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History of Real Madrid C.F.

A new sport from England called football started to take a grip of our country. Its quick uptake meant that in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century the first organizations were created for its practice. One of them was the Madrid Football Club, a predecessor of Real Madrid. Julián Palacios was its first figurehead, but it was Juan Padrós who formally constituted the institution (1902). Interest grew at such a rate that Madrid proposed a tournament in homage to king Alfonso XIII. The initiative became the Copa de España.

Spanish football was going through a period of difficulty and uncertainty. Real Madrid was not completely unaffected by these problems, but it overcame them thanks to some good work from its directors. With a growing fanbase, they saw the need to change grounds in order to facilitate the number of visitors and obtain more money. The club moved to the O’Donnell Stadium. It was then that the King of Spain's high steward granted Madrid the title ‘Real’ (1920).

In the early 20s, Real Madrid returned to its pioneering role in Spanish football. The team made a series of trips abroad, making it an international trailblazer. As a result of the club's growing stature, two more stadium changes were made in this period. First, to the Velódromo de Ciudad Lineal, and then Chamartín was built. The latter hosted the first match in the recently created Campeonato de Liga (1928).

The arrival of Ricardo Zamora was soon followed by that of Ciriaco and Quincoces. The trio formed the best defense in the world. The result was four titles in as many years (two in La Liga and two Copas). The seeds of Madrid's reputation as winners had been sown, but the outbreak of the Civil War was to cut their run short.

This period would give rise to the entity's future success stories and also to the rivalry with Barcelona. The Chamartín stadium had to be rebuilt and a new team had to be put together and brought up to speed for competition. Thanks to Santiago Bernabéu, all these challenges were met with aplomb. It was in this decade that the foundations were set for what would later be recognized as the ‘Best Club of the Twentieth Century’.

This was a brilliant decade. A pleiad of players, led by Alfredo Di Stéfano, put Real Madrid at the summit of football. The team that won five European Cups in a row amazed the world with its spectacular brand of football. An endless torrent of success made the club the most decorated in Europe. It was proclaimed the 'king of kings' and it won the first edition of the Intercontinental Cup (1960) to put the icing on the cake.

The team was going through a period of change. In Spain it was far superior, winning eight league championships, five of them on the trot and including and league-cup double. Overseas it won its Sixth European Cup, with the ‘yé-yé’ team.

The decade in which the team won its sixth La Liga trophy to keep was also marked by the death of Santiago Bernabéu. Football was in mourning on the 2nd of June 1978 at the loss of the president who took Real Madrid to the top. Luis de Carlos replaced his best friend and mentor. He ran the Whites for seven years. In that time he was able to embody and transmit the values of the club, earning himself recognition around the world.

The team's brilliant performances were tarnished by the death of the club's president. Real Madrid wanted to make a posthumous gesture of thanks to the late Santiago Bernabéu. The goal was for his great work at the club to live on in the collective memory. On the 31st of August 1979 the first edition of the tournament that bore his name was played. 

The 80s were dominated by a brilliant generation of youth-team players. ‘Vulture's Cohort’, led by Emilio Butragueño, made Real Madrid into one of the best teams in history. The goals of Hugo Sánchez also played an important role in this successful decade. The Whites won the first two UEFA Cups with some historic comebacks in Europe and magical nights in the Bernabéu.

Jorge Valdano, Fabio Capello and Vicente del Bosque were the names to remember this decade. The three successful coaches took Real Madrid to the top in La Liga and in Europe and they were helped on their way by some superstars. Players such as Redondo, Laudrup, Seedorf, Suker, Mijatovic and Roberto Carlos all arrived at the club in the 90s.

In 1999, and after a lifetime connected to the club as a player, Vicente del Bosque returned as the first-team manager. The man from Salamanca managed to instil a philosophy in the team that made them the best in the continent. His first title came in 2000: the Eighth European Cup. In the same year, Florentino Pérez took over the presidency and signed one of the best players on the planet, Luis Figo

In this decade Real Madrid made a proud return to triumph on the continent, winning its Ninth European Cup and its third Intercontinental Cup as well as five Ligas, among other titles. Also, Florentino Pérez reorganised the club's economy to make it the richest on the planet.

Vicente del Bosque stayed on as manager until 2003. His philosophy and brand of football made Madrid into a team of champions. During his time at the helm, the Whites celebrated another European Cup victory, another Intercontinental Cup, two domestic championships, a Supercup of Spain and a UEFA Super Cup. It was an era that is only comparable with the Real Madrid of the 50s and 60s.

 Florentino Pérez's management led to profound changes in the club's structure. He reorganized the institution's economy, making it the richest club in the world, and made far-reaching changes at the top of the organization. He completely renovated the Santiago Bernabéu, created a new sports complex in Valdebebas and opened the Alfredo Di Stéfano stadium. Meanwhile, on the pitch, he made the fans' dreams come true by bringing in Zidane, Ronaldo and Beckham.

 

In his second spell (2006), the president continued to delight the supporters, signing the best players and managers in the world. Great players such as Cristiano Ronaldo and Benzemá among others, were brought in, along with manager José Mourinho. The Portuguese arrived in the Santiago Bernabéu a week after being crowned champions of Europe with Inter Milan in the same stadium.

Real Madrid have once again defined an era in world football, winning four European Cups and four Club World Cup. In 2014, they lifted La Décima, before winning the Club World Cup that same year. Zidane's first two seasons in the dugout were historic, clinching La Undécima and La Duodécima. What's more, 2017 became a record-breaking year when the team got their hands on five trophies: The European Cup, the Club World Cup, LaLiga and the European and Spanish Super Cups. La Decimotercera then came in 2018, when they came out on top against Liverpool in Kiev.

2020 began with the 11th Spanish Super Cup, which was won against Atletico Madrid in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Sebastián Zambrano

3ero "C"