Real Madrid CF facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Real Madrid

Full name	Real Madrid Club de Fútbol
Nickname(s)	Los Blancos (The Whites) Los Merengues (The Meringues) Los Vikingos (The Vikings) La Casa Blanca (The White House) Reyes de Europa (Kings of Europe) Madridistas (supporters)
Short name	RMA
Founded	6 March 1902; 123 years ago (1902-03-06) (as Madrid Football Club)
Stadium	Estadio Santiago Bernabéu
Stadium capacity	78,297
Stadium coordinates	40°27′11.0″N 3°41′18.1″W / 40.453056°N 3.688361°W / 40.453056; -3.688361
President	Florentino Pérez
Head coach	Carlo Ancelotti
League	La Liga
2022–23	La Liga, 2nd of 20
Home colours Away colours Third colours

Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, often called Real Madrid, is a famous Spanish professional football club. It is based in Madrid, the capital city of Spain. The team plays in La Liga, which is the top football league in Spain.

The club started in 1902 as Madrid Football Club. Since then, they have always worn a white home kit. The word real means "royal" in Spanish. King Alfonso XIII gave the club this special title in 1920. He also added a crown to the club's badge. Real Madrid has played its home games at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium since 1947. This stadium can hold about 85,000 fans.

Unlike many other European sports clubs, Real Madrid has always been owned and run by its members, called socios. The club's official song is "Hala Madrid y nada más". Real Madrid is one of the most popular football clubs in the world. In 2024, it was valued at $6.6 billion, making it the world's most valuable football club. It was also the first football club to earn €1 billion in revenue.

Real Madrid is one of the most successful football clubs globally. They have won many trophies both in Spain and in Europe. In Spain, they have won 71 trophies. This includes a record 36 La Liga titles and 20 Copa del Rey cups. In international competitions, Real Madrid has won a record 35 trophies. This includes a record 15 European Cup/UEFA Champions League titles. They also hold records for six UEFA Super Cups and nine FIFA Club World Cup championships.

Real Madrid is one of only three teams that have never been moved down from the top Spanish league since it began in 1929. The other two are Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona. Real Madrid has strong rivalries with other teams. The most famous ones are El Clásico against Barcelona and El Derbi Madrileño against Atlético Madrid.

The club became a major power in football during the 1950s and 1960s. They won the European Cup five times in a row and six times overall. This team had legendary players like Alfredo Di Stéfano and Ferenc Puskás. Real Madrid is also famous for its Galácticos policy. This means they signed the world's best players, like Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, and David Beckham. More recently, they have focused on signing young talents such as Vinícius Júnior, Rodrygo, and Jude Bellingham.

FIFA recognized Real Madrid as the "greatest football club of the 20th century." They also have the most appearances (55) in the European Cup/Champions League. Real Madrid is the only club to win three Champions League titles in a row twice. In June 2024, they won their 15th Champions League title. This was their sixth title in eleven seasons. As of February 2025, Real Madrid is ranked first in Europe by UEFA.

Club History and Success

Early Days: Founding the Club (1902–1943)

Football came to Madrid thanks to students and teachers from a school called Institución Libre de Enseñanza. Some of them had studied at Cambridge and Oxford Universities in England. In 1897, they started a club called (Sociedad) Sky Football.

In 1900, some members left to form a new club, Nueva Sociedad de Football. Among them were Julián Palacios, who is seen as Real Madrid's first president, and brothers Juan Padrós and Carlos Padrós, who would also become presidents. In 1901, this new club was renamed Madrid Football Club.

On 6 March 1902, Madrid Football Club was officially founded. The Padrós brothers wanted football to be a sport for everyone. They chose white as the team's shirt color to honor an English team called Corinthian F.C., known for their fair play.

Just three years later, in 1905, Madrid FC won its first trophy, the Spanish Cup. The club helped create the Royal Spanish Football Federation in 1909. In 1920, King Alfonso XIII gave the club the title "Real" (Royal), and it became Real Madrid.

The first Spanish football league started in 1929. Real Madrid almost won it but finished second. They won their first league title in the 1931–32 season and won it again the next year.

In 1931, when Spain became a republic, the club lost its "Real" title and the crown on its badge. It went back to being Madrid Football Club. This lasted until the end of the Spanish Civil War.

Santiago Bernabéu's Leadership and Golden Era (1943–1978)

Santiago Bernabéu became Real Madrid's president in 1943. He helped rebuild the club after the Civil War. He also oversaw the building of the club's current stadium, the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, and its training facilities. In the 1950s, Real Madrid also started its youth academy, known as La Fábrica.

Starting in 1953, Bernabéu began signing top players from other countries, like Alfredo Di Stéfano. In 1955, Bernabéu helped create the European Cup. This was a tournament for the best teams in Europe, now called the UEFA Champions League.

Under Bernabéu, Real Madrid became a major power in both Spanish and European football. The club won the European Cup five times in a row from 1956 to 1960. This included a 7–3 win against Eintracht Frankfurt in the 1960 final. Because of these five wins, Real was allowed to keep the original cup and wear a special badge of honor.

Real Madrid also dominated in Spain, winning twelve league titles between 1953 and 1969. This included winning five in a row from 1961 to 1965.

The club won the European Cup for a sixth time in 1966. They beat Partizan Belgrade 2–1 in the final. This team was special because it was made up entirely of Spanish players. They were known as the "Yé-yé" team. The name came from The Beatles' song "She Loves You" after some players posed like the band.

In the 1970s, Real Madrid won six more league titles and three Spanish Cups. On 2 July 1978, Santiago Bernabéu passed away. FIFA declared three days of mourning for him. The club later started the Trofeo Santiago Bernabéu tournament in his memory.

The "Vulture's Cohort" and Continued Success (1980–2000)

In the early 1980s, Real Madrid struggled to win the league title. But then, a group of talented young players from their own youth academy changed things. A sports journalist called them La Quinta del Buitre ("The Vulture's Cohort"). This name came from the nickname of one of its members, Emilio Butragueño. The other key players were Manolo Sanchís, Martín Vázquez, Míchel, and Miguel Pardeza.

With these players, plus others like goalkeeper Francisco Buyo and striker Hugo Sánchez, Real Madrid became one of the best teams in Spain and Europe. In the second half of the 1980s, they won two UEFA Cups, five Spanish championships in a row, one Spanish Cup, and three Spanish Super Cups.

In 1996, Lorenzo Sanz, the club president, hired Fabio Capello as coach. Even though Capello stayed for only one season, Real Madrid won the league. New players like Predrag Mijatović, Roberto Carlos, and Clarence Seedorf joined the team. They joined existing stars like Raúl and Fernando Hierro.

In 1998, under manager Jupp Heynckes, Real Madrid finally won their seventh European Cup. This was after a 32-year wait. They beat Juventus 1–0 in the final.

In 1999, Vicente del Bosque became coach. For the 1999–2000 season, the team still had experienced players like Fernando Hierro and Raúl. They also had young talents like Iker Casillas and new signings like Steve McManaman. In Del Bosque's first season, Real won the Champions League for the eighth time. They beat Valencia 3–0 in the final. This win started a very successful time for Real Madrid.

The "Galácticos" Era (2000–2006)

In July 2000, Florentino Pérez was elected club president. He promised to clear the club's large debt and update its facilities. His main promise was to sign Luís Figo from their rivals, Barcelona. The next year, the club sold its training ground. They used the money to build the "Galácticos" team. This meant signing a global superstar every summer. These players included Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, Luís Figo, and David Beckham.

While they won the UEFA Champions League and an Intercontinental Cup in 2002, and La Liga in 2003, they didn't win a major trophy for the next three seasons. However, this strategy helped the club earn a lot of money worldwide, especially in Asia.

After winning the 2003 La Liga title, Pérez made a controversial decision to fire the winning coach, Vicente del Bosque. Many players left, including captain Fernando Hierro. Defensive midfielder Claude Makélélé also left because he was one of the lowest-paid players.

The 2005–06 season started with new signings like Júlio Baptista and Robinho. But Real Madrid had some bad results, including a 0–3 loss to Barcelona at home. Coach Wanderley Luxemburgo was fired, and Juan Ramón López Caro took over. Real Madrid was knocked out of the Champions League for the fourth year in a row by Arsenal. On 27 February 2006, Florentino Pérez resigned as president.

Ramón Calderón's Time (2006–2009)

Ramón Calderón became club president on 2 July 2006. He appointed Fabio Capello as the new coach. Real Madrid won the Liga title in 2007, their first in four years. However, Capello was still fired at the end of the season. The title was won on 17 June, with Real coming back from 0–1 down at half-time to win 3–1 against Mallorca.

Real Madrid won the league again in 2007–08. But the next season was very difficult. Real was knocked out of the Champions League early for the fifth time in a row by Liverpool. They also suffered a big 2–6 loss to Barcelona at home. This loss helped Barcelona win the league title and a "treble" (winning three major trophies in one season).

Second Florentino Pérez Era (2009–Present)

On 1 June 2009, Florentino Pérez became Real Madrid's president again. He continued his "Galácticos" policy. He bought Kaká for a record £56 million. Then he broke that record by buying Cristiano Ronaldo for £80 million. Real Madrid spent over €261 million that summer. This new team was called the "Second Galácticos."

The 2009–10 season was a rebuilding year. Madrid finished second in the league, but with a club record 96 points. They were knocked out of the Champions League by Lyon. Cristiano Ronaldo was injured for seven weeks but still scored 33 goals. Madrid became the highest-scoring team in La Liga with 102 goals.

José Mourinho became manager in May 2010. In the 2010–11 season, Madrid competed strongly against a very good Barcelona team. Madrid finished second in the league. They beat Barcelona in the Copa del Rey final, winning their first trophy of the second Galáctico era. They also reached the Champions League semi-finals for the first time since 2003.

In the 2011–12 season, Real Madrid won La Liga for a record 32nd time. They set many league records, including 100 points in a season and 121 goals scored. They reached the Champions League semi-finals again but lost to Bayern Munich in a penalty shootout. Cristiano Ronaldo became the fastest player to score 100 goals in the Spanish league. He also scored against all 19 other teams in a single season.

The 2012–13 season started with a win in the Supercopa de España against Barcelona. However, this was their only trophy that season. They finished second in La Liga and reached the Champions League semi-finals for the third year in a row. They lost the Copa del Rey final to Atlético Madrid. After this, José Mourinho left the club.

Winning "La Décima" and Champions League Dominance

On 25 June 2013, Carlo Ancelotti became Real Madrid's new manager. Zinedine Zidane was one of his assistants. On 1 September 2013, Gareth Bale joined the club from Tottenham Hotspur. His transfer fee was reportedly a new world record, around €100 million.

In Ancelotti's first season, Real Madrid competed for three major trophies. They finished third in La Liga. However, they won the Copa del Rey in April, beating Barcelona. The biggest success came in the UEFA Champions League. Real reached the final after twelve years. They beat Bayern Munich 5–0 over two games in the semi-finals. In the final, they defeated their city rivals Atlético Madrid 4–1 after extra time. This win secured their tenth European Cup, known as "La Décima" (The Tenth).

After winning the 2014 Champions League, Real Madrid signed Keylor Navas, Toni Kroos, and James Rodríguez. In August, Madrid won the 2014 UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla. This was the club's 79th official trophy. However, they sold key players Xabi Alonso and Ángel Di María.

The 2014–15 season started slowly. But Real Madrid then went on a record-breaking 22-match winning streak. This included wins against Barcelona and Liverpool. In December, they won their first Club World Cup. The winning streak ended in January 2015. Real competed for the La Liga title and Champions League until the end. They finished second in the league and lost to Juventus in the Champions League semi-finals. Carlo Ancelotti was dismissed on 25 May 2015.

On 3 June 2015, Rafael Benítez became the new manager. Real Madrid was unbeaten in the league until November. They then lost 0–4 at home to Barcelona. Benítez's time is remembered for some very big wins. However, Real was disqualified from the Copa del Rey for accidentally playing an ineligible player. Benítez was fired on 4 January 2016. Zinedine Zidane was then promoted to head coach.

Under Zidane, Madrid improved greatly. They won the Champions League, which was unexpected. They beat Barcelona 2–1 away. They also made a great comeback against Wolfsburg in the Champions League quarter-finals. Real finished second in the league, just one point behind Barcelona. On 28 May, Real Madrid won their eleventh Champions League title. They beat Atlético Madrid 5–3 in a penalty shootout after a 1–1 draw in the final. This achievement was called "La Undécima".

Real Madrid started the 2016–17 season with a win in the 2016 UEFA Super Cup against Sevilla. On 10 December 2016, Madrid played their 35th straight match without a loss, a new club record. On 18 December 2016, they won the 2016 FIFA Club World Cup. Their unbeaten run reached 40 matches, breaking Barcelona's Spanish record.

In May, Madrid won the league title for a record 33rd time. This was their first league title in five years. On 3 June 2017, the club beat Juventus in the Champions League final. This made Real Madrid the first team to successfully defend their title in the Champions League era. It was their 12th title, known as "La Duodécima". The 2016–17 season was Real Madrid's most successful in terms of trophies won (four out of five possible).

Real started the 2017–18 season by winning their second straight UEFA Super Cup. They then beat Barcelona in the 2017 Supercopa de España. On 16 December 2017, Real won the 2017 FIFA Club World Cup, becoming the first team to retain the trophy. In the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League, Madrid reached the final again. They defeated Liverpool 3–1 to win their third straight Champions League title. This was their fourth win in five years.

On 31 May, just five days after the final, Zidane resigned as manager. He said the club needed a "change." Zidane's and Ronaldo's departures marked the end of the "Second Galáctico Era." This period brought four Champions League titles and two La Liga titles, among other trophies.

After Ronaldo's Departure and Recent Success

On 12 June 2018, Real Madrid named Julen Lopetegui, the Spanish national team coach, as their new manager. Cristiano Ronaldo was sold to Juventus for €117 million. Madrid started the 2018–19 season by losing to Atlético Madrid in the 2018 UEFA Super Cup. After a 1–5 loss to Barcelona in El Clásico, Lopetegui was fired. Santiago Solari took over.

On 22 December 2018, Real Madrid won the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup. They became the record winners with four titles. However, they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey by Barcelona. On 5 March 2019, Real lost to Ajax at home and crashed out of the Champions League early. On 11 March 2019, Real Madrid fired Solari and brought Zidane back as head coach.

In the summer of 2019, Madrid signed many new players, including Eden Hazard and Luka Jović. On 12 January 2020, Madrid beat Atlético Madrid in a penalty shootout to win their eleventh Supercopa de España. After a break due to the COVID-19 pandemic, La Liga restarted in June. Madrid won ten games in a row to win their 34th league title. During this time, Real played home games at the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium while the Santiago Bernabéu was being renovated.

More Domestic Success and "La Decimocuarta"

Zidane left for a second time in May 2021. Carlo Ancelotti returned to coach the team for the 2021–22 season. He led them to win La Liga and the Supercopa de España. This meant Ancelotti had won all six major trophies available at Madrid.

In the Champions League, Madrid had an amazing run. They beat tough teams like Paris Saint-Germain, Chelsea, and Manchester City. They then faced Liverpool in the final. A single goal from Vinícius Júnior secured Real's 14th European Cup. This was their fifth in nine years. Real also won their fourth "European double" (league and Champions League).

Even More Success and "La Decimoquinta"

After a very successful 2021–22 season, Real Madrid signed Antonio Rüdiger and Aurélien Tchouaméni. Club legends like Marcelo and Casemiro left. Real Madrid's 2022–23 season started with wins in the UEFA Super Cup and FIFA Club World Cup. They also won the 2022–23 Copa del Rey. However, they lost La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup to Barcelona. They also lost to Manchester City in the Champions League.

In 2023, Real Madrid signed Jude Bellingham, who took the number 5 jersey, previously worn by Zinedine Zidane. They also signed Arda Güler and Fran García. Vinícius Júnior was given the number 7 jersey, and Rodrygo the number 11. Karim Benzema left the club.

The 2023–24 season was another very successful one. Real Madrid won the Spanish Super Cup against Barcelona 4–1. They then won La Liga easily, reaching 95 points. This was their second-best league season ever. In the 2023–24 UEFA Champions League, Real Madrid beat RB Leipzig and then defending champions Manchester City.

In the semi-finals, Real Madrid played Bayern Munich. After a 2–2 draw in the first match, Real won the second game at the Bernabéu. Joselu scored two late goals for a historic comeback. Real Madrid then faced Borussia Dortmund in the final. They won 2–0, with Dani Carvajal scoring from a corner and Vinícius Júnior scoring again in a Champions League final. Real Madrid won their 15th Champions League title without losing a single match in the tournament.

After the season, Real Madrid announced that star striker Kylian Mbappé would join the club in July 2024. On 18 December 2024, Real Madrid won their second trophy of the season. They lifted the first-ever 2024 FIFA Intercontinental Cup by beating Pachuca 3–0.

Club Badges and Team Colors

Club Badges: A Look at the Crests

• 

  1902

• 

  1908

• 

  1920

• 

  1931

• 

  2001

The first club badge was simple. It had the letters "MCF" for Madrid Club de Fútbol. These letters were dark blue on a white shirt.

The badge changed in 1908. The letters became smoother and were placed inside a circle. The next change happened in 1920. This was when King Alfonso XIII gave the club the title "Real Madrid," meaning "Royal Madrid." So, the King's crown was added to the badge.

When the monarchy ended in 1931, all royal symbols were removed. The crown was replaced by a dark red band representing the region of Castile. In 1941, after the Spanish Civil War, the "Royal Crown" was put back on the badge. The Castile stripe stayed too. The whole badge was made colorful, mostly gold. The club went back to its name Real Madrid Club de Fútbol. The most recent change to the badge was in 2001. The club wanted to update its look for the new century. The red stripe was changed to a more bluish color.

Team Colors: The Famous White Kit

Real Madrid has almost always worn a white shirt for its home games. There was only one season when the shirt and shorts were not both white. This was in 1925. The club tried wearing black shorts to be like the English team Corinthian F.C.. But this only lasted one year. After losing badly to Barcelona in a cup game, the president decided to go back to the all-white kit. He thought the other kit brought bad luck.

By the early 1940s, the manager added buttons to the shirt and the club's badge to the left chest. This has stayed the same ever since. On 23 November 1947, Real Madrid was the first Spanish team to wear numbered shirts.

Real's traditional away colors are all blue or all purple. Over the years, the club has also used other colors like red, green, orange, and black for their away kits. The club's kit is made by Adidas. They have had a contract with Adidas since 1998.

Real Madrid's first shirt sponsor was Zanussi in the 1980s. After that, they had sponsors like Parmalat and Otaysa. In 1992, they signed a long-term deal with Teka. In 2001, Real Madrid used their own website logo, Realmadrid.com, on their shirts for one season. Then, they signed deals with Siemens and BenQ Siemens. From 2007 to 2013, bwin.com was their shirt sponsor. Since 2013, Fly Emirates has been their main shirt sponsor. In 2015, Madrid signed a new ten-year contract with Adidas, worth a huge amount of money.

Kit Suppliers and Shirt Sponsors

Period	Kit manufacturer	Shirt sponsor
1981–1982	Adidas	—
1982–1985		Zanussi
1985–1989	Hummel	Parmalat
1989–1991		Reny Picot
1991–1992		Otaysa
1992–1994		Teka
1994–1998	Kelme
1998–2001	Adidas
2001–2002		Realmadrid.com
2002–2005		Siemens mobile
2005–2006		Siemens
2006–2007		BenQ-Siemens
2007–2013		bwin
2013–0000		Emirates

Club Stadiums and Training Grounds

Santiago Bernabéu

Capacity	85,000
Field size	107 m × 72 m (351 ft × 236 ft)
Construction
Broke ground	27 October 1944
Opened	14 December 1947
Architect	Manuel Muñoz Monasterio, Luis Alemany Soler, Antonio Lamela

Real Madrid has played in several stadiums over the years. From 1912 to 1923, they played at the Campo de O'Donnell. After that, they moved to the Campo de Ciudad Lineal for a year. Then, they started playing at the Estadio Chamartín, which opened in 1923. This stadium could hold 22,500 fans. Real Madrid won its first Spanish league title here.

In 1943, president Santiago Bernabéu decided the Chamartín stadium was too small. So, a new stadium was built. It opened on 14 December 1947. It was first called Nuevo Chamartín. In 1955, it was renamed in honor of Bernabéu. It is still known as the Santiago Bernabéu today.

The stadium's capacity has changed over time. It reached 120,000 after an expansion in 1953. Now, its official capacity is 81,044 spectators. Real Madrid has one of the highest average attendances in Europe.

The Bernabéu has hosted many important matches. These include the 1964 UEFA European Championship final and the 1982 FIFA World Cup final. It has also hosted four European Cup/Champions League finals. In 2007, UEFA gave the Bernabéu "Elite Football Stadium" status.

On 9 May 2006, the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium was opened. It is named after club legend Alfredo Di Stéfano. This stadium is part of the Ciudad Real Madrid, the club's training facility. The first match there was a replay of the 1956 European Cup final between Real Madrid and Reims. Real Madrid won 6–1. This stadium can hold 5,000 people and is the home ground for Real Madrid Castilla, the club's reserve team. For parts of the 2019–20 and 2020–21 seasons, the main team played here. This was because of the COVID-19 pandemic and renovations at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The Santiago Bernabéu is currently being renovated. The plan is to increase its capacity to almost 85,000. It will also have a retractable roof, a retractable pitch, and a 360-degree screen. The work started in 2019 and is expected to finish soon.

Club Records and Statistics

Raúl holds the record for playing the most games for Real Madrid. He played 741 times from 1994 to 2010. Iker Casillas is second with 725 games. The record for a goalkeeper is also held by Iker Casillas. Cristiano Ronaldo has scored the most international goals for the club, with 63.

Cristiano Ronaldo (2009–2018) is Real Madrid's all-time top goalscorer. He scored 450 goals in 438 matches. Six other players have scored over 200 goals for Real. These include Alfredo Di Stéfano, Santillana, Ferenc Puskás, Hugo Sánchez, Karim Benzema, and Raúl. Cristiano Ronaldo also holds the record for most league goals in one season (48 in 2014–15). He is Real's top goalscorer in La Liga history with 311 goals. The fastest goal in the club's history was scored by Iván Zamorano in 13 seconds in 1994.

The highest attendance for a Real Madrid home match was 129,690 in 1956. This was for a European Cup match against Milan. Real holds many records in Spanish football. They have the most domestic titles (36 as of 2023–24). They also have the record for the longest unbeaten run at home in La Liga, with 121 matches.

The club also holds the record for winning the European Cup/UEFA Champions League fifteen times. They have made the most semi-final appearances (33). Cristiano Ronaldo is the all-time top scorer in the UEFA Champions League. He scored 105 goals for Real Madrid in this competition. The team has a record of 22 consecutive wins in all competitions during the 2014–15 season.

In June 2009, the club broke the record for the highest transfer fee ever paid in football history. They bought Cristiano Ronaldo for €94 million. Before that, the record was for Zinedine Zidane's transfer in 2001. The transfer of Gareth Bale in 2013 was also a world record, around €100 million. In 2019, Real Madrid equaled their record signing by buying Eden Hazard for €115 million. The club's record sale was Cristiano Ronaldo to Juventus for €117 million in 2018.

Club Supporters

Most seats at Real Madrid's home matches are taken by season-ticket holders. There are 65,000 season tickets available. To get one, you must first be a socio, or club member. The club also has over 1,800 official fan groups, called peñas, around the world. Real Madrid regularly attracts over 74,000 fans to the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

Real Madrid is one of the most supported teams globally. In April 2017, they were the first sports team to reach 100 million fans on Facebook. Real Madrid's most dedicated fans are called the Ultras Sur.

Club Rivalries

El Clásico: Real Madrid vs. Barcelona

There is a very strong rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona. Their matches are known as "The Classic" (El Clásico). This rivalry comes from the fact that the clubs represent two different regions in Spain: Castile (Madrid) and Catalonia (Barcelona). Many people see it as a reflection of historical tensions between these regions.

Over the years, Real Madrid has won 105 matches against Barcelona. Barcelona has won 101, and there have been 52 draws (as of December 2024).

In the 1930s, Barcelona became a symbol of Catalan identity. This was against the central government in Madrid. During the time of Francisco Franco's rule, regional languages and identities were suppressed. Many people in Barcelona opposed Franco's government. Barcelona's motto, Més que un club (More than a club), came from its connection to Catalan identity.

Historians agree that Franco did not have a favorite football team at first. But he associated himself with established teams like Real Madrid. He also wanted Barcelona to succeed as a "Spanish team." During Franco's rule, Real Madrid won many titles, including six European Cups. This success made Real Madrid important for Spain's image around the world.

The rivalry became even stronger in the 1950s. Both clubs wanted to sign Alfredo Di Stéfano. He was a very talented player. FIFA decided that Di Stéfano would play for both clubs for different seasons. But Barcelona's president resigned, and Real Madrid ended up signing him permanently. Di Stéfano became a key player in Real Madrid's success, helping them win the first five European Cups.

In the 1960s, Real Madrid and Barcelona met twice in the European Cup. Real Madrid won one meeting, and Barcelona won the other. In the 1970s, Johan Cruyff joined Barcelona. He became popular with fans when he said he chose Barcelona over Real Madrid because he didn't want to play for a club linked to Franco.

El Clásico matches are known for their intensity. Players often celebrate goals in memorable ways. For example, in 1999, Real Madrid's Raúl silenced Barcelona fans by putting a finger to his lips after scoring. In 2017, Lionel Messi celebrated a late winner for Barcelona by holding his shirt up to Real Madrid fans.

El Derbi Madrileño: Real Madrid vs. Atlético Madrid

Real Madrid's closest rival is Atlético Madrid. The two teams first met in 1906. Their first league meeting was in 1929, with Real winning 2–1. After the Civil War, Atlético was linked with the military air force.

In the 1950s, Franco's government started to favor Real Madrid. This was because of Real Madrid's success in the European Cup. Atlético fans often chanted that Real was "The team of the government, the shame of the country." Atlético fans also adopted the nickname "Indios" (Indians). This was a reference to the many Latin American players they signed.

Between 1961 and 1989, Real Madrid dominated La Liga. Only Atlético offered a serious challenge, winning league titles in 1966, 1970, 1973, and 1977. In 1965, Atlético became the first team to beat Real at the Bernabéu in eight years.

Real Madrid has had a better record against Atlético in recent times. Atlético's first win over Real since 1999 came in the Copa del Rey final in May 2013. In 2013–14, Real and Atlético met in the UEFA Champions League final. This was the first final between two clubs from the same city. Real Madrid won 4–1 after extra time. They met again in the 2016 Champions League final. Real won again after a penalty shootout.

El Viejo Clásico: Real Madrid vs. Athletic Bilbao

There is also a smaller rivalry between Real Madrid and Athletic Bilbao. This is called El Viejo Clásico (the old classic). It's named this because these two clubs were very strong in the first half of the 20th century. They met in nine Copa del Rey finals.

Athletic Bilbao has a policy of only using local players. Because of this, they are not as competitive against clubs like Real Madrid, who sign players from all over the world. However, their matches are still important because of their history and cultural meaning. Athletic is the biggest club in the Basque region.

European Rivalries

Real Madrid vs. Bayern Munich

Real Madrid and Bayern Munich are two of the most successful clubs in the UEFA Champions League/European Cup. Real has won 15 times, and Bayern has won six. They have never met in a final, but their matches are very important. Real Madrid fans sometimes call Bayern the "Bestia negra" ("Black Beast").

In the 2010s, they met in the Champions League semi-finals three times. Bayern won in 2012. Real Madrid won in 2014 and 2018. Both times Real went on to win the competition.

Real Madrid vs. Juventus

Another frequent opponent in the European Cup/Champions League is Juventus, the most successful Italian club. They have played each other 21 times. Their record is very close, with Juventus winning nine times, Real Madrid winning ten, and two draws.

Their first meeting was in 1962. Real Madrid won. In the 1998 UEFA Champions League Final, Real Madrid beat Juventus 1–0. They met again in the 2002–03 UEFA Champions League semi-finals, with Juventus winning. By then, star player Zinedine Zidane had moved from Juventus to Real Madrid.

They met again in the 2017 UEFA Champions League Final in Cardiff. Ronaldo scored twice as Real Madrid won 4–1. Their latest Champions League meeting was in the 2017–18 quarter-finals. Real Madrid won in a dramatic match. Cristiano Ronaldo scored three goals in that tie, including a spectacular overhead kick. A few months later, he transferred to Juventus.

Club Finances and Ownership

Under Florentino Pérez's first presidency (2000–2006), Real Madrid aimed to become the richest football club. The club sold parts of its training grounds in Madrid. This sale helped the club pay off its debts. It also allowed them to buy very expensive players like Zinedine Zidane, Luís Figo, Ronaldo, and David Beckham.

This strategy helped the club earn a lot of money from marketing the Real Madrid brand globally. However, some people criticized it for focusing too much on marketing and not enough on the team's performance.

By 2007, Real Madrid was considered the most valuable football brand in Europe. In 2010, Real Madrid had the highest income in football worldwide. A study at Harvard University found that Real Madrid is one of the top 20 most important brands. It is followed by an estimated 287 million people worldwide.

Real Madrid, like Barcelona, Athletic Bilbao, and Osasuna, is owned by its supporters. This means the club's members, called "socios," elect the president. The president cannot invest their own money. The club can only spend what it earns. This money comes from sponsorships, partnerships, merchandise sales, TV rights, prize money, and ticket sales. You cannot buy shares in the club, only a membership. In 2010, the club had 60,000 members.

In 2013, Forbes magazine listed Real Madrid as the world's most valuable sports team, worth $3.3 billion. In 2022, Forbes again listed Real Madrid as the most valuable football club in the world, at $5.1 billion.

Honours: Real Madrid's Trophies

Real Madrid CF honours

Type	Competition	Titles	Seasons
Domestic	La Liga	36	1931–32, 1932–33, 1953–54, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1960–61, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2002–03, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2016–17, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2023–24
	Copa del Rey	20	1905, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1917, 1934, 1936, 1946, 1947, 1961–62, 1969–70, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1988–89, 1992–93, 2010–11, 2013–14, 2022–23
	Copa de la Liga	1	1985
	Supercopa de España	13	1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2008, 2012, 2017, 2020, 2022, 2024
	Copa Eva Duarte	1	1947
Continental	European Cup/UEFA Champions League	15	1955–56, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1965–66, 1997–98, 1999–2000, 2001–02, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2021–22, 2023–24
	UEFA Cup/UEFA Europa League	2	1984–85, 1985–86
	UEFA Super Cup	6	2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2024
	Latin Cup	2s	1955, 1957
Worldwide	FIFA Club World Cup	5	2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022
	Intercontinental Cup	3s	1960, 1998, 2002
	FIFA Intercontinental Cup	1	2024
	Ibero-American Cup	1	1994
Regional	Campeonato de Madrid/Campeonato Regional Centro	23	1903, 1905, 1905–06, 1906–07, 1907–08, 1912–13, 1915–16, 1916–17, 1917–18, 1919–20, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1923–24, 1925–26, 1926–27, 1928–29, 1929–30, 1930–31, 1931–32, 1932–33, 1933–34, 1934–35, 1935–36
	Copa Federación Centro	4s	1923, 1928, 1943, 1945

•      record
• ^s shared record

Players: Current Squad and Academy

Spanish teams can have only three players who are not citizens of the European Union (EU). The list below shows each player's main nationality. Some non-European players also have dual citizenship with an EU country. Also, players from certain African, Caribbean, and Pacific countries are not counted against non-EU limits.

Current First Team Squad

No. Position Player 1 GK Thibaut Courtois 2 DF Dani Carvajal (vice-captain) 3 DF Éder Militão 4 DF David Alaba 5 MF Jude Bellingham 6 MF Eduardo Camavinga 7 FW Vinícius Júnior 8 MF Federico Valverde 9 FW Kylian Mbappé 10 MF Luka Modrić (captain) 11 FW Rodrygo

No. Position Player 13 GK Andriy Lunin 14 MF Aurélien Tchouaméni 15 MF Arda Güler 16 FW Endrick 17 DF Lucas Vázquez 18 DF Jesús Vallejo 19 MF Dani Ceballos 20 DF Fran García 21 FW Brahim Díaz 22 DF Antonio Rüdiger 23 DF Ferland Mendy

Reserve and Academy Teams

No. Position Player 26 GK Fran González 29 DF Youssef Enríquez 30 FW Gonzalo García 31 DF Jacobo Ramón 32 MF Manuel Ángel 33 MF Antonio David 34 GK Sergio Mestre 35 DF Raúl Asencio 36 MF Chema Andrés 38 DF David Jiménez

No. Position Player 39 DF Lorenzo Aguado 40 MF Hugo de Llanos 41 DF Jesús Fortea 42 FW Daniel Yáñez 43 DF Diego Aguado 44 FW Víctor Muñoz 45 DF Víctor Valdepeñas 46 DF Kike Ribes 47 MF Pol Fortuny 48 DF Mario Rivas

Players Out on Loan

No. Position Player DF Rafa Obrador (at Deportivo La Coruña until 30 June 2025) DF Marvel (at Córdoba until 30 June 2025) MF Reinier (at Granada until 30 June 2025)

No. Position Player MF Mario Martín (at Valladolid until 30 June 2025) FW Álvaro Rodríguez (at Getafe until 30 June 2025)

Club Personnel: Coaches and Management

Current Coaching Staff

Position	Staff
Head coach	Carlo Ancelotti
Assistant coach	Davide Ancelotti
Technical assistant coach	Francesco Mauri
Head fitness coach	Antonio Pintus
Assistant technical & fitness coach	Beniamino Fulco
Goalkeeping coach	Luis Llopis
Technical analyst	Simone Montanaro
Recovery specialist	José Carlos Parrales

• Last updated: 21 August 2021

Club Management

Position	Staff
President	Florentino Pérez
Vice-presidents	Fernando Fernández Tapias
	Eduardo Fernández de Blas
	Pedro López Jiménez
Honorary President	José Martínez Sánchez - Pirri
Secretary of the Board	Enrique Sánchez González
Members	Ángel Luis Heras Aguado Santiago Aguadi García Jerónimo Farré Muncharaz Enrique Pérez Rodriguez Manuel Cerezo Velázquez José Sánchez Bernal Gumersindo Santamaría Gil Raúl Ronda Ortiz José Manuel Otero Lastre Nicolás Martín-Sanz García Catalina Miñarro Brugarolas Manuel Torres Gómez

• Last updated: 4 June 2024

Images for kids

• 

  Real Madrid's captain Paco Gento shaking hands with Zamalek's captain Sharif El-Far before their friendly match in Cairo on 10 March 1961.

• 

  2016–17 La Liga champions Real Madrid celebrate the title with Community of Madrid President Cristina Cifuentes.

• 

  Pre-match display at the 2017 Champions League final between Real Madrid and Juventus.

See also

In Spanish: Real Madrid Club de Fútbol para niños

• European Club Association
• List of fan-owned sports teams