Real Madrid Club de Fútbol (English: Madrid Royal Football Club, also known as Real Madrid, Los Blancos, Los Merengues) is a Spanish professional football club based in in Madrid. Founded in 1902, the club plays in La Liga and was the most successful football club of the 20th century, having won a record thirty-one La Liga titles, seventeen Copa del Rey and a record nine UEFA Champions League titles.[7] The team was a founding member of the now defunct G-14 group of Europe's leading football clubs and its replacement, the European Club Association.[8]
The club plays its home professional games in the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. Real Madrid is unusual in that, unlike most football clubs, it has been owned and operated only by its members (socios) since 1902. On December 23, 2000, FIFA awarded the Spanish team the title of the "Best Club of the 20th Century".[9][10] Los Blancos is the most successful club in UEFA club football competitions history ; more than any other European club.[11]
Real Madrid is the biggest and most extensive football club in the world according to the case studies at Harvard University in 2007.[12] It is also the richest one in terms of revenue.[13][14]
History
-
Football was introduced to Madrid by the professors and students of the Institución Libre de Enseñanza, who included several Oxbridge graduates.[3] They founded the club Football Club Sky in 1897, playing on Sunday mornings at Moncloa.[3] This club split in 1900 into two different clubs: New Foot-Ball de Madrid and Club Español de Madrid. The president of the latter club was Julián Palacios.[15][3] The latter club split again in 1902, resulting in the formation of Madrid Football Club on March 6, 1902.[3] The first president was Juan Padrós Rubió, the first secretary was Manuel Mendío and the first treasurer was José de Gorostizaga.[16] Juan Padrós Rubió would be later succeeded by his brother, Carlos Padrós from Spain.[17] Only three years after its foundation, in 1905, Madrid FC won its first major title in the Estadio Chamartín stadium.[3] The team won the first of four consecutive Copa del Rey titles (at that time the only statewide competition).[3] In 1912 it moved to its first ground called 'Campo de O'Donnell' after moving between some minor grounds.[18] In 1920 the club's name was changed to Real Madrid after the King granted the title of Real (Royal) to the club.[19]
Real Madrid team in 1902.
Santiago Bernabéu Yeste became President in 1945.[20] Under his presidency, the club, the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium and the Ciudad Deportiva were rebuilt following the Spanish Civil War. Beginning in 1953 he embarked upon a strategy of signing world-class players from abroad, the most prominent of them being the signing of Alfredo Di Stéfano and built the world's first multinational side.[21]
In 1955, acting upon the idea proposed by the French sports journalist and editor of L'Équipe Gabriel Hanot, and building upon the Copa Latina (a tournament involving clubs from France, Spain, Portugal and Italy), Bernabéu met in the Ambassador Hotel in Paris with Bedrignan and Gustav Sebes and created what today is known as the UEFA Champions League.[22] It was under Bernabéu's guidance, that Real Madrid became established as a major force in both Spanish and European football. The club won the European Cup five times in a row between 1956 and 1960, which included the memorable 7–3 Hampden Park final against Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960.[21] Winning the competition five consecutive times saw Real permanently awarded the original cup and earning the right to wear the UEFA badge of honour.[23] The club won the European Cup for a sixth time in 1966 defeating FK Partizan 2–1 in the final with a team composed entirely of nationally-born players - a first in the competition.[24] It was also runner-up in 1962, 1964 and 1981. The team have also won the UEFA Cup twice,[25][26] and was twice runner-up in the European Cup Winners Cup.[27][28]
By the early 1980s, Real Madrid had lost its grasp on the La Liga title until a new batch of home-grown stars, known as La Quinta del Buitre started to dominate Spanish football.[29] The name ("Vulture's Cohort") was derived from the nickname given to one of its members, Emilio Butragueño. The other four members were Manolo Sanchís, Martín Vázquez, Míchel and Miguel Pardeza.[30] With La Quinta del Buitre (reduced to four members when Pardeza left the club for Zaragoza in 1986) Real Madrid had one of the best teams in Spain and Europe during the second half of the 1980s, winning two UEFA Cups and five Spanish championships in a row.[30]
Martín Vázquez went to play for Torino in 1990. He made a return to Real Madrid in 1992, leaving the club again for good in 1995 (to Deportivo La Coruña). In 1995 and 1996 Butragueño and Míchel left the club and went to play for Atlético Celaya in Mexico.[31] In 1996 President Lorenzo Sanz appointed Fabio Capello as coach.[10] Although his tenure lasted only one season, Real Madrid was proclaimed league champion and players like Roberto Carlos, Predrag Mijatović, Davor Šuker and Clarence Seedorf arrived at the club to strengthen a squad that already boasted the likes of Raúl, Fernando Hierro and Fernando Redondo. As a result, Real Madrid (with the addition of Fernando Morientes in 1997) finally ended its 32-year wait for the seventh European Cup in 1998 under manager Jupp Heynckes, defeating Juventus 1–0 in the final, thanks to a goal from Predrag Mijatović.[31][10]
In July 2000 Florentino Pérez was elected club president vowing to erase the club's debt and modernise the club's facilities, however the primary electoral promise that propelled Pérez to victory was the signing of Luís Figo.[32] On July 16, Pérez won the election.[33] The club controversially got its training ground re-zoned and used the money to begin to assemble the famous Galáctico side including players such as Zidane, Ronaldo, Luís Figo, Roberto Carlos, Raúl and David Beckham. It is debatable whether the gamble paid off as despite a European Cup win in 2002, followed by the League in 2003, the club then failed to win a major trophy for the next three seasons.[34]
Ramón Calderón was elected as club president in 2006-07-02 and subsequently appointed Fabio Capello as the new coach and Predrag Mijatović as the new sporting director.[10] Real Madrid won the La Liga title in 2007 for the first time in four years.[35] However, despite the achievement of winning La Liga, Capello was sacked one month later, in June 2007, and was replaced by German manager Bernd Schuster.[36][37]
The Whites ended the 2007–08 season with the 31st league title and the first consecutive league title in eighteen years.[38]. They also established a new La Liga record by notching 85 points.[39]
Anthems
Currently, Real Madrid has two anthems:
"Himno del Real Madrid"
The song is the official anthem of Real Madrid. [40]
| "Himno del Real Madrid" lyrics |
|
De las glorias deportivas, que campean por España
va el Madrid con su bandera, limpia y blanca que no empaña.
Club castizo y generoso, todo nervio y corazón,
veteranos y noveles, veteranos y noveles,
miran siempre sus laureles con respeto y emoción.
¡Hala Madrid!, ¡Hala Madrid!
Noble y bélico adalid, caballero del honor.
¡Hala Madrid!, ¡Hala Madrid!
A triunfar en buena lid, defendiendo tu color
¡Hala Madrid!, ¡Hala Madrid!, ¡Hala Madrid!
Enemigo en la contienda, cuando pierde da la mano
sin envidias ni rencores, como bueno y fiel hermano.
Los domingos por la tarde, caminando a Chamartín,
las mocitas madrileñas, las mocitas madrileñas
van alegres y risueñas porque hoy juega su Madrid
¡Hala Madrid!, ¡Hala Madrid!
Noble y bélico adalid, caballero del honor.
¡Hala Madrid!, ¡Hala Madrid!
A triunfar en buena lid, defendiendo tu color
¡Hala Madrid!, ¡Hala Madrid!, ¡Hala Madrid!
|
"Himno del Centenario"
For the club's centenary celebrations which took place in 2002 a new anthem was created. The author of both melody and lyrics is the Spanish composer José Cano. It was performed by the Spanish tenor (and also a madridista), Placido Domingo. "Himno del Centenario" replaced the previous anthem, considered to be the club song of Real. It is the melody which can be heard when footballers dressed in white leotards come out to the Santiago Bernabeu pitch. During the recording of the new anthem, Domingo was accompanied by 82 musicians.[41]
| "Himno del Centenario" lyrics |
|
Hala Madrid!
¡Hala Madrid!
Campo de estrellas
Donde crecí
¡Hala Madrid!
Juegas en verso
Que sepa el universo
Cómo juega el Madrid
Sale el Madrid a luchar
Sale el Madrid a ganar
¡Hala Madrid!
¡Hala Madrid!
|
Crest
Real Madrid's first crest.
The first crest of Real Madrid had a simple design. It consisted of a decorative interlacing of the three initials of the club, "MCF" for Madrid Club de Futbol, in dark blue on a white shirt. The first change in the crest occurred in 1908, when the letters adopted a more streamlined form and appeared inside a circle.[42] The next change in the configuration of the crest did not occur until 1920, when King Alfonso XIII granted the club his royal patronage, which came in the form of the title "Real," roughly "Royal" during the office of Pedro Parages.[43] Thus, Alfonso's crown was added to the crest and the club styled itself Real Madrid Club de Futbol.[42] With the dissolution of the monarchy in 1931 all the symbols of the Royalty were eliminated, and so that the crown on the crest and the title of Real that years before the club had obtained were removed.In its place, the dark mulberry band of the Region of Castile was added.[44] In 1941, two years after the end of the Civil War, the crest's "Real Corona", or "Royal Crown", was restored and the mulberry stripe of Castile was retained as well.[20] In addition, the colors were modified, in that the crest was made full color, with gold being the most prominent, and the club was again called Real Madrid Club de Futbol.[42]
The most recent modification to the crest occurred in 2001, when the club wanted to better position itself for the twenty-first century and further standardize its crest. One of the modifications made was changing the mulberry stripe to a more bluish shade.[45]
Colours
|
|
|
Real Madrid's original kit
|
Real Madrid have always worn white shirts and shorts, although it initially adopted a blue oblique stripe on the shirt (the design was kept in the club crest), but unlike today dark blue socks.[46][47] The striped shirt was replaced by a 100% white version, modelled after the shirt worn by Corinthian F.C., in 1902.[7][48] In the same year, the blue socks were replaced by black ones. In the early 1940s the manager changed the kit again, adding buttons on the shirt and club's crest on the left side of the shirt (which have remained ever since). On 23 November 1947, in a game against Atletico Madrid at the Metropolitano Stadium, Real Madrid became the first Spanish team to wear numbered shirts.[20]
|
|
| Real Madrid's new third kit for the 2008-2009 season. |
Real's traditional away colors are all black or all purple. The club's kit is currently manufactured by Adidas, which is contracted to supply the club's kit since 1998.[49][50] Real Madrid's first shirt sponsor was Zanussi, agreed for the 1982–83, 1983–84 and 1984–85 seasons. Following that, the club was sponsored by Parmalat and Otaysa before a long-term deal was signed with Teka in 1992.[51][52] In 2001, Real Madrid ended their contract with Teka and for one season used the Realmadrid.com logo to promote its website. Then, in 2002 a deal was signed with Siemens Mobile and in 2006, the logo BenQ Siemens appeared on its shirt.[53] Real Madrid's current shirt sponsor is bwin.com following the economic problems of BenQ Siemens.[54][55]
Shirt sponsors and manufacturers[52][51]
Stadiums
- Main articles: Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium, Estadio Chamartín
After its foundation in 1902 the club moved in its first years between some minor grounds before moving to the 'Campo de O'Donnell' in 1912.[18] This ground remained its home ground for eleven years. After these years the club made a move again, this time to the 'Campo de Ciudad Lineal', a small ground with a capacity of 8,000 spectators. After twelve months the club moved again. This new ground would make a longer appearance. The old 'Estadio Chamartín' was inaugurated on 1923-05-17 with a match of Real Madrid against Newcastle United. In this stadium, which hosted 22,500 spectators, Real Madrid celebrated its first Spanish league title.[46] After those successes, the 1943 elected president Santiago Bernabéu decided that the Estadio Chamartín wasn't big enough for the ambitions of the club. A new stadium was built and was inaugurated on 1947-12-14.[20][56] This was the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium as it is known today, although it didn't acquire this name until 1955.[21] The first match that was played in the new stadium was between Real Madrid and Portuguese club Belenenses. Real won the match 3–1, and the first goal was scored by Sabino Barinaga.[20]
The capacity has changed frequently, peaking at 120,000 after a 1953 expansion.[57][58] Since then, there have been a number of reductions due to modernisations (the last standing places went away in 1998–99 in response to UEFA regulations which forbids standing at matches in the UEFA competition), countered to some extent by expansions.[57] The last change was an increase of about five thousand to a capacity of 80,400, effected in 2003. A plan to add a retractable roof has been announced.[59]
The Bernabéu has hosted the 1964 European Championship final, the 1982 FIFA World Cup final, the 1957, 1969 and 1980 European Cup finals and is due to host the 2010 Champions League Final.[60] The stadium has its own Madrid Metro station along the 10 line called Santiago Bernabéu. Its location, in the heart of Madrid's business district, is quite unusual for a football stadium.[61] On 9 May 2006 the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium was inaugurated at the City of Madrid where Real Madrid usually trains. The inaugural match was played between Real Madrid and Stade de Reims, a rematch of the 1956 European Cup final. Real Madrid won the inaugural match 6–1 with goals from Sergio Ramos, Antonio Cassano (2), Roberto Soldado (2), and Jose Manuel Jurado. The venue is now part of the Ciudad Real Madrid, the club's new training facilities located outside Madrid in Valdebebas. The stadium holds 6,000 people and it is named after former Real footballer Alfredo Di Stéfano. The Bernabeu has recently been upgraded to Elite Football Stadium status by UEFA.[62]
Statistics and records
-
Among Real Madrid's current players, Raúl González has made the most appearances and scored the most goals.
Manuel Sanchís Hontiyuelo holds the record for Real Madrid appearances, having played 710 first-team matches between 1983 and 2001.[63] Forward Santillana comes second, having played 643 times. The record for a goalkeeper is held by Iker Casillas, with 418 appearances. With 127 caps, Luís Figo of Portugal is Real Madrid's most capped international player.[64]
Alfredo Di Stéfano is the club's top goalscorer with 418 goals in all competitions between 1953 and 1964.[65] Di Stéfano's 49 goals in 58 matches was for decades the all-time highest tally in the European Cup, until it was surpassed by Raúl (also of Real Madrid) in 2005. Di Stéfano also holds the club record for most goals scored in the league, with 216. Real Madrid's current top-scorer is Raúl González with 205 in the league[66] and 292 in all competitions.
Officially, Real Madrid's highest home attendance is 83,329 for a Copa del Rey match in 2006. The current legal capacity of Santiago Bernabéu is 80,354.[67] Real Madrid's average attendance in 2007-08 season was 76.234, the highest in European Leagues.[68] Real Madrid have also set records in Spanish football, most notably the most domestic titles (31 as of 2007–08) and the most seasons won in a row (5, during 1960–65 and 1985–90).[69]
Real also set UEFA Champions League records for most winnings (nine) and for most semifinal appearances (21).[70] Raúl González is the all-time UEFA Champions League top scorer, with 61 goals. The team has the record number of consecutive participations in the Champions' Cup with 15, from 1955–56 to 1969–70. The world-record fee of €76 million (over US$100 million, £45.8 million) for Zinedine Zidane's transfer from Juventus to Real Madrid in 2001 is the highest ever paid.[7][71]
Supporters and rivalries
-
Real Madrid supporters during an El Derbi madrileño match.
During most home matches the majority of the seats in the stadium are occupied by season ticket holders, of which there are approximately 68,670.[1] In order to become a season ticket holder one must first be a socio, or club member. Not all members are able to get a season ticket. In addition to members, the club has over 1,800 peñas (official, club-affiliated supporters' groups) in Spain and around the world. Real Madrid has the first highest average all-time attendance in Spanish football and regularly attract over 65,000 fans to Santiago Bernabéu; it was the second best-supported La Liga team in the 2004–05 season, with an average gate of 71,900.[72] The club has a large and diverse fanbase, who hold some long-standing rivalries with other clubs; the most notable of these is with FC Barcelona, with whom it regularly contests El Clásico.
The rivalry with FC Barcelona projects what some regard as the political and cultural tensions felt between Castillians and Catalans.[73] During the 1950s, the rivalry was intensified further when the clubs disputed the signing of Alfredo Di Stéfano, who finally played for Real Madrid and was key in the subsequent success achieved by the club.[74] The 1960s saw the rivalry reach the European stage when they met twice at the European Cup, Real Madrid winning in 1960 and FC Barcelona winning in 1961. In 2000 the rivalry was reinforced following the controversial decision by Luís Figo to leave FC Barcelona and sign for Real Madrid.[75] The two teams met again in the 2002 UEFA Champions League semi-final. Real Madrid, the eventual champion, won the clash dubbed by Spanish media as the Match of the Century. As the two biggest and most successful clubs in Spain, nowadays the rivalry is renewed on an annual basis with both teams often challenging each other for the league championship. The flashpoint of this rivalry is the twice-a-season El Clásico which draws vast audiences from around the world.[76]
The club's nearest neighbour is Atlético Madrid, which is also seen as a viable rival by Real Madrid fans. Although Atlético was originally founded by three Basque students in 1903, it was joined in 1904 by dissident members of Madrid FC. Further tensions came because initially Real supporters came from the middle class while the Atlético supporters were drawn from the working class. Today these distinctions are largely blurred. They met for the first time on February 21, 1929 in matchday three of the first League Championship at the former Chamartín. It was the first official derby of the new tournament, and Real won 2-1.[46] The rivalry first gained international attention in 1959 during the European Cup when the two clubs met in the semi-final. Real won the first leg 2-1 at the Bernabéu while Atlético won 1-0 at the Metropolitano. The tie went to a replay and Real won 2-1. Atlético, however, gained some revenge when, led by former Real coach José Villalonga, it defeated Real in two successive Copa del Generalísimo finals in 1960 and 1961.[77]
Between 1961 and 1989 when Real dominated La Liga, only Atlético offered Real any serious challenge, winning La Liga titles in 1966, 1970, 1973 and 1977. In 1965, when it finished as La Liga runner-up to Real after an intense battle for the title, Atlético became the first team to beat Real at the Bernabéu in eight years. Real Madrid's record against Atlético in more recent times is very favourable.[78] A high point coming in the 2002-2003 season, when Real clinched the La Liga title after beating Atlético 4-0 at the Vicente Calderón stadium.[79]
Some of Real Madrid's hardcore fans are the so-called Ultras Sur supporters. They are known for their right-wing Falangist politics and violent racist hooliganism; many are far-right skinheads. The Ultras Sur have developed an alliance with some S.S. Lazio fans. On several occasions they have racially abused opposing players, and have been investigated by UEFA for doing so.[80][81]
Budget
Beginning with the reign of Florentino Pérez in 2000, Real Madrid transformed itself from a Great club in History of football team to a money-making machine. However the method of this transformation came under scrutiny from the European Commission and the Spanish Government after an examination into a property deal reported to have netted Real Madrid €480m. The club's sale of its training grounds to the City of Madrid in 2001 wiped out its debts and paved the way for the club to continue to buy the world's most expensive players such as Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo and David Beckham. The City of Madrid had re-zoned the training grounds for development, a process which in turn increased its value, and then bought the site. The criticisms claim that the City of Madrid corruptly overpaid for the property to assist in turning around the clubs financial fortunes.
The sale of the training ground to the Madrid city council and regional government for office buildings cleared Real Madrid's huge debts of €270m and enabled the club to embark upon an unprecedented spending spree which brought big-name players to the club. Moreover, the money gained was spent on a state-of-the-art training complex on the city's outskirts.
After 2004-05 season, Real Madrid have ended Manchester United's eight-year reign as the biggest earners in world football on the back of a galactico policy with €275.7m (£190m) jumped 17 per cent.[82]
The club's yearly income is just €601 million. In January 2007 Real Madrid paid their debts of €224 million and fell to second spot behind Manchester United. However, they reached the top again in March by getting massive image rights of €762 million. Manchester United's debt was €872 million in 2007, down from €1.25 billion in 2005.
In September 2007, Real Madrid was considered the most valuable Football brand in Europe by BBDO,[83] and is currently ranked as the 2nd most valuable club in football with a value of €951 mil (£640 million / $1.285 billion) as of May 2008.[84]. Also, it is still the most richest club in football with a revenue of €351 mil (£236 million / $474 million).[14][84]
Criticism
In May 2008 Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson criticised Real Madrid for comments made regarding their desire to sign Manchester United player Cristiano Ronaldo. Alex Ferguson stated that "Real Madrid have no moral issues at all."[85] while an official statement from Manchester United stated "The club will have no alternative but to report Real Madrid to the world governing body, FIFA, if it continues to behave in this totally unacceptable fashion."[86]
In June 2008 Manchester United made an official complaint to FIFA regarding the conduct of Real Madrid relating to Cristiano Ronaldo.[87] Later, FIFA have announced they will not take any formal action against Real Madrid over Manchester United's complaint about the Spanish club's pursuit of Cristiano Ronaldo.[88][89]
Players
Current squad
- See also: Real Madrid C.F. 2008-09 season
Spanish teams are limited to three players without EU citizenship. The squad list includes only the principal nationality of each player; several non-European players on the squad have dual citizenship with an EU country. Also, players from the ACP countries—countries in Africa, the Caribbean, and the Pacific that are signatories to the Cotonou Agreement—are not counted against non-EU quotas due to the Kolpak ruling.
- As of 11th July 2008.[90][91]
For all transfers and loans for the current season, please see List of Spanish football transfers summer 2008.
Captains
All competitions matches, appearances and goals are counted.
Notable players
-
Notable managers
Only managers who have won at least one trophy are mentioned.[92][93]
For a full list of Real Madrid managers, see List of Real Madrid C.F. managers.[92]
| Name |
Period |
Trophies |
Total |
| Domestic |
International |
| LC |
SC |
SS |
LC |
CL |
UC |
USC |
IC |
 Arthur Johnson |
1910–1920 |
0
|
5
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
 Lippo Hertzka |
1930–1932 |
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
 Robert Firsth |
1932–1934 |
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
 Francisco Bru |
1934–1941 |
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
| Jacinto Quincoces |
1945–1946, 1947-1948 |
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
| Baltasar Albéniz |
1946–1947, 1950-1951 |
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
| José Villalonga |
1954–1957 |
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
4
|
 Luis Carniglia |
1957-1959, 1959 |
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
| Miguel Muñoz |
1959, 1960-1974 |
9
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
14
|
 Miljan Miljanić |
1974–1977 |
2
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
3
|
| Vujadin Boškov |
1979-1982 |
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
 Luis Molowny |
1974, 1977-1979, 1982, 1985-1986 |
3
|
3
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
0
|
9
|
 Leo Beenhakker |
1986-1989, 1992 |
3
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
5
|
 John Toshack |
1989-1990, 1999 |
1
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
3
|
| Alfredo Di Stéfano |
1990-1991 |
0
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
| Benito Floro |
1992-1994 |
0
|
1
|
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
2
|
| Vicente del Bosque |
1994, 1999-2003 |
2
|
0
|
1
|
0
|
2
|
0
|
1
|
1
|
7
|
| Jorge Valdano |
1994-1996 |
1
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
0
|
1
|
| |
