The Beginning

The club of Real Madrid was founded on March 6, 1902, in Madrid, Spain, by Juan Padrós and his brother Carlos. The title real is Spanish for “royal” and was given by King Alfonso XIII in 1920; the crown was also added to the club logo. The team’s first stadium was Campo de O’Donnell (1912-1923). Over the years, Real Madrid had three other stadiums: Campo de Ciudad Lineal (1923-1924); Estadio Chamartín (1924-1947); and Santiago Bernabéu (1947-present).                                                                                                   

The First Ever Team

The first players in the Real Madrid team were Berraondo, Alcalde, Joaquín Yarza, Paragés, Prast, Alonso, Revuelto, Armando Giralt, Manolo Yarza, Normand, y “Patache” Giralt. Despite the fact that the club was founded in 1902, their first season was 1905-1906. Alfonso Albéniz was the first ever player to be signed for Real Madrid. An interesting fact is that he was the first ever player to leave FC Barcelona in order to join Madrid.

The Trophies

Real Madrid won its first trophy three years after its founding, in 1905, after defeating Athletic Bilbao in the Spanish Cup final. After that the story started. The club has won 71 trophies: a record 36 La Liga titles, 20 Copa del Rey, 13 Supercopa de España, a Copa Eva Duarte, and a Copa de la Liga. Also Madrid has won a record 34 trophies: 15 European Cup/UEFA Champions League titles, a record 6 UEFA Super Cups, 2 UEFA Cups, a joint record two Latin Cups, a record one Iberoamerican Cup, and a record 8 FIFA Club World Championships. In total Real Madrid won 105 Trophies including domestic and International trophies. Real Madrid is the most successful club in Spain judging by trophies.

The Greatest Comebacks

1. Real Madrid 3-2 Wolfsburg (2015/16 Champions League Quarter Finals): After losing 2-0 to Wolfsburg in the first leg, Real Madrid came back in the second leg with a hat-trick by Cristiano Ronaldo, winning 3-0 and advancing 3-2 on aggregate. This dramatic turnaround helped them eventually win the Champions League that season.
2. Real Madrid 6-2 Liverpool (2022/23 Champions League Round of 16): Despite trailing 2-0 in the first leg, Real Madrid equalized and dominated Liverpool with a 5-2 win. In the second leg, they secured a 1-0 victory, advancing 6-2 on aggregate.
3. Real Madrid 3-2 Paris Saint-Germain (2021/22 Champions League Round of 16): PSG led 2-0 from the first leg and the first half of the second leg, but Real Madrid came back with Karim Benzema scoring a hat-trick to win 3-1 in the second leg and advance 3-2 on aggregate.

4. Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid (2014 Champions League Final): After trailing 1-0, Real Madrid equalized in stoppage time and dominated extra time, scoring three more goals to win 4-1 and secure their long-awaited 10th Champions League title.
5. Real Madrid 6-5 Manchester City (2021/22 Champions League Semi Finals): Manchester City led 4-3 from the first leg and 5-3 in the second leg with minutes left, but Real Madrid scored twice in quick succession to level the aggregate at 5-5 and then won 6-5 after extra time with a Benzema penalty.

The Greatest Players In Real Madrid History

5. Iker Casillas

Casillas was a legendary goalkeeper for Real Madrid for 25 years, known for his consistency and incredible saves. He won three Champions League titles and holds the record for the most clean sheets in the competition.

4. Sergio Ramos

Ramos was a defining presence for Real Madrid with his defensive skills and goal-scoring ability. He contributed to 22 trophies over his career, including crucial goals and a commanding presence in defense.

3. Zinedine Zidane  

Zidane, the Galactico, was known for his grace and decisive moments, like his famous goal in the 2002 Champions League final. His skill and later success as a manager solidified his legendary status at Real Madrid.

2. Alfredo Di Stefano

Di Stefano was a transformative figure for Real Madrid. With his exceptional skills and vision, he led the club to five European Cups and eight league titles, shaping the club’s rich history.

1. Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo is the greatest player in Real Madrid’s history. With 450 goals in fewer games than appearances, he consistently delivered incredible performances and won 15 titles, making a massive impact on the club.

The Best Real Madrid Squad

The 2016–17 Real Madrid season is considered one of the club’s most successful seasons, winning four titles, including the La Liga and Champions League. This squad is called the best squad in Real Madrid history, according to the trophies earned. The squad includes:

Goalkeepers:

1. Keylor Navas
2. Kiko Casilla

Defenders:

1. Dani Carvajal
2. Sergio Ramos
3. Pepe
4. Marcelo
5. Raphael Varane
6. Nacho Fernandez
7. Fabio Coentrao

Midfielders:

1. Luka Modric

   

2. Toni Kroos
3. Casemiro
4. Isco
5. Mateo Kovacic
6. James Rodriguez

Forwards:

1. Cristiano Ronaldo
2. Karim Benzema
3. Gareth Bale
4. Álvaro Morata
5. Marco Asensio
6. Lucas Vazquez

Coach:

– Zinedine Zidane

Current Squad

1 Thibaut Courtois (G) 

1 Luis Lopez (G) 

13 Andrii Lunin (G) 

26 Fran Gonzalez (G) 

2 Dani Carvajal (D) 

3 Eder Militao (D) 

4 David Alaba (D) 

18 Jesus Vallejo (D) 

20 Fran Garcia (D) 

22 Antonio Rudiger (D) 

23 Ferland Mendy (D) 

31 Jacobo Ramon (D) 

5 Jude Bellingham (M)

6 Eduardo Camavinga (M)

8 Federico Valverde (M) 

10 Luka Modric (M) 

14 Aurelien Tchouameni (M) 

15 Arda Guler (M) 

17 Lucas Vazquez (M) 

19 Dani Ceballos (M) 

21 Brahim Diaz (M) 

7 Vinicius Junior (F)   

9 Kylian Mbappe (F) 

11 Rodrygo (F) 

16 Endrick (F) 

Work Cited

• Bosque, V. d. (n.d.). Real Madrid CF – Wikipedia. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Retrieved September 12, 2024, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Madrid_CF
• Real Madrid Kit History, from 1902 to present. (2023, August 15). Behance. Retrieved September 12, 2024, from https://www.behance.net/gallery/177749209/Real-Madrid-Kit-History-from-1902-to-present?locale=en_US
• Wahl, M. (n.d.). Real Madrid – history and facts of the football club. Football history. Retrieved September 12, 2024, from https://www.footballhistory.org/club/real-madrid.html