The Club

Real Madrid C.F.

Real Madrid Club de Fútbol (also known as Real Madrid, Los Blancos or Los Merengues) is a professional Spanish football club based in Madrid. Founded in 1902, it plays in La Liga and is one of the most successful football clubs of the 20th century, having won thirty La Liga titles, seventeen Copa del Rey and was European Champions for a record nine times. The team is also a member of the G-14 group of leading European football clubs.

It plays its home games at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium in Madrid. Real Madrid is unusual in that, unlike most football clubs, it has been owned and operated only by its members (socios) since 1902. On December 23, 2000, FIFA awarded the Spanish team the title of the “Best Club of the 20th Century”. Los Blancos is the most successful club in UEFA club football competitions history with nine European Cups and two UEFA Cups; more than any other European club. The only European trophy it hasn’t won is the European Cup Winners Cup, in which it played two finals.

With over 228 million supporters worldwide, Real Madrid is the biggest football club in the world according to the case studies at Harvard University in 2006, followed by Manchester United with 168 million.

Estadio Santiago Bernabeu

Name: Santiago Bernabeu
Address: Concha Espina 1, 28036 Madrid
Capacity: 80 000
Dimensions: 106 x 70 metres
First Match: 14th December 1947

Santiago Bernabeu became the president of Real Madrid I 1943. One of his priorities was building a new, big stadium. The one used until that moment – Chamartin – was definitely too small. In 1945 construction of the new stadium started and lasted for two years. After the construction was finished, the new Chamartin was considered to be among the most beautiful and modern in the world. It had a capacity of 75.342 places. The first match played there took place on the 14th December 1947 against Os Belenenses of Portugal.

In 1954 it was expanded to 125.000 (!) places and became one of the biggest in the world. Since 1957 it has been called not Chamartin, but Estadio Santiago Bernabeu – this is how Real shown its gratitude for what senor Bernabeu did for it. E. S. B. became the witness of the most glorious events in the history of the club – the five in a row European Cup triumphs and the wonderful goals of the club’s best sniper in history – Alfredo di Stefano. Among the great matches played on this stadium’s pitch were the Champions Cup finals in 1957 and 1964 as well as many finals of Copa del Rey (King’s Cup). The stadium was also the scene of many celebration connected to Real’s history, e.g. the 75th anniversary in 1977.

In 1982, due to the World Cup taking place in Spain, the stadium received a roof and its capacity was decreased to 105.000 seats. The final match of the World Cup, which took place at the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu, was won by Italy with a 3-1 score against Germany. In the beginning of the 90s the sharpened safety rules forced another decreasing of the capacity – to 75 thousand places – but also allowed modernising of the appearance. Estadio Santiago Bernabeu is a special place. It was and is the witness of the greatest successes in the history of Real Madrid, both in the current and past years.

It’s been more than 60 years since the stadium was inaugurated. Real Madrid and Os Belenenses met on 14 December 1947 to play the first match in what has become an iconic facility in world football. Luis Molowny and José Llopis Corona participated in that match, and six decades later they told us what they remember about that historic day in Madridismo.

Molowny Arbelo, more frequently known as “El Mangas”, played for Real Madrid for eleven seasons after joining the club in 1946 by way of the Canary Islands. Molowny was a member of the Madridista squad that played against Os Belenenses in the inaugural match of Chamartín.

What do you remember about that 14 December 1947?
I’ll never forget it. I had arrived in Madrid one year earlier. I debuted against Barcelona and scored a header. We played at Metropolitano Stadium during the 1946/47 season and half of the following one. I also remember training in Ciudad Universitaria until the stadium was completed. We would come see how the construction was going because we were all so anxious to play on our field. The entire squad wanted to play the day of the inauguration because we all knew it was such an historic day for the club.

Were the players surprised by the new stadium?
Like I said, we kept an eye on the construction and knew it was going to be big. Bonds were also sold to help in the construction, and the players pitched in. We were very involved in the project. It was exciting having a stadium of such magnitude. I spent my entire youth in it.

What do you recall from the match against the Portuguese?
We were all filled with emotion when we took to the pitch. The stands were absolutely packed and we had waited so long to finally break in the stadium.

What was you relationship with Santiago Bernabéu like?
Sensational. I had the same relationship with many of the players. I have a lot of reasons to thank Don Santiago. It was he who told Technical Secretary Quincoces to get on plane to go to Las Palmas to sign me, whether he did or didn’t see me play. When it comes to building the stadium…

Do go on…
It was a fabulous piece of work. Many believed it to be the best stadium in Europe. The team was in very bad shape in 1947; in the middle of a transition. All the money was going towards the stadium and not the team, and proof is in the fact that we were almost relegated to Second Division in 1947/48.

Did coach Álbeniz or Bernabéu talk to the team before taking to the pitch?
I don’t remember, but I don’t think either of them told us anything.

Is there any anecdote from the Real Madrid-Os Belenenses match that you can tell us?
I will never forget feeling overcome with emotion when Sabino Barinaga scored the first goal. When we would see each other years later he would tell me, “Be quiet because you’re talking to the guy who scored the first goal in the inaugural match of the stadium.” We celebrated that goal in style, and Barinaga couldn’t hold back how thrilled he was.

Corona:
José Llopis Corona was born in Alicante on 4 June 1918. Known in the football world as Corona, he was a defender who perfectly defined “either the man or ball get by you, but never both.” Before joining Real Madrid in the 1943/44 season, Corona played for Gimnástico de las Carolinas, Alicante, and Hércules. He arrived in Madrid and was recognised for his strength and powerful strike, which is why he was responsible for taking penalty kicks.

José Llopies Corona and Luis Molowny are the only two living members of the team that inaugurated the new stadium on 14 December 1947. While looking back on the unforgettable day, Corona has the following to say. “What can I say about that match? It was marvelous. We had been playing in the Metropolitano and taking to the pitch of Real Madrid’s new field was marvelous. We defeated Os Belenenses three to one, and even though the team wasn’t going through its best patch, we were able to make the fans happy. Barinaga scored the first goal, and we could barely hold on to him to hug him because he was so excited. The other two were scored by “Chus” Alonso. Oh yeah! And the Portuguese team was a worthy adversary. There are so many wonderful memories. Look here. Having played for Real Madrid has always filled me with pride.”

If the Santiago Bernabéu is a legendary stadium, it’s due in large part to Míchel and Butragueño. Their plays, their goals, and their class have earned them the right to comment on the Madridista stadium on the day it celebrates its 60th anniversary.

Míchel:
“My first memory of the Santiago Bernabéu was a youth team match for the Bernabéu Trophy. What really grabbed my attention was how soft the grass was. My cleats stuck in the turf. I definitely wasn’t used to playing on such a surface. My first memory as a fan was when I went to a match against Derby County, which resulted in an historic turnaround. I then had the fortune of playing many games there, and I will never forget them.”

Butragueño:
“A game that I will never forget? It was 12 December 1984. The return leg of the UEFA Cup against Anderlecht. We had lost 3-0 and here we won 6-1. I scored three goals that night and it was the first great night of our era. The stadium was different. The two upper tiers didn’t exist. I have that night recorded in my memory, but it’s to be expected since it was an important match in my career.”

Iker Casillas:
“Setting foot in this stadium is very special. Being able to play here is a dream I had ever since I was a kid; playing on a pitch that has hosted such great footballers. That dream has become reality, and now I play on a pitch that takes centre stage every weekend.”

“My best memory is every time I came as a kid, but I will never forget what it was like setting foot on the turf for the first time. I had won the European Premier Nike Cup with the youth team and we had to make an appearance. It felt amazing, and it’s when I said that I would someday be back.”

Iker Casillas: “Jugar en este campo es un privilegio”
“Para mí significa mucho pisar el césped del Santiago Bernabéu. Poder jugar aquí es un sueño que tenía desde pequeño, jugar en un campo que ha tenido a grandes jugadores a nivel mundial. Y he podido cumplir ese sueño que he tenido desde pequeño, estar en este campo que cada fin de semana es protagonista, no sólo en España sino en todo el mundo”
“El mejor recuerdo lo tengo siempre que he venido desde pequeño, pero lo que más recuerdo fue cuando lo pisé por primera vez. Había ganado con el Infantil A la Premier Nike Cup a nivel europeo, y tuvimos que salir. Sentí algo muy grande, y fue cuando dije que algún día llegaría a pisarlo más veces”

Mijatovic and Di Stéfano

Their careers as footballers may have ended, but they can still vividly remember nights at the Bernabéu. Pedja Mijatovic and Don Alfredo Di Stéfano analyzed the evolution of the stadium on its 60th birthday.

Don Alfredo Di Stéfano and Pedja Mijatovic have seen the evolution of the Madridista stadium first hand. They experienced magical nights in the White Colosseum and their impressions need to be heard.

Di Stéfano:
“Ever since I joing this club, they’re always adding something new and making improvements. When Bernabéu was still around, any money earned went straight into building more. This is the future of the club; a stadium for 200,000 spectators. They’ve spent sixty years fixing it up, and it gets better every day.”

Mijatovic:
“The Bernabéu represents every important moment in a professional football player’s life. Playing on this pitch, with this atmosphere, in all the important matches, with all the fans and members clapping… It’s marvelous. Nothing compares to coming out of the tunnel and scoring. There’s not better feeling than the support of the fans. This stadium truly is unique. There’s nothing as beautiful as the Bernabéu.”

Anthems:

Himno del Real Madrid:

De las glorias deportivas
Que campean por Espana
Va el Madrid con su bandera
Limpia y blanca que no empana.
Club castizo y generoso
Todo nervio y corazon
Veteranoz y noveles
Veteranoz y noveles
Miran siempre sus laureles
Con respeto y emocion.
Hala Madrid, hala Madrid

Noble y belico adalid
Caballero del honor.
Hala Madrid, hala Madrid

A triunfar en buena lid
Defendiendo tu color
Hala Madrid, hala Madrid, hala Madrid.

Enemigo en la contienda
Cuando pierde da la mano
Sin envidias ni rencores
Como bueno y fiel hermano.
Los domingos por la tarde
Cominando a Chamartin
Las mocitas madrilenas
Las mocitas madrilenas
Van alegres y risuenas
Porque hoy juega se Madrid.

Himno del Centenario del Real Madrid:

Hala Madrid!
Hala Madrid!
Campo de estrellas
Donde crecí
Hala Madrid!
Juegas en verso
Que sepa el universo
Cómo juega en Madrid
Sale el Madrid a luchar
Sale el Madrid a ganar
Hala Madrid!
Hala Madrid!

Real Madrid Castilla

Real Madrid Castilla is a Spanish football team that plays in the Segunda División B. It is the reserve team of Real Madrid. They play their home games at Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium. Unlike the English football league system, reserve teams in Spain play in the same league system as their senior team rather than a separate league. However, reserve teams cannot play in the same division as their senior team. Therefore Real Madrid Castilla are ineligible for promotion to the Primera Division. Reserve teams are also no longer permitted to enter the Copa del Rey. In the past the reserve teams of both Real Madrid and FC Barcelona have blurred the lines between being a reserve team and a separate entity. In addition only under-23 players, or under-25 players with a professional contract can switch between senior and reserve teams.

HISTORY:

AD Plus Ultra

In 1948 Agrupación Deportiva Plus Ultra, a local amateur team, then playing in the Tercera División, agreed to become a feeder club for Real Madrid. Originally formed in 1930, the team took its name from the national motto of Spain. Real gave AD Plus Ultra financial support and in return were given first refusal on the club’s best players. By 1949 they made their debut in the Segunda División and in 1952 the club became the official Real reserve team. In 1954 they won the Spanish U-19 Cup, beating RCD Español 2-1 in the final and in 1959 they reached the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey, losing 7-2 on aggregate to eventual finalists Granada CF.

During the 1950s and 1960s future Real Madrid players and Spanish internationals such as Zárraga, Mateos, Marsal, Casada, Villa, Vidal, Serena and Grosso all spent time at the club. Luis Aragonés also briefly played for AD Plus Ultra and Miguel Muñoz began his coaching career at the club. In 1972 AD Plus Ultra folded because of the demise of the insurance company of the same name and their position in the Tercera División was taken by Castilla Club de Fútbol the new reserve team for Real Madrid on July 21.

Castilla CF

As Castilla CF the team enjoyed something of a golden age. During this era, with a team that included Agustin, Gallego and Pineda, Castilla CF reached the final of the 1979-80 Copa del Rey. During their cup run they beat four Primera División teams including Hércules CF, Athletic Bilbao, Real Sociedad and Sporting de Gijón. The latter two eventually finished second and third in the Primera División. In the final they played Real Madrid but lost 6-1. However because Real also won La Liga, Castilla CF qualified for the European Cup Winners Cup. Despite beating West Ham United 3-1 in the opening game at the Bernabéu, they lost the return 5-1 after extra time and went out in the first round. Castilla CF reached the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey on three further occasions in 1984, 1986 and 1988.

In 1984 with Amancio Amaro as coach Castilla CF won the Segunda División. The team also included the famous La Quinta del Buitre – Emilio Butragueño, Manolo Sanchís, Martín Vazquéz, Míchel and Miguel Pardeza. However Castilla CF were ineligible for promotion because Real Madrid were already in the Primera División. In 1987/88 they finished third in the Segunda División, but were once again ineligible for promotion.

Real Madrid B

In 1991 the RFEF banned the use of separate names for reserve teams and Castilla CF became known as Real Madrid Deportiva and then Real Madrid B. In the early 1990s two former Castilla CF players, Vicente Del Bosque and Rafael Benítez, began their coaching careers with the team. In 1997 the team was relegated to the Segunda División B, but despite this they continued to produce great players. These have included Raúl, Raúl Bravo, Guti and Iker Casillas, who all became established members of the senior Real Madrid team. In addition former Real Madrid B players such as Ismael Urzaiz, Santiago Cañizares, Mista and Luis García Fernández all moved on to successful careers with other La Liga clubs.

Real Madrid Castilla

In the 2004/05 season coach Juan Ramón López Caro guided the team back to the Segunda División and the team subsequently revived the el Castilla name and became known as Real Madrid Castilla. In 2006 the new stadium of the club’s training facilities Ciudad Real Madrid was named the Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium and Francisco Moreno Cariñena became the first independent chairman in sixteen years.

The team has continued to produce quality players such as Roberto Soldado who is currently playing in the Getafe first team, and Álvaro Arbeloa who has joined Deportivo de La Coruña and is now playing in England for Liverpool FC.

In the 2006/07, the team was relegated to the second division B under the management of ex- Real Madrid legend Míchel after occuping 19th place in the league and a disappointing season. Michel received a lot of criticism, and accepted all the blame for the team bad performances especially for those who had a wonderful season in the 2005/06 season like De la Red, Granero and Javi Garcia. The reserves produced other quality players including Mata with Valencia CF and Negredo.

On 11 June 2008, Julen Lopetegui was been named as the new coach of Real Madrid Castilla for the next two seasons.

CURRENT SQUAD:

Goalkeepers:

• Antonio Adán (captain)
• Felipe
• Aitor

Defenders:

• Javier Velayos
• Gary
• Chema Antón
• Agus
• Daniel Opare
• Luis Hernández
• Juanan

Midfielders:

• Marcos Tébar (vice-captain)
• Pedro Mosquera
• David Mateos
• David Vázquez
• Javi Modrego
• José Zamora
• Fran Rico

Forwards:

• Gorka
• Ádám Szalai
• Miquel Palanca
• Javi Hernández
• Javier Acuña
• Rubén Ramos
• Juanfran
• Cristian

Reserve Players:

• GK Tomás (Real Madrid C)
• DF Nacho (Real Madrid C)
• FW Jesús Berrocal (Real Madrid C)
• MF Samu (Juvenil A)
• MF Pedro Aldea (Real Madrid C)
• MF Ávaro (Juvenil A)
• DF Rubén Molero (Juvenil A)
• DF Marcos Alonso (Juvenil A)
• FW Denis (Juvenil A)
• MF Juan Carlos (Real Madrid C)

The Nine European Crowns

Los Merengues are a record nine time European champions. The following are reports of the nine successful campaigns…

Real Madrid CF 4-3 Stade de Reims Champagne

The European Champion Clubs’ Cup was the brainchild of Gabriel Hanot, editor of the French sports paper L’Equipe. His call, in December 1954, for a European inter-club championship was met with enthusiasm by the newly founded European football union, UEFA, and by September 1955 the competition was up and running.

European pioneers
The 16 entrants included seven national champions: RSC Anderlecht, AGF Århus, Djurgårdens IF FF, Milan AC, Real Madrid CF, Stade de Reims Champagne and SC Rot-Weiss Essen. But no English representative. This was a shame for Hanot, who had been upset by Wolverhampton Wanderers FC’s claim that they were the continent’s best side after friendly wins over Kispest Honvéd FC and FC Spartak Moscow.

Madrid thrill
Madrid, in contrast, needed no persuading. They had tasted international success in the Latin Cup, which from 1949 pitted the Spanish champions against their French, Italian and Portuguese counterparts. In fact, Santiago Bernabéu’s team did not just join the party; they brought the entertainment too, starting with a 7-0 aggregate defeat of Servette FC.

Milan test
Their quarter-final opponents were FK Partizan, who had shared six goals with Sporting Clube de Portugal in the tournament curtain-raiser. The first leg took place on Christmas Day in Madrid, though there was little cheer for Partizan, recipients of a 4-0 thrashing. And while the Merengues lost the return 3-0, they went into a semi-final with Milan AC.

Swedish influence
Featuring Swedish internationals Gunnar Gren, Gunnar Nordahl and Nils Liedholm, the Italian giants were just that. They had recovered from the setback of a 4-3 home loss to 1. FC Saarbrücken on their European debut to put eight goals past SK Rapid Wien in the quarter-finals. Yet Milanese hopes effectively ended with a late Alfredo di Stéfano strike in Madrid’s 4-2 first-leg victory at Chamartín – the Spaniards progressing 5-4 on aggregate.

Reims advance
Reims were the pick of the other half of the draw and beat Scotland’s Hibernian FC to book their place in the final in Paris on 13 June. Home advantage seemed to tell at the Parc des Princes when the French side raced into a 2-0 lead, then restored the advantage at 3-2 through Michel Hidalgo. But with centre forward Di Stéfano, winger Paco Gento and inside forward Hector Rial on form, Madrid hit back. Manuel Marquitos restored parity before Rial sealed victory with the seventh goal of an exhilarating game.

Real Madrid CF 2-0 AC Fiorentina

The second edition of the European Champion Clubs’ Cup saw a new name in the hat, if not on the trophy. Manchester United FC defied Football League advice to join the starting field of 22 clubs; and Matt Busby’s side swept aside any doubts about their commitment to the competition with a 10-0 thrashing of RSC Anderlecht.

Goals galore
Another feature of the preliminary round was BV Borussia Dortmund’s tie with CA Spora Luxembourg, which went to a third match after ending 5-5 on aggregate. There was no away-goals’ rule and Dortmund prevailed in the play-off only to fall at the second hurdle to United. The latter’s reward was a quarter-final against Athletic Club Bilbao, which United won 6-5 over two legs.

United defeated
The semi-finals would be the extent of the Red Devils’ progress, however. The holders, Real Madrid CF, beat them 3-1 at home then drew 2-2 away to reach the final at their Chamartín stadium. UEFA had awarded hosting rights to the Spanish side the previous summer – and only SK Rapid Wien had looked capable of denying them the chance of defending the title in front of their own fans. The Austrian team, along with other top Czechoslovakian, Hungarian and Yugoslavian sides, had pioneered European club competition in the Mitropa Cup in the 1930s. Their pedigree was clear as they overcame a 4-2 reverse in the first round in Madrid to win 3-1 in Vienna; yet even they succumbed 2-0 in a replay.

Fiorentina await
So to the final, where an AC Fiorentina side including forwards Beppe Virgili, Miguel Montuori and Brazilian winger Julinho Botelho lay in wait. The Viola had seen off Grasshopper-Club and FK Crvena Zvezda, but never recovered from a disputed Alfredo di Stéfano penalty 20 minutes from time. Paco Gento completed the scoring to leave captain Miguel Muñoz to collect the cup from General Franco.

Real Madrid CF 3-2 Milan AC (aet)

Real Madrid CF were European champions for a third time in 1957/58, yet the campaign was overshadowed by the air tragedy which befell Manchester United FC’s Busby Babes in Munich. Eight players were killed, including England internationals Roger Byrne, Duncan Edwards and Tommy Taylor, when their plane crashed on take-off after refuelling following the side’s quarter-final victory over FK Crvena Zvezda.

Milan advance
With manager Matt Busby also seriously injured, United lost to AC Milan in the semi-finals, despite having rallied to win the first leg 2-1 at Old Trafford. It was not the first time the Italian side – 5-2 aggregate victors here – had struggled through: they had needed a play-off in neutral Zurich to get past SK Rapid Wien in the Preliminary Round.

Madrid cruise
Madrid, meanwhile, took a much smoother route to the final. The holders hit R. Antwerp FC for six at Chamartín before knocking eight past Sevilla FC, their bridesmaids in the league the year before. They carried this devastating home form into the semi-finals, where Vasas SC were beaten 4-0 before defeating the champions 2-0 in Budapest.

Di Stéfano shines
The final at Brussels’ Heysel stadium was a meeting of Europe’s heavyweights. Where the Merengues had strengthened with the signing of Stade de Reims Champagne striker Raymond Kopa, the Rossoneri could call on South Americans Juan Schiaffino and José Altafini. In the event, the key man was Alfredo di Stéfano. He scored one of two Madrid equalisers before Paco Gento settled the match in the Spanish side’s favour, at 3-2, in the second period of extra time.

Real Madrid CF 2-0 Stade de Reims Champagne

The 1958/59 season saw a rerun of the original European Champion Clubs’ Cup final between Real Madrid CF and Stade de Reims Champagne. Albert Batteux’s team included Just Fontaine, the French international striker who had hit 13 goals in the 1958 FIFA World Cup finals. It was Fontaine who scored twice as Reims recovered a 2-0 first-leg deficit to win their quarter-final against R. Standard de Liège 3-2 on aggregate.

Puskás class
Fontaine and Co also had to come from behind in the semi-final with BSC Young Boys – though they were not alone in their struggles. Madrid, boosted by the arrival of the great Hungarian Ferenc Puskás, needed Doña Fortuna on their side in the last-four clash with neighbours Club Atlético de Madrid. Atlético had qualified for the competition as runners-up to Madrid in the Spanish first division, yet here they were anything but second best. After losing 2-1 at Chamartín, the Rojiblancos forced a play-off by winning the second leg through a solitary Enrique Collar strike. But Puskás’s class told as the Galloping Major grabbed the third and deciding goal in the replay.

Madrid triumph
Another great name of the mid-1950s failed to live up to billing elsewhere in the draw, Wolverhampton Wanderers FC falling to FC Schalke 04 in the First Round. Still, Spanish expectations were met in the final as Enrique Mateos and Alfredo di Stéfano gave Madrid – hamstrung by the absence of Puskás and an early injury to Raymond Kopa – a routine 2-0 victory.

Real Madrid CF 7-3 Eintracht Frankfurt

This was the year Real Madrid CF claimed their fifth consecutive European Champion Clubs’ Cup with probably their most famous victory of all: a 7-3 thrashing of Eintracht Frankfurt in Glasgow. Few, however, will remember that it was great rivals FC Barcelona who almost denied Miguel Muñoz’s team their crowning glory.

Brilliant Barcelona
Coached by Helenio Herrera, and fielding the attacking might of Hungarians Zoltán Czibor, Sandor Kocsis and Ladislav Kubala, the Catalan side defeated Milan AC 7-1 on aggregate before destroying Wolverhampton Wanderers FC in the last eight – winning 4-0 at Camp Nou then 5-2 at Molineux. In the semi-finals, though, the Spanish champions were unable to dislodge the European champions.

Frankfurt intent
Madrid, conquerors of AS Jeunesse Esch and OGC Nice, preserved their 100 per cent home record in the competition with a 3-1 first-leg victory against Barcelona in the semi-finals, secured by goals from Alfredo di Stéfano, a brace, and Ferenc Puskás. They then salted the wound with a repeat result in Catalonia. Meanwhile, Madrid’s final opponents, Eintracht, registered their intent with 12 goals in the last-four meeting with Rangers FC.

Madrid run riot
That, however, was no preparation for events at Hampden Park where Madrid mesmerised the capacity 127,000 crowd. Richard Kress’s early opener for Eintracht did nothing to deter the Spanish side, who raced into a 3-1 interval lead. And by the time the Germans next found the target, which they did twice late on, Puskás and Di Stéfano had shared seven goals between them.

Real Madrid CF 2-1 FK Partizan

Old habits die hard, so it was no great surprise when Real Madrid CF returned to winning ways in 1965/66 with their sixth European Champion Clubs’ Cup success. What was striking about this Madrid team, however, was a line-up showing eleven Spanish players for the final against FK Partizan – and captained by the veteran Paco Gento.

Puskás swansong
Another old-timer had enjoyed a less publicised, if more emphatic, swansong in the opening round against Feyenoord. Ferenc Puskás scored four goals, his last in Europe, as Madrid recovered from a 1-0 loss in Rotterdam to go through 5-1 on aggregate. Kilmarnock FC and RSC Anderlecht were then given equally short shrift en route to the semi-finals, where the Merengues faced holders Internazionale FC. José Martínez Pirri secured a 1-0 win at Chamartín before a 1-1 draw in the return at San Siro ended Inter hopes of a hat-trick of victories in the competition.

Serena winner
The other notable result that season came in Lisbon. A George Best-inspired Manchester United FC shattered SL Benfica’s 100 per cent home record with a 5-1 triumph to add to the 3-2 scoreline at Old Trafford in the quarter-finals. But if United were expecting a procession to the Brussels final, they were to be disappointed. More apples fell from carts as Partizan beat the English side 2-1 on aggregate to become the first finalists from Eastern Europe. Another upset was on the cards in the final when Velibor Vasovic put the Yugoslav side in front at the Heysel stadium, but this time Madrid had the answers, replying through Amaro Amancio and Fernando Serena in the last 20 minutes to take the trophy.

Real Madrid CF 1-0 Juventus FC

Most clubs would be happy with one European Champion Clubs’ Cup. But not Real Madrid CF. Six times winners of the competition, the last in 1966, the Merengues had been frustrated in their quest for a seventh. That all changed in 1997/98, however, to the delight of traditionalists everywhere.

True champions
Not because of any atavistic allegiance to the Merengues, but because Madrid were true champions in a season when entry to the UEFA Champions League extended to the runners-up of the top eight European leagues. This was part of the latest expansion of the tournament, with two qualifying rounds filtering 16 from 48 clubs into six groups of four. It was at this stage that the top eight seeds joined the party.

Leverkusen advance
Yet only one of the ‘lucky losers’ emerged from the group phase to reach the quarter-finals: Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Their run ended, not surprisingly, in Madrid. Too good for Rosenborg BK, Olympiakos Piraeus FC and FC Porto in Group D, Jupp Heynckes’s men carried that form past Leverkusen and into the semi-final with BV Borussia Dortmund. Fact is, the holders carried less of a threat than the home fans at the Santiago Bernabéu, who delayed the first leg by 45 minutes after bringing down fencing behind one of the goals.

‘La Séptima’
When the game eventually started, Fernando Morientes and Christian Karembeu gave the Spanish side a 2-0 success which prefaced a 0-0 draw in Dortmund. The other semi-final matched Juventus FC with AS Monaco FC – respective conquerors of FC Dynamo Kyiv and Manchester United FC – yet it was no contest. The Italian side booked their ticket to Amsterdam with a 6-4 aggregate win. Goals were harder to come by in the final, however, with Pedrag Mijatovic’s second-half strike for Madrid proving decisive. Cue ‘La Séptima’.

Real Madrid CF 3-0 Valencia CF

They used to say Spain was different. Well, it certainly gave novelty value to the 1999/2000 season with the appearance of two Primera División clubs in the UEFA Champions League final – the first time domestic rivals had contested the top prize. Yet given the inflated nature of the competition (the eight autumn groups of four now fed into a spring group stage involving 16 teams) neither Real Madrid CF nor Valencia CF were Spanish champions.

Barcelona thrill
That honour had gone to FC Barcelona, a third team to carry the Iberian challenge into the quarter-finals. Here the Catalan side won a thrilling tie against Chelsea FC 6-4 on aggregate; Valencia hammered S.S. Lazio 5-2 at Mestalla before a 1-0 Rome reverse; while Madrid defeated holders Manchester United FC 3-2 with all five goals coming at Old Trafford.

Bayern test
Vicente del Bosque’s side had hardly impressed when losing Group C matches, 4-2 and 4-1, to FC Bayern München in February and March. Now, though, they were going into a semi-final series against the Bavarians in buoyant mood. Remarkably, Bayern beat them again – 2-1 at the Olympiastadion – but not before a 2-0 success for the Merengues in Madrid.

Madrid triumph
Meanwhile, Valencia enjoyed a 4-1 drubbing of Barcelona before confirming their place at the Stade de France with a narrow 2-1 loss at Camp Nou. In hindsight, it was the least Héctor Cúper’s side deserved. For they were not their usual exuberant selves in the final and Madrid took full advantage with goals from Fernando Morientes, Steve McManaman and Raúl González.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen 1-2 Real Madrid CF

Seventy-two teams. One hundred and ninety-seven games. Ten months. One winner. The long and winding road to Glasgow took its toll. But for Real Madrid CF the journey was well worth the while. The reward for Vicente del Bosque’s men was a third UEFA Champions League success, adding to their wins in 1998 and 2000. Madrid progressed through the first group stage with AS Roma as bridesmaid, and again set the pace during the second group stage, becoming the first team into the last eight.

Leverkusen threat
It was here that the threat from Bayer 04 Leverkusen materialised: Klaus Toppmöller’s men burying Liverpool FC’s chances in a tie which saw more plots than a gravedigger. One-nil winners at Anfield, the English side had looked set for the semi-finals until a late goal by Brazilian defender Lúcio made the aggregate score 4-3 to Leverkusen. Their next opponents were Manchester United FC, who succumbed on away goals after Oliver Neuville equalised in a 1-1 draw in the Rheinland. Meanwhile, Madrid had seen off one old foe, holders FC Bayern München, before a combination of class and character helped them past another, FC Barcelona, in a semi-final tie dubbed the ‘match of the century’ by the Spanish press. Zinédine Zidane and Steve McManaman decided the issue with goals that silenced Camp Nou as Madrid prevailed 3-1 over two legs.

Zidane heroics
Zidane was at it again at Hampden Park. After Lúcio had equalised Raúl González’s early strike for Madrid, the French international scored a goal worthy of winning any final. Which it did: his brilliant 44th-minute volley dividing the sides. Madrid were European champions in their centenary year, their ninth such triumph; Leverkusen, runners-up in their domestic league and cup, were second best again.