How Madrid became Real
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by: asingleton
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Word Count: 454
Real Madrid is one of Spain’s top football clubs; nine times European Champions, they play football in the magnificent surroundings of the Bernabeu Stadium, and have one of the most ardent fan bases in Europe. But, it wasn’t always so regal for the Capital’s royal team.
Real Madrid F.C. was formed at the turn of the 20th century, playing their non-league games on a plot of waste land between construction sites, in the shadow of a marble mason’s workshop. However, the erstwhile players of the time soon upgraded their playing facility surface, renting land partly-owned by Queen Maria at the princely sum of 150 pesetas per year, roughly equivalent to a pound sterling. One of the major benefits of the new pitch was that it was located next to a lively tavern called La Taurina, in which the players changed for games, and also undoubtedly conducted their post-match ‘analysis’.
Some five years after first getting together to play on a casual basis, the team appointed a board and became an officially regulated club on 18 April 1902. The following month, to celebrate the coronation of King Alfonso XIII, Madrid Football Club suggested the formation of a Spanish Championship, a notion which was eagerly backed by the Mayor Alberto Aguilera. Indeed, he was so enamoured of the idea that he donated a splendid silver cup to be awarded to the winner’s of the nation’s first football tournament. Madrid didn’t win that inaugural trophy as they were beaten in the first of their many clashes by now deadly rivals Barcelona, who lost out to tournament winners Viscaya in the final.
The early 1900s was an innocent age for football and that early amateur Madrid team couldn’t have been farther from the glorious, modern day Real Madrid. But, thanks to a series of ambitious chairmen it wasn’t long before they became a force to be reckoned with, and after winning the Spanish Championship three years in succession from 1905 – 1907 Madrid managed to capture for eternity the cup originally donated by Mayor Aguilera.
The next decade saw the introduction of Santiago Bernabeu to the club, after whom the modern stadium is named. This was in addition to an infamous rock throwing incident in 1916, when the Madrid bus was bombarded with missiles by disgruntled Barcelona fans, who thought that Madrid’s victory over their side had come from a hotly disputed offside goal.
But, the crowning glory for the club came on 29 June 1920 when King Alfonso XIII bestowed the ‘Real’ (‘royal’ in English) prefix to Madrid. So, 18 years after suggesting the formation of the Spanish Championship in honour of his coronation, the team finally became the king’s team and since then they have never looked back.
About the Author
Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
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