My stadium
Official name:
Vicente Calderón Stadium
Location:
Madrid
Date opened:
2 October 1966
Current capacity:
55,000
Vicente Calderón Stadium
Location:
Madrid
Date opened:
2 October 1966
Current capacity:
55,000
Address
Virgen del Puerto 67
28005 Madrid
Spain
Tel: +34 91 366 47 07
Fax: +34 91 366 98 11
Website: www.clubatleticodemadrid.com
28005 Madrid
Spain
Tel: +34 91 366 47 07
Fax: +34 91 366 98 11
Website: www.clubatleticodemadrid.com
Atlético Madrid
Atlético Madrid was founded on 26 April 1903 by a group of Basque students along with Athletic Bilbao captain Eduardo de Acha as the Madrid branch of Athletic Bilbao. They severed their ties with the Basque club in 1921 and went on to finish as runners-up in the Spanish Cup in both 1921 and 1926. This success led to an invitation to join the inaugural Spanish league in 1928.
In the years leading up to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 Atlético Madrid yo-yoed between the Primera and Segunda División.
Having lost many of its playing staff during the conflict, in 1939 Atlético Madrid merged with Aviacíon Nacional of Zaragoza – a Spanish Air Force team - to form Athletic Aviacíon de Madrid.
The club won their first Spanish league title in 1940, retaining it in 1941. In 1947 the club shed its military connotations and adopted its current name, Club Atlético de Madrid.
The 1950s, 1960s and 1970s were a golden age for Atlético Madrid. The club won La Liga in 1950 and 1951 and then again in 1966, 1970, 1973 and 1977. Unfortunately, this era coincided with an even more glorious period for their main rivals Real Madrid, leaving Atlético to vie for the position of Spain’s second best team with Barcelona.
It was during this period that Atlético got their first taste of European glory, winning the European Cup Winners Cup in 1962 when they defeated Italian side Fiorentina in the final. They reached the final again the following season, but lost 5-1 to Tottenham Hotspur.
In 1974, Atlético came agonisingly close to winning the European Cup. Bolstered by a strong backbone of Argentine players, they played a disciplined and cautious game which took them all the way to an encounter with the mighty Bayern Munich, led by Franz Beckenbauer, in the final. Atlético went 1-0 up late in extra-time, but Bayern then grabbed a last-minute equaliser to force a replay, which the Germans went on to win 4-0.
In 1974 shortly after the defeat in the European Cup final, Luis Aragonés was appointed coach. The former national team coach went on to manage Atlético Madrid during four different spells. He led the club to the runners-up spot in the league and a King’s Cup win in 1985, thanks largely to the goals of Mexican goal-poacher Hugo Sánchez. Aragonés also led Atlético to another Cup Winners Cup final in 1986, which they lost to Dynamo Kiev.
In 1987, the controversial mayor of Marbella, Jesús Gil y Gil took control of the club and brought in many expensive signings, not to mention a host of different coaches. This strategy proved largely unsuccessful, as Jesús Gil became more and more erratic and impatient with his coaches and players. However, Atlético Madrid still managed to win the double in 1996, before being relegated in 2000.
Atlético were promoted back to the top flight in 2002. Following the death of Jesús Gil in 2004 and the arrival of a new president, the club became more stable on and off the pitch. They finished the 2007/08 in fourth place to secure Champions League football.
Atlético, who hail from the predominantly working class south of Madrid, enjoy a fierce rivalry with neighbours Real Madrid, from wealthier environs of the north, meaning that the derby between the two teams has strong class undertones.
Atlético are nicknamed los indios (the Indians). Supposedly the nickname derives from the fact that so many South American players have donned the club’s red-white colours over the years.
Atlético Madrid originally played in blue, but changed their strip in 1911, when a board- member was dispatched to England in order to buy some Blackburn Rovers strips, but came home instead with the red and white stripes of Southampton.
Atlético Madrid play at the Vicente Caldéron stadium, which currently has a capacity of 55,000.
Real Madrid legends, Raul and Juanito, both played youth football for Atlético before moving across town to the Bernabeu. Likewise, Mexican forward Hugo Sanchez and Bernd Schuster – the current Real Madrid head coach - also played for both Madrid clubs. Other former Atlético greats include Diego Simeone, Paulo Futre, Andoni Goikoetxea, Julio Salinas, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Fernando Torres.
In the years leading up to the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 Atlético Madrid yo-yoed between the Primera and Segunda División.
Having lost many of its playing staff during the conflict, in 1939 Atlético Madrid merged with Aviacíon Nacional of Zaragoza – a Spanish Air Force team - to form Athletic Aviacíon de Madrid.
The club won their first Spanish league title in 1940, retaining it in 1941. In 1947 the club shed its military connotations and adopted its current name, Club Atlético de Madrid.
The 1950s, 1960s and 1970s were a golden age for Atlético Madrid. The club won La Liga in 1950 and 1951 and then again in 1966, 1970, 1973 and 1977. Unfortunately, this era coincided with an even more glorious period for their main rivals Real Madrid, leaving Atlético to vie for the position of Spain’s second best team with Barcelona.
It was during this period that Atlético got their first taste of European glory, winning the European Cup Winners Cup in 1962 when they defeated Italian side Fiorentina in the final. They reached the final again the following season, but lost 5-1 to Tottenham Hotspur.
In 1974, Atlético came agonisingly close to winning the European Cup. Bolstered by a strong backbone of Argentine players, they played a disciplined and cautious game which took them all the way to an encounter with the mighty Bayern Munich, led by Franz Beckenbauer, in the final. Atlético went 1-0 up late in extra-time, but Bayern then grabbed a last-minute equaliser to force a replay, which the Germans went on to win 4-0.
In 1974 shortly after the defeat in the European Cup final, Luis Aragonés was appointed coach. The former national team coach went on to manage Atlético Madrid during four different spells. He led the club to the runners-up spot in the league and a King’s Cup win in 1985, thanks largely to the goals of Mexican goal-poacher Hugo Sánchez. Aragonés also led Atlético to another Cup Winners Cup final in 1986, which they lost to Dynamo Kiev.
In 1987, the controversial mayor of Marbella, Jesús Gil y Gil took control of the club and brought in many expensive signings, not to mention a host of different coaches. This strategy proved largely unsuccessful, as Jesús Gil became more and more erratic and impatient with his coaches and players. However, Atlético Madrid still managed to win the double in 1996, before being relegated in 2000.
Atlético were promoted back to the top flight in 2002. Following the death of Jesús Gil in 2004 and the arrival of a new president, the club became more stable on and off the pitch. They finished the 2007/08 in fourth place to secure Champions League football.
Atlético, who hail from the predominantly working class south of Madrid, enjoy a fierce rivalry with neighbours Real Madrid, from wealthier environs of the north, meaning that the derby between the two teams has strong class undertones.
Atlético are nicknamed los indios (the Indians). Supposedly the nickname derives from the fact that so many South American players have donned the club’s red-white colours over the years.
Atlético Madrid originally played in blue, but changed their strip in 1911, when a board- member was dispatched to England in order to buy some Blackburn Rovers strips, but came home instead with the red and white stripes of Southampton.
Atlético Madrid play at the Vicente Caldéron stadium, which currently has a capacity of 55,000.
Real Madrid legends, Raul and Juanito, both played youth football for Atlético before moving across town to the Bernabeu. Likewise, Mexican forward Hugo Sanchez and Bernd Schuster – the current Real Madrid head coach - also played for both Madrid clubs. Other former Atlético greats include Diego Simeone, Paulo Futre, Andoni Goikoetxea, Julio Salinas, Jimmy-Floyd Hasselbaink and Fernando Torres.
Club honours:
Spanish Champions: 9
1939–40, 1940–41, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1965–66, 1969–70, 1972–73, 1976–77, 1995–96
Spanish Cup: 9
1960, 1961, 1965, 1972, 1976, 1985, 1991, 1992, 1996
UEFA Cup Winners Cup: 1
1962
Intercontinental Cup: 1
1974
1939–40, 1940–41, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1965–66, 1969–70, 1972–73, 1976–77, 1995–96
Spanish Cup: 9
1960, 1961, 1965, 1972, 1976, 1985, 1991, 1992, 1996
UEFA Cup Winners Cup: 1
1962
Intercontinental Cup: 1
1974
