REAL MADRID FC

REAL MADRID FC


Full Name: Real Madrid Club de Fútbol
City: Madrid
Founded: 1902
Stadium: Estadio Santiago Bernabéu (80,354)
Colors: White
Previous: Madrid Foot Ball Club (1902-20), Real Madrid Foot Ball Club (1920-31), Madrid Club de Fútbol (1931-41)
Nicknames: Los Merengues, Los Galacticos, Los Blancos
Rivals: Barcelona, Atlético Madrid
Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu
Club Address: Avenida de Concha Espina 1, 28036 - Madrid
Official Website: realmadrid.com

Description:

Founded on March 6, 1902 as Madrid Foot Ball Club. The original uniforms of white shorts, white shirts and blue socks where chosen in imitation of the London club Corinthians. In 1904, Madrid FC merged with Moderno, Amicale and Moncloa. In 1920, the club is granted royal status by the king (Alfonso XIII) and the name is changed to Real Madrid. Dropped the politically-charged Real title and adopted the name Madrid Club de Fútbol during the Spanish Civil War, before returning to Real Madrid Club de Fútbol after the War's end. The diagonal stripe in the club's emblem is a symbol of Castille, the Spanish region in which Madrid is located, while the crown is in honor of their royal status. Los Merengues have never been relegated, have won nine European Cup/Champions League trophies and were considered by FIFA the most successful team of the 20th century. The merengues nickname is a reference to their all-white uniforms and the (also all-white) merengue dessert, Galacticos is a reference to their recent habit of buying the most expensive players possible and blancos means The Whites. The stadium is named for a former player, club president and all-around driving force at the club for over seventy years. It was known as the (second) Chamartin from 1947-55 and is located in the north of the city. Previous stadiums: Campo O'Donnell (1912-23), Chamartin (1924-45), Metropolitano (1945-47).

Real Madrid History

Real Madrid Club de Fútbol of Spain is the world's most successful football club for the 20th century, as ranked by the governing body of international football FIFA, just ahead of Manchester United. Formed on March 6, 1902, it competes in the Spanish first division or Primera División, from which it has never been relegated since the formation of Spain's national league in 1928. The club was originally named Madrid Club de Fútbol, but were allowed to use the title Real after King Alfonso XIII of Spain gave the club an official blessing in June 1920.

The team play in an all-white uniform, which is the origin of their nickname Los merengues (the whites). Their home stadium is the Santiago Bernabéu in Chamartín, Madrid, which was founded on December 14, 1947. It has a capacity of 80,354 spectators and its pitch measures 106x72 meters.

Since the middle of the 20th century, Real Madrid has consistently been ranked as one of the top football clubs in Europe. It has won the European Cup more times (nine) than any other club, winning the first five European Cups. The rivalry between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona is legendary, and draws as much from Spanish politics as it does from footballing matters.

In recent years, Real Madrid have become famous for signing some of the world's best footballers, giving the club a new nickname of Los galácticos (the galactics). This trend began shortly after Euro 2000 with the world record €60m acquisition of Portuguese playmaker Luis Figo from FC Barcelona, who had risen to prominence with some influential displays in the tournament. He was joined the following year by then two-time FIFA World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane from the Italian side Juventus, again for a world record fee - this time approximately €71m. The following season, they purchased Ronaldo, top scorer in the 2002 FIFA World Cup, for around €39m from Internazionale.

In the summer of 2003, their target was David Beckham, captain of the English national side, who signed from Manchester United for approximately €36m. Cynics argued that this particular development had as much to do with finance as football, with the Beckham brand ensuring increased revenue from merchandising. However, Beckham made a good start with Madrid, despite their relative underachievement in the 2003/2004 season (winning the Spanish Super Cup and finishing fourth in the Liga). This poor display led to the sacking of coach Carlos Queiroz, who had also made the trip to Madrid from Manchester United in 2003 after leaving his position as assistant manager at the English club. The pressure to win trophies means that managers who fail to deliver are sacked, resulting in a high turnover of managers. John Toshack was twice manager of the club. Recent seasons have also seen the arrival and departure of several other managerial appointments including: Vicente Del Bosque, José Antonio Camacho and Mariano García Remón. Real Madrid have recently turned to the services of Brazillian legend Vanderlei Luxemburgo in a bid to restore stability and discipline within the locker room.

Real's main target in the 2004 offseason was Patrick Vieira; the club made an offer of €35 million (£23.1 million) to English Premiership champions Arsenal for his services. Arsenal rejected Real's overtures, and Real instead made two surprise signings, of Liverpool's Michael Owen (€12m) and Newcastle's Jonathan Woodgate (€24m), who hasn't played a single match since being signed due to a knee injury.

The other two main clubs from Madrid are Atlético de Madrid and (less famously) Getafe. A third club, Rayo Vallecano, was recently relegated to the Segunda División B (Spanish third level), after spending most of its history in the first two levels.


HONORS

League Titles:

* La Liga (1932, 33, 54, 55, 57, 58, 61, 62, 63, 64, 65, 67, 68, 69, 72, 75, 76, 78, 79, 80, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 95, 97, 2001, 03, 07, 08)

Cup Titles:

* Copa del Rey (1905, 06, 07, 08, 17, 34, 36, 46, 47, 62, 70, 74, 75, 80, 82, 89, 93)
* Supercopa de España (1988, 89, 90, 93, 97, 2001, 03, 08)

International Titles:

* European Cup (1956, 57, 58, 59, 60, 66)
* Champions League (1998, 2000, 02)
* UEFA Cup (1985, 86)
* Intercontinental Cup (1960, 98, 2002)