Santiago Bernabéu Stadium

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

The stadium's story is inseparable from Santiago Bernabéu himself. After the Spanish Civil War, Bernabéu spent months finding and contacting former players, directors, and club members, eventually restructuring the club. In 1943, he was elected president and began to implant his ideas. He built what would become the stadium that today bears his name, at the time the largest stadium in all of Europe. The Ciudad Deportiva was also constructed during these years so that players could train without damaging the stadium's pitch. Bernabéu then embarked upon a strategy of signing world-class players, the most prominent being Alfredo Di Stéfano. During his presidency, legendary names like Molowny, Muñoz, Di Stéfano, Gento, Rial, Santamaría, Kopa, Puskás, Amancio, Pirri, Netzer, Breitner, Santillana, Stielike, Juanito, Jensen, and Camacho played for the club. With this team, Real Madrid ushered in an unprecedented era of dominance, highlighted by five consecutive European Cup triumphs.

In Their Own Story

In 1955, acting upon an idea proposed by L'Équipe journalist Gabriel Hanot and building upon the Latin Cup, Bernabéu met in the Ambassador Hotel in Paris with Ernest Bedrignan and Gustav Sebes. They created what was at first a loosely constructed tournament played among invited teams, which over time developed into what is today the Champions League. The stadium that bears his name would go on to host the fruits of that creation. Bernabéu also helped Manchester United rebuild its team following the Munich air disaster in 1958. At the time of his death, Bernabéu had been the club's president for nearly 35 years, during which his club won 6 European Cups, 2 Latin Cups, 1 Intercontinental Cup, 16 league titles, 6 Spanish Cups, and 1 Copa Eva Duarte. He died in 1978 while the World Cup was being played in Argentina, and in his honour FIFA decreed three days of mourning during the tournament.

Reader's Guide

The Santiago Bernabéu Stadium is the home venue for Real Madrid's fixtures in La Liga and European competitions. Built under the presidency of Santiago Bernabéu, it was at the time the largest stadium in all of Europe. The stadium is named in his honour, reflecting his 34 years and 264 days of leadership from 11 September 1943 until his death on 2 June 1978. During his tenure, the club won 16 La Liga titles, 6 European Cups, 6 Spanish Cups, 2 Latin Cups, 1 Intercontinental Cup, and 1 Copa Eva Duarte. The stadium's construction was part of Bernabéu's broader restructuring of the club at all levels, which included giving every section and level independent technical teams and recruiting ambitious people like Raimundo Saporta. The Ciudad Deportiva was also built so players could train without damaging the stadium's pitch.

Did You Know?

• Santiago Bernabéu served as Real Madrid's president for 34 years and 264 days, from 11 September 1943 until his death on 2 June 1978.
• The stadium was built under Bernabéu's presidency and was at the time the largest stadium in all of Europe.
• Bernabéu fought on the side of Francisco Franco's Nationalists during the Spanish Civil War under General Agustín Muñoz Grandes.
• In 1955, Bernabéu helped create what would become the Champions League, meeting in the Ambassador Hotel in Paris with Ernest Bedrignan and Gustav Sebes.
• When Bernabéu died in 1978, FIFA decreed three days of mourning during the World Cup being played in Argentina.