1960 European Cup Quarter-Final First Leg vs Real Madrid

Lore & Background

Real Madrid's origins go back to when football was introduced to Madrid by the academics and students of the Institución Libre de Enseñanza. They founded (Sociedad) Sky Football in December 1897. In 1900, conflict between members caused some to leave and create a new club, called Nueva Sociedad de Foot-ball. The dissenters were led by Julián Palacios, recognized as the first Real Madrid president.

In October 1901, Nueva Sociedad de Foot-ball was renamed as Madrid Football Club. On 6 March 1902, after a new Board presided by Juan Padrós had been elected, Madrid Football Club was officially founded. The club played its first ever match on 9 March 1902. Madrid FC played its first match against another club on 2 May 1902 at the Hipódromo in a friendly against New Foot-Ball Club that ended in a 1–1 draw.

Carlos Padrós helped organize the 1902 Copa de la Coronación. Madrid FC contested its first competitive match in the semi-finals of the Copa de la Coronación on 13 May. Arthur Johnson scored the club's first competitive goal in a 1–3 loss to Barcelona. Madrid secured its first competitive victory defeating Club Español de Football 3–2 on 16 May 1902. On 23 May 1902, Alfonso Albéniz became the first player to leave FC Barcelona in order to join Madrid.

Reader's Guide

Real Madrid played against other local clubs in various regional tournaments, that served as qualifiers for the Copa del Rey, from 1902 to 1940. In 1929, the club became one of the founding members of La Liga. From 1902 to 1929, Real won the Copa del Rey five times and the regional championship 15 times. Real Madrid had a successful start in La Liga, finishing second in the competition's first season, and winning the league in 1932 for the first time.

In the 1947–48 season, Madrid finished eleventh, which remains, as of 2026, the club's lowest final position. Real Madrid won La Liga four times and the European Cup five times during the 1950s. The most successful period for the club in terms of domestic titles was the 1960s, when Real Madrid won eight league championships. It won its first double of league championship and national cup in 1962.

Real is also the only Spanish football team to win five consecutive titles, a feat which it has achieved on two occasions (1960–65 and 1985–90). Alfredo Di Stéfano, Ferenc Puskás and other famous players helped the club win the European Cup five times in a row between 1956 and 1960, which included a memorable 7–3 Hampden Park final against German side Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960. The club won the trophy for a sixth time in 1966. They have also won the UEFA Cup twice and were twice runners-up in the European Cup Winners' Cup.

In 1996, president Lorenzo Sanz appointed Fabio Capello as coach. Real Madrid ended its 32-year wait for the seventh European Cup in 1998 under manager Jupp Heynckes, defeating Juventus 1–0 in the final. Real Madrid would go on to win again in 2000, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022 and 2024. Madrid are also eight-time winners of the Intercontinental Cup/FIFA Club World Cup, defeating Peñarol, Vasco da Gama, Club Olimpia, San Lorenzo, Kashima Antlers, Grêmio, Al Ain and Al Hilal in 1960, 1998, 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022 respectively.

Did You Know?

• Real Madrid is one of only three clubs never to have been relegated from the top level of Spanish football, the others being Athletic Bilbao and Barcelona.
• The club's first ever match was played on 9 March 1902 between two teams of Madrid FC players, with the blue team winning 1–0.
• Arthur Johnson scored Real Madrid's first competitive goal in a 1–3 loss to Barcelona on 13 May 1902.