Carlos Padrós

Biography

Carlos Padrós and his brother Juan were born into a Catalan family living in Madrid. Together they owned a shop on the Calle Alcalá, though sources disagree on whether it was a fashionable women's boutique called El Capricho or a cloth business named El Encanto. Both brothers jumped into Madrid's growing football scene. In 1902, the backroom of their shop became the first club premises of Madrid FC, and Juan was elected president of the club that later became Real Madrid.

That same year, Carlos became president of the Federación Madrileña de Foot-Ball and suggested a football competition to celebrate the coronation of Alfonso XIII. This competition evolved into the Copa del Rey. The first edition in 1902 included Madrid FC, FC Barcelona, Club Español de Fútbol, Club Vizcaya, and New Foot-Ball de Madrid. Carlos refereed the final, where Club Vizcaya beat Barcelona 2-1.

In January 1904, Carlos succeeded Juan as Real Madrid president. On 23 October, he arranged the club's first game against a non-Spanish team, a 1-1 draw with French club Gallia Club of Paris, who became champions of France in 1905.

The match was set up to celebrate the visit of French president Émile Loubet. During his presidency, Real Madrid won the Copa del Rey four times in a row between 1905 and 1908. In 1908, Adolfo Meléndez took over as president, and on 13 April, Carlos was elected honorary president for life.