I had to check twice at reception that we’d paid up!

We walked across to the stadium and were immediately pounced upon by locals wanting to sell us tickets for the match. They were on the halfway line we were assured! Anyway, they were a decent price at €25, so we took them.

Friday night turned into a marathon booze up, chiefly around Plaza de Santa Ana and then a late bar/nightclub. It’s fair to say that I was feeling seedy on Saturday; so much so that I went straight back to the room after the early evening game between Rayo Vallecano and Murcia.

It hadn’t deterred Colm who was ready to go again on Sunday. The Old Firm Rangers v Celtic game was kicking off at lunchtime. An Irish pub was sourced to the west of the centre to view. My pal took great delight seeing the Celts win 2-1 and generally winding me up.

At least I was feeling slightly better after a couple of beers. We headed back across town to another Irish establishment for sustenance and a look at the Premier League action; while chatting to a group from Luton who’d also purchased halfway line seats for the match!

The weather was unaccustomedly cold for Easter with sporadic snowfalls. On the way back to the hotel we bought Real hats and scarves as the temperatures threated to drop further. I put extra layers on.

In the hotel lift a couple of astute Americans asked us if we were heading the “soccer”. I reasoned a nod was better than dialogue. I mean where did they think we were going wearing Real Madrid hats?

The facilities inside the Bernabeau were top class, with plenty of options for drinks on the ground floor. We were up in the Gods and in the corner. Perhaps halfway was lost in translation with our vendors?

On the upper floors the food selection was superb; and definitely streets ahead of the Camp Nou a few days previously. While our seats were high, and in a corner, they also offered a superb vantage point.

An extra facility that I definitely hadn’t accounted for was that the underneath of the stadium roof had heaters blowing down from it. It was virtually room temperature. This would normally have been most welcome. However, this posed a problem for me.

Under my jacket I’d added a Barcelona sweatshirt I’d purchased earlier in the week. I didn’t think that displaying it would have been the wisest move I’d ever made. I’d just have to sweat it out. The hat did come off mind.

Argentinian midfielder Santiago Solari put the hosts ahead on six minutes. David Beckham was enjoying his time and became highly popular as well as a bit of a tourist attraction. He was certainly in good form as Ronaldo made it 2-0 on the stroke of half time.

A gaggle of Americans were doing my head in just behind. Talking about offense and defence and substitutions in loud drawl, accentuating the point. Colm was laughing his head off as my cool was diminishing by the sentence.

Júlio Baptista halved the arrears just before the hour mark from the penalty spot, only for Zinedine Zidane to make it 3-1 a couple of minutes later. Right back Míchel Salgado extended the score with fifteen minutes remaining.

The final score was slightly unfair on Sevilla after Ronaldo added a fifth in the closing stages. Who knew at the that time that the Brazilian great would only be the second greatest Ronaldo to appear for the club?

At fulltime we headed back to the room to drop off our souvenirs before finding a local bar for a couple of nightcaps. The next lunchtime we flew back, once I’d paid extra after I realised that I’d left the tickets back home in London.

As compensation the kind lady on the desk upgraded us to first class. I certainly got stuck into the hospitality. It rounded off a fantastic week in good company.