It is a very difficult task to sum up the 100 year existence and development of the best Club in History. A successful, productive and long history based on heroic acts and triumphs achieved with the effort and courage of some men that made, and are still making, the Club's name travel all around the world. A history that becomes brighter day after day with some top moments that we want to introduce to you now.
1902-1911
6 March 1902

A group of fans officially founds Madrid Foot Ball Club and creates its first Board of Directors, including Juan Padrós Rubio, President: Enrique Varela, Vicepresident; Manuel Mendía, Secretary; José de Gorostizaga, Treasurer and Antonio S. Neyra, Mario Giralt, Carlos Mertens. Álvaro Spottorno y Arturo Meléndez, Members. Thus, Juan Padrós "legalized" a team that two years earlier had Juan Palacios as president. This Board of Directors also agrees on the team's gear, imitating the famous London Corinthians, it will be; white shorts and t-shirt, blue socks and cap, and a purple band on the coat of arms embroidered in colour.

9 March 1902

Madrid plays the first game between two teams belonging to the Club, this rehearsal will help to make up the First Team and encourage the early viewers. The line-ups were as follows: BLUE: Meléndez, J. Padrós, Spottorno, Gorostizaga, Mendía, Páramo, Neyra, A. Giralt, F. Palacios, Martens and Rodero. RED: J. Giralt, Meléndez, Molera, Salvador, Valcárcel, Spottorno, Stampher, J. Palacios, Varela, Celada y Bueno. The score was unimportant, the blue won 1-0. The game was played on the field in the Plaza de Toros avenue. The Club's premises were the back room of the store "Al Capricho" owned by the Padrós Brothers and La Taurina Tavern, the place from which they headed for the field.

22 March 1902

El "Heraldo del Sport" publishes the instructions for good soccer playing, by Mr. Arthur Johnson, an Englishman that will become the first coach of the team. Johnson will the first in organising the anarchical absurd world of soccer.

15 April 1902

A request is filed before the Chief Constable containing al the new club's regulations. Some days earlier, the Board of Directors had visited the Mayor of Madrid in order to hold a contest celebrating the King Alfonso XIII's coronation, this was a competition that ended up being the first King's Cup

13 May 1902

The championship starts off with the first big national derby between Barcelona and Madrid. The Catalans with lots of foreigners in their squad, won 3-1. As consolation, Real Madrid beats Español from Barcelona 3-2, obtaining the Copa de la Gran Peña, first trophy that opens the club's glass cabinet.

8 April 1903

Madrid loses the final of the Second Championship Cup against Athlétic de Bilbao, 3-2. At the end of the match, the captain of Real Madrid, J. Giralt asked the captain of the Athletic, Mr. Astorquia, for the revenge in a return match on the following day

January 1904

Madrid merges with Moderno, Amicale (where there are French players) and Moncloa.
Carlos Padrós gives up the presidency of the Madrid Association of Soccer Clubs and takes over Real Madrid, replacing his brother Juan.

16 April 1905

Madrid wins its first Spanish Championship after beating Athlétic Bilbao 1-0, a goal scored by Prast who got the ball from Pedro Parages.

23 October 1905

Carlos Padrós arranges the first international game on the occasion of the French President's visit, M. Loubet, to Spain. There was a draw (1-1) between Gallia Sport from Paris and Real Madrid at the racecourse.

10 April 1906

Madrid defeats the basque Athletic 4-1 and by doing so it achieves the second Cup Championship. The day before it had defeated 3-0 the senior national squad , Huelva Recreation Club( founded by Englishmen from the Tharsis mines).

30 March 1907

Madrid manages to win the Spanish Cup on defeating Vizcaya now, thanks to a valuable goal by Prast. It will be the first Cup owned by a team because it was won three years in a row.

13 April 1908

The fourth championship in a row is achieved after defeating Sporting de Vigo 2-1. This same year Adolfo Meléndez is designated president of the new Board of Directors. Carlos Padrós is elected honorary president for ever.

1912-1921


31 October 1912

Inauguration of the fenced field in O´Donnell. The land's owner was Laureano García Comiso and he rented it to Real Madrid for 1,000 pesetas a month. That very season a young forward starts playing in the team, he was called Santiago Bernabéu.

30 October 1916

After several years of very bad sport results, the final of the Championship Cup is reached, with a defeat against Athlétic de Bilbao 4-0. Previously, Real Madrid had won the regional championship, a title that had not been achieved since 1913. Some innovation in the Board of Directors brought Adolfo Meléndez as honorary president of the Club

15 May 1917

Madrid has trained an extraordinary handful of players. Teus, Erice, Eulogio, Aranguren, Ricardo Alvarez, Antonio de Miguel, El Científico, Sansineca, the Petit brothers, Castell, Bernabéu, Sotero Aranguren, etc... achieve the championship after two exciting finals against Arenas de Guecho.

29 June 1920

History record for our Club. The King grants the title of Royal ("Real") to the club. From that time on, the club puts that designation before its name. Real Madrid is born.


13 December 1920

Beginning of an international tour around Portugal , the first serious trip abroad. The players learn the famous "sacatrás" war chant of Benfica and Oporto. Afterwards, they travel to Italy, where they played five games in Torino, Liorna, Bolonia and Genova. The first international contacts are made.

1922-1931
19 April 1923

The field in Ciudad Linealis inaugurated. In the opening game Madrid beats Irún 2-0 (both goals by José María Ubeda). At the same time, Atlético is building the Metropolitano, thanks to which Madrid becomes the soccer capital city of the nation

17 May 1924

The Chamartín field is inaugurated, it was built by José María Castell. His Royal Highness D. Gonzalo does the honorary kick-off at a match between Madrid and the Champion of the Cup of England, Newcastle.

27 August 1926

Madrid takes a productive trip to England, Denmark, and France where they learn things despite the defeats. After returning Madrid put some of them into practice against Barcelona. For a day the uniform is changed (copying the English fashion of black shorts and crossed silk t-shirt). Sportwise, Quesada "rehearses" the off side and intentional penalties. Barcelona is not in a position to rehearse and they eliminate us from the semifinals.

9 July 1927

The beginning of a successful tour around America, led by Santiago Bernabeu. The outcome is as follows: 16 games, nine won, four lost and three draws; 44 favour goals and 22 against goals. What is most important is that the new continent is beginning to admire Real Madrid.

6 September 1928

The new players of the Club are presented before the Unión Sporting: Cabo, Morera, López and Gaspar Rubio. The latter will be the new local idol.

10 February 1929

The first match of the new League Championship was played, the victory was for Madrid against the Europa from Barcelona by 5-0. Real Madrid is the first leader of the league. It's a good beginning in a competition that will give us great satisfaction.

1 September 1930

Ricardo Zamora arrives at Real Madrid for the huge amount of 150,000 pesetas. Zamora had a lot of fame behind him and this fame will increase in Real Madrid until it became a part of its long legend.

30 April 1931

Last game of a triumphant League for Real Madrid. With Ciriaco, Quincoces, Luis Regueiro, Hilario, Bestit, Olivares and Ateca as new players, the team is declared Champion without losing one game.

1932-1941


6 May 1933

Real Madrid wins the Cup after 17 years of drought in this competition. At the final it beats Valencia by 2-1, goals scored by Hilario and Lazcano.

28 April 1935

It finishes the championship in the second place, at the famous Betis League. The madridist forward Sañudo places himself as the third best goal scorer of the championship with 17 goals... And something curious: he only scored in 5 games (he scored four goals on four occasions). When Sañudo was lucky, he was lucky...

18 June 1936

A memorable save (it eventually became his last official save with the team) gave Real Madrid the Cup against Barcelona. It happened as follows: Madrid was winning 2-1 but it only had 10 players. Escolá shot strongly straight to the goal. That shot was the end of the player and the beginning of the legend.

19 April 1939

After the Civil War, Pedro Parages calls an assembly to rebuild the Club. The war had destroyed the field (turned into a prisoners field) and had scattered the players and the members. It was like starting afresh, a new beginning from scratch. Pagares managed to do it.

5 April 1941

One more of its legends plays his last match in the Club: Jacinto Quincoces, the best defender of the world at the time

1942-1951


13 June 1943

One of the big climbings of the Club. After a 3-0 in Montjuich against Barcelona in a Cup game, Madriddefeats the Catalan 11-1! The madridists (and the culés)will never forget this day.

15 September 1943

Extremely important date for the history of the club. Santiago Bernabeu is appointed president by unanimity. With him as president, the greatest page in the history of our entity is opened.

22 June 1944

Santiago Bernabeu's first major project starts being a reality: the land for the building of a new Stadium is bought.

27 October 1944

The land in Chamartín is blessed and the works begin. Santiago Bernabéu, pick in hand, begins symbolically the building of the biggest Coliseum in Spain.

5 June 1945

After Encinas' resignation, the national coach until then, Jacinto Quincoces takes over the team.

9 June 1946

Ten years after 1936, the Real Madrid retains the cup title before a Valencia that was supposed to be the favourite. The Madrid won 3-1.

20 June 1946

Quincocesmakes real his major ambition: Luis Molowny will be hired by the Real Madrid, as soon as he sorts out his military situation. The unforgettable Mangas will be a landmark in the history of the Club.

25 December 1946

Memorable performance before the San Lorenzo de Almagro that was on a tour around Europe. The Argentinian came preceded by enormous fame and they appeared to be too optimistic before the match. At the end they received four goals, before the astonishment and admiration of the audience at the Metropolitano.

9 June 1947

Major reinforcements come to the Madrid: Narro, Muñoz, Pahiño, Gabriel Alonso y Macala. The first championship of the season is won, the early trophy Eva Duarte Perón, the cup donated by the wife of the Argentina's former president.

14 December 1947

The opening of the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium is a major sport event. The international press rates the Stadium as the best one in Europe. Barinaga will be the first goal scorer at the new stadium. The opening match against Os Belenenses finishes with a local victory, 3-1.

27 January 1948

The British Mr. Keeping, former player of the Southampton and the Fulham, takes over Real Madrid. The British man revolutionizes the team with his innovative tactics (the famous WM).

27 May 1948

The members general assembly approves unanimously to appoint Santiago Bernabéu Emeritus and Honour President "because of his good chore and his constant efforts in Real Madrid Club de Fútbol.

1 September 1950

The Real Madrid's Information Bulletin is born with the purpose, as simple as ambitious, of being the spokesman of that large group of supporters that gather together under the Real Madrid's colours. On the cover, a handwritten text of Bernabéu read as follows: " I wish a lot of success to the staff of the madridist Bulletin. A piece of advice from an old person: treat your friends well, but a treat your enemies a lot better. A big hug to all the madridist " After more than 40 years telling about Real Madrid's actions, the old bulletin give way to the Real Madrid Magazine, which is the current means of communication between the Madrid fans and the white Club.

1952-1961


6 March 1952

Real Madrid's 50th Anniversary is celebrated. The Club is fifty years, half a century of football and history. Because of this, different events are organized, among them an international Competition stands out. The Millionaires, the most representative team in America, wins the Trophy. One of its players stands out for the Madrid's fans. His name is:Alfredo Di Stefano.

15 May 1952

The League finishes and Pahiñobecomes the maximum goal scorer in the championship with 20 goals, one more than Kubala.

28 June 1952

Madrid starts a new tour around Latin America. After playing two games in Colombia, it goes to Venezuela to play the Little World Cup in a small tournament. Despite the high standards, the team of Ipiña won the tournament and deserved it.

27 December 1953

Alfredo Di Stefano starts playing in the team, he is the greatest player in the history of soccer. The negotiations were hard, since Barcelona also tried to hire him. Eventually, he was white, very, very white, to satisfy and glorify the Club.

18 April 1954

It sings the champion's chants at Chamartínagainst Valencia Twenty-one years later... Champions of the League!. It was Di Stefano's first year in Spain and he got his first prize as the best shooter in the championship with 29 goals.

4 January de 1955

After an unanimous decision by the Board of Directors, the Chamartín Field changes its name to Santiago Bernabéu Stadium

1 July de 1955

Santiago Bernabéu gets into the Club two key figures in "madridism": Antonio Calderón in the Management and Raimundo Saporta, who will later become vice-president. His vast knowledge will be essential for the later development of the club.

8 September 1955

Real Madrid make its first appearance in the European Cup, in its Cup. The efforts by Bernabéu to make these plans work already had the expected results; thanks to his courage the most important club competition is carried out.

13 June 1956

Real Madrid wins its first European Cup. The French Stade from Reims f (with Kopa, Fontaine, Piantoni and Vincent) was the opponent in a hard and exciting match that ended with 3-4 in favour of the white team.

11 April 1957

The Stadium recorded the biggest audience, because the Madrid plays the most important game of its history. It was an unforgettable night, when the Madrid tuned in with more than 100.000 hoarse throats. The mythical Manchester United was defeated in the biggest battle in our history.

25 April 1957

Byrne, captain of the Manchester, sentences: "Tonight Old Trafford will be a hell. There's no divine power that can avoid its elimination". But some hours later, Kopaand Rial silenced Manchester. The Madrid got the access to the second final of the European Cup after a historical unforgettable semifinal.

30 May 1957

The Bernabeu Stadium is a clamour. The Madridachieves its second european award before the Florentina. When Miguel Muñozraises the trophy in the middle of a field decorated in white. Bernabeu lets out a nostalgic tear. His Madrid was already the "big continental king".

28 May 1958

The third European final is held in Brussels against Milano, which forced the extra time. 3-2 was the final score that gave Real Madrid its third trophy thanks to the goals scored by Di Stéfano, Rial and Gento.

11 August 1958

After hard negotiations, Ferenc Puskas is hired by the entity. It will be the major support of the season, when Miguel Muñoz says goodbye as a professional player.

3 June 1959

The fourth European Cup fill our glass cabinet. The rival will be again the Stade from Reims, which is beaten 2-0. Di Stéfano and Mateos will be the goal scorers.

15 May 1960

The football climax! The importance of the V European Cup doesn't lie in its achievement, but in the way it is carried out. An impressive Real Madrid defeated 7-3 the Eintracht from Frankfurt at the best European final.

9 November 1960

First European elimination after five consecutive years of success and glory. Barcelonablocks our way in the competition in a controversial qualifying round . In the return game, the unforgettable English referee, Mr. Leafecancelled four goals for Real Madrid and failed to whistle for a penalty in favour of the white.

12 March 1961

Real Madrid sings its chants again at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. Until then, no Spanish team has ever achieved so many records in the League. Out of thirty games, it wins twenty-four and obtains the title five weeks in advance. Puskas will be Pichichi "maximum goal scorer" with 27 goals. With this triumph, Madrid achieved and owned the Cup of the League.

1962-1971


2 May 1962

What a big disappointment! Benfica beat us in the final of a European Cup where there were all adverse circumstances against us. It was one of the most bitter days for the club, not because of the defeat, but because the hard luck all throughout the 90 minutes.

13 May 1963

Victory against Sevilla in the final of the Cup, 2-1. In this way Madrid gets the double, in a season in which it won the mentioned second prize.

18 May 1963

The "Ciudad Deportiva" (Sports Complex) is inaugurated, making the Club's property bigger and sheltering the stars-to-be in the youngest teams.

10 August 1963

In Venezuela the antigovernment guerrilla F.A.L.N decides to kidnap Di Stefano to attract the world's attention. The news got to every corner of the world until the date he was released. It was a big fright, which fortunately came off

18 April 1965

Madrid achieves its fifth League Championship in a row, in a season in which the first hippy ones joined the team: Grosso, Pirri, Sanchís, De Felipe, Morollón...

11 May 1966

The Hippies conquer Europe. A wonderful team, a mixture of youth and experience, beats Partizan from Belgrade and recovers the lost hegemony that Madrid was so used to. For a while, Europe only spoke about the Beatles and Real Madrid.

7 June 1967

The Madrid Club, its fans and soccer in general join together to honour the greatest soccer player: Alfredo Di Stéfano. His name is linked to Real Madrid for ever.

19 May 1971

We play for the Recopa for the first time. Chelsea will win after a game to break the tie. Paco Gento, after 18 years of unmatchable career, played his last official game on that day with the white team.

1972-1981


14 December1972

The 25th Anniversary of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is celebrated, a celebration where The North Strong Wind, the unrepeatable Gento is honoured. Major world soccer figures come to play with the fastest winger ever.

24 June 1974

Sound Madrid´s victory in the Cup, beating Barcelona 4-0. Barcelona was favourite. Molowny coached the white team, having replaced Miguel Muñoz, who left the Club after 25 years with no interruptions at the service of the Club.

3 September 1975

Another gifted one in Spanish soccer says good-bye to soccer: Amancio Amaro, The Sorcerer. Madrid beat Peñarol 2-0 in a match that was played to honour the man of the three "G": great, genius, and Galician.

17 March 1977

The events that will commemorate the LXXV Anniversary of Real Madrid are known. Big celebrations and commemorations of this historical event are under way, 75 years of living Real Madrid.

29 April 1978

Real Madrid hires the German Ulrich Stielike, who will be joined by Juanito some days later. Two different players, two different conceptions of soccer, two big idols for the white fans.

2 June 1978

Mourning day for world soccer. Santiago Bernabeu dies, president of Real Madird during the last 35 years, he had stood by the Club since 1900. Bernabéu left as he arrived: taking nothing with him. He left behind the effort and the vitality of a life devoted to the club; he obtained the affection and the general admiration of the sports world. He was so close to Real Madrid that when he left us a little piece of our history was lost.

31 September 1978

Luis de Carlos gets to the presidency of Real Madrid, a transition phase is going to start for the Club.

31 August 1979

The First Santiago Bernabéu Trophy is played, four major teams of continental soccer take part: Real Madrid, Ajax, Bayern Munich and Milano.

4 June 1980

Unique and unrepeatable final at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. Real Madrid and Castilla play at the final of the King's Cup. The match between parents and children comes out as a victory for the elderly, 6-1. The score was the least important matter because the white supporters came up with a new shout Castilla, Real Madrid!

27 May 1981

Madrid reaches the European Cup after a long break. Boskov and the team of the Garcías is beaten with dignity by the powerful English Liverpool.

1982-1991


11 February 1982

We buy new videoscoreboards. Madrid will be the first team in the world to fit them in its Stadium. It will be the culmination of the process of adaptation for the final phase of the Soccer World Championship.

4 December 1983

Alfredo Di Stefano, who fortunately had returned to the team, starts to take players from Castilla. That day in Murcia, Martín Vázquez and Sanchís start playing, the latter scored the winning goal.

14 February 1984

Emilio Butragueño, maximum goal scorer in Second Division and the youngest best player of the championship, starts playing with the first team in Cadiz. His debut will foresee what is to come: he scores two goals in the second half and his team wins. A new legend was born in the Real Madrid.

17 July 1984

The day of the presentation of a new campaign. Amancio culminates the job started by Alfredo Di Stéfano and takes Michel to the first team. The famous generation of the Buitre, that Amancio molded in Second Division comes together again. It will mean the beginning of a new and successful period for the Entity.

24 May 1985

Time for replacement in the Club. Ramón Mendoza is the new white president. A productive phase starts for Real Madrid, a phase of success sportwise and major transformations in corporate matters.

30 May 1985

Real Madrid concludes a season full of great heroic actions in soccer. After five years with no victory in the League; the UEFA title is achieved again catching up in what seemed a lost cause. Hugo Sánchez, Gordillo and Maceda reach the state of perfection of the veteran players (Gallego, Juanito, Valdano, and Santillana) together with the younger players of the Generation of the Buitre. Madrid gives shape that way to one of the best teams of its long history.

30 May 1986

A new League Championship for Real Madrid, the longest in history due to his final round, with play-offs. A change was needed to give some life to the championship, but eventually the outcome was the same: Real Madrid, Champion, several points above its rivals. The following year the competition came back to its traditional form...and to its traditional champion: Real Madrid won again.

18 April 1988

European glory slips out of our hands. After defeating such strong teams as Naple, Oporto and Bayern, Madrid loses in semifinals against PSV Eindhoven, which eventually became the winner of the European Cup. Hard luck came to prevent Real Madrid from reaching the final, which, for sure, it would have won.

30 May 1990

Another great white season comes to its end . Real Madrid sweeps in the League ( fifth title in a row) and establishes a record hard to be beat: 107 scores in 38 games.

14 April 1991

Ramón Mendoza wins the elections against Alfonso Ussía and renews his presidency. The election day was a landmark, since a record of participation was beaten in the history of Spanish soccer. That day, Real Madrid beat Valencia 4-0.