Real Madrid - History and Facts of the Football Club

Football is a global sport with several notable leagues and events worldwide. In almost every location on the globe, fans show their undying support for various football players and teams. Some people even have such a passion for their favorite teams that they don't only watch and cheer them on; they are always ready to put their money where their mouth is by betting on them. With Parimatch football betting, you can wager on any football game of your choice.

In football history, some clubs have revolutionized the sport and become known as institutions. These clubs have a tradition, an international following and several feats that set them apart from the rest. Real Madrid is one of the clubs with several remarkable records and achievements in their name. The club has one of the biggest fan bases that run across different countries worldwide, and their recent victory in the 2022 UEFA Champions League against Liverpool has made them even more popular. The history of Real Madrid is littered with spectacular events, and several great stars of the sport have donned the Los Blancos jersey. In reality, many football players wish to play for the club at some point in their careers.

History of the club

Real Madrid was initially formed when a football club named Sky broke into two separate clubs in 1897; the New Football de Madrid and Madrid Football Club. The team wasn't established until 1902, and they marked their early stages with four consecutive Copa del Rey titles, which was the only national tournament then.

However, the club did not receive the moniker Real Madrid, which is Spanish for "Royal Madrid," until 1920, when King Alfonso XIII, a supporter at the time, gave it its name. In 1929, Real Madrid and her illustrious rival Barcelona were among the pioneer teams of the Spanish La Liga. However, despite leading the league until their final game that year, they were beaten by Athletic Bilbao, and Barcelona went on to win the championship.

After a fantastic career as a Real Madrid player, Santiago Bernabeu was elected the club's president in 1943, becoming one of the institution's most recognizable figures. After the Civil War, he did an excellent job restoring order and reconstructing the club. In 1950, Bernabeu changed the name of the Real Madrid Amateurs to the Real Madrid Youth Academy, reorganizing the club into the hierarchical tiers that the club still possesses today. Bernabeu was also responsible for the club's early 1950s and early 1960s European dominance when he signed one of the iconic galacticos, Alfredo Di Stefano. Di Stefano led the team to five consecutive European championship trophies alongside other famous club legends such as Ferenc Puskas, Francisco Gento, Raymond Kopa, and others.

Real Madrid was established as one of the leading forces in the football world throughout Bernabeu's time as president, and it still is. He oversaw the club for 35 years, during which it amassed 32 titles. Today, "The Santiago Bernabeu” is the current name of Real Madrid's home stadium in honor of this illustrious icon.

The era of the Galacticos

Another significant revolutionary era in the club's history occurred during this period, characterized by many record-breaking high-profile signings. From 2000 through 2006, Florentino Perez served as the club's president for the first time. During this time, he made aggressive moves in the transfer market to acquire some of the top players in the world. Numerous renowned players, including Sergio Ramos, Makelele, David Beckham, Luis Figo, Ronaldo Delima, and Zinedine Zidane, joined the team in his time.

Even though his first stint did not produce as many trophies as his second, Perez was able to pay off the club's 270 million euros debt and completely restructured the club. He helped the team regain its footing through many infrastructure improvements and marquee signings. His second stint as president began in 2009, and he is still the club's president to date. One of the notable signings of this period was the Portuguese superstar Christiano Ronaldo, who was a record-breaking acquisition from Manchester United alongside top players including Kaka, Benzema, Gareth Bale, and other well-known names. So far, Real Madrid has won 52 trophies overall under Florentino Perez's leadership as club president.

Interesting facts about Real Madrid

With more than a century of football history, Real Madrid has won 94 official trophies. Their history to date is replete with many remarkable achievements, outstanding moments and excellent records that will be permanently etched in the football Hall of Fame. Here are some intriguing facts about the club:

• The club's biggest win in any tournament was against their arch-rivals FC Barcelona in the 1942–1943 Copa del Rey semi-final when they beat the Catalans 11–1. However, the victory was associated with some controversies, and it was said that this encounter kicked off the el-Clasico rivalry.
• Real Madrid holds the record for most Champions League titles with fourteen overall victories. They won five consecutively, the most ever won by a club in a row, and were also champions three consecutive seasons during Zinedine Zidane's stint as the club's manager.
• Real Madrid lost the UCL final on three occasions in 1962, 1964, and 1981 to Benfica, Inter Milan, and Liverpool, respectively. However, they have won every final they played since losing to Liverpool in 1981, a record run of seven finals without a loss.
• Gareth Bale remains the most expensive signing of the club, with a record signing of 101 million Euros in 2013.
• The highest-scoring final in the history of the European Cup was Madrid's 7-3 victory against Eintracht Frankfurt in the championship game in 1959–60.

Conclusion

The history of the Real Madrid football club is filled with many iconic moments, trophies and achievements. They remain one of the greatest football clubs globally in the history books of the sport. Don't forget to visit Parimatch for an exciting betting experience.