REAL MADRID

6 March 1902 - Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing

On 6 March 1902, Real Madrid (Real Madrid Club de Fútbol) was founded as Sociedad Madrid FC. It has grown to become one of the world's most successful clubs, with a trophy case that includes over thirty-one league titles and nine European Cups, both of which are record numbers.

Though the current version of the club dates to 1902, Real traces its origin back to 1897, when students and faculty of Madrid's Institución Libre de Enseñanza founded Football Club Sky. In 1900, FC Sky split, with one half forming Club Español de Madrid, which itself split two years later when club president Julian Palácios left to create Sociedad Madrid FC. Madrid won its first silverware three years later, defeating Athletic Bilbao in the 1905 Spanish Cup Final.

In 1929, King Alfonso XIII conferred royal favor on the club, changing its name to Real Madrid. They also altered their crest to place the royal crown over their interlocking "MCF." Royal patronage identified Real as the "establishment" club in subsequent years, which in part fueled the rivalry with Barcelona, identified as leftist. The distinctions were especially pronounced during the regime of Francisco Franco, who supported Real while persecuting Barça and its Catalan supporters.

Real is Spain's most successful team, with 58 domestic trophies. Although they have won titles in every decade but one since their founding (they missed out in the 1940s, which, incidentally, was when Barcelona rose to prominence), their most successful period was during the 1960s, when they won the league in eight seasons out of ten. They have had tremendous international success as well, winning nine European Cup/UEFA Champions League titles, including five straight from 1956 to 1960. 

The club established itself as a major force in both Spanish and European football during the 1950s and 60s, winning five consecutive and six overall European Cup and reaching a further two finals. This success was replicated on the domestic front, with Madrid winning 12 league titles in 16 years. This team, which included Alfredo di Stefano, Ference Puskas, Paco Gento and Raymond Kopa is considered, by some in the sport, to be the greatest of all time.

Being one of the three founding members of La Liga that have never been relegated from the top division since its inception in 1929 (along with Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona), Real Madrid has many long-standing rivalries, most notably El Clasico with Barcelona and El Derbi Madrileno with Atletico Madrid