Club Founding History (1902)

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 Padrós brothers proposed the name, Madrid Football Club, which was unanimously accepted. The color of the shirt was chosen to be white in honour of a famous English team Corinthian. 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. The club contested its first competitive match in the semi-finals of the Copa de la Coronación on 13 May, losing 1–3 to Barcelona. Madrid secured its first competitive victory defeating Club Español de Football 3–2 on 16 May 1902.

In Their Own Story

The air in Casa Colón hung heavy with cigar smoke and the electric tension of young men debating more than just a game; they were arguing over the soul of a sport destined to conquer Spain. At the head of the table, Juan Padrós cut through the din, his voice steady as he read aloud from the newly drafted statutes. 'We are not merely a group of friends,' he declared, locking eyes with Julián Palacios and the rest of the assembly. 'We are Madrid Football Club.' Outside, the cobblestone streets of 1902 Madrid slept in silence, unaware that within these walls, an empire was being forged on paper and sheer audacity. The ink had barely dried on the first crest when they dared to imagine a future where the color white would strike fear into opponents across continents.

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. As of 2024, Real is one of only three clubs never to have been relegated from the top level of Spanish football. From 1902 to 1929, Real won the Copa del Rey five times and the regional championship 15 times. 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. 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). They have been crowned champions of Europe a record fifteen times. The club won the European Cup five times in a row between 1956 and 1960. They won the trophy for a sixth time in 1966. They have also won the UEFA Cup twice. Real Madrid won the seventh European Cup in 1998, and 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.

Did You Know?

• The club's first competitive goal was scored by Arthur Johnson in a 1–3 loss to Barcelona on 13 May 1902.
• Real Madrid's all-white kit was inspired by the kit of the English amateur club Corinthian.
• Julián Palacios is recognized as the first Real Madrid president, serving from 1900 to 1902.
• The club's first trophy was two ceramic plates awarded after a match at El Escorial in August 1902.