Real Madrid
Club History
No team in Europe can match Real Madrid’s collection of trophies, including a record 13 Champions League titles, 34 LaLiga titles and 19 Copa Del Rey triumphs.
Founded in 1902, Madrid Football Club didn’t take long to start racking up the silverware, with the 1905 Copa Del Rey sparking a run of four straight titles in the competition.
Real Madrid’s dominance in La Liga would come later, with a pair of league titles in 1932 and 1933, and the real reign as league heavyweights came in the 1950s, with four league championships in five seasons. The 50s also marked the beginning of Real Madrid’s reign in Europe, with five consecutive European Cup conquests from 1956 to 1960.
An even more incredible run of domestic dominance came in the 1960s, when Real Madrid claimed a whopping eight league titles in the decade. That success didn’t translate on the European stage though, with Real Madrid winning just one European Cup in the 60s before enduring what would become a 30-year-old wait for the next European title.
Real Madrid eventually regained its European magic in 1998, going on a stretch of three Champions League titles in five seasons.
Fast forward to more recent times and Real Madrid is just a year removed from an impressive run of three consecutive Champions League titles, with Cristiano Ronaldo leading Los Blancos to new heights.
ICC History
One of the most iconic and successful clubs in the world is no stranger to the International Champions Cup, as Real Madrid are one of the few clubs to have participated in all seven editions of the ICC. From Melbourne to Shanghai, Los Angeles to New York, Real Madrid has travelled the world and showcased its best players to fans around the globe. Super-star signings such as Eden Hazard and Vinicius Jr. have made their debut with the club in the ICC. Real Madrid have their place in ICC history set in stone, as they won the first-ever ICC in 2013, overpowering LA Galaxy, Everton, and Chelsea on their way to the title. The club made history again in 2014, as they played in front of a U.S. record-breaking crowd of 109,318 fans at the University of Michigan's "Big House" against Manchester United.
2015 began the International Champions Cup’s global expansion, with the tournament kicking off three team editions in both Australia and in China. The round robin tournament at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Melbourne, Australia featured 2013 ICC champions Real Madrid and 2014 participants Manchester City and AS Roma, and was won by Real Madrid.
In 2016, the club returned to North America and their participation included an exciting victory in front of 105,826 fans that packed the “Big House” in Michigan as Real Madrid defeated Chelsea 3-2.
One of the ICC’s most iconic moments came in 2017, with the first ever U.S. El Clásico between Real Madrid and FC Barcelona. This match was played in Miami at Hard Rock Stadium in front of more than 65,000 fans. A world class club, with history still be to be made in future ICC editions.
•ICC Appearances: 7
•Cities Played: Phoenix, AZ (2013), Los Angeles, CA (2013, 2017), Miami, FL (2013, 2017, 2018), Berkeley, CA (2014), Dallas, TX (2014), Ann Arbor, MI (2014, 2016), Melbourne, Australia (2015), Guangzhou, China (2015), Shanghai, China (2015), Columbus, OH (2016), East Rutherford, NJ (2016, 2018, 2019), Santa Clara, CA (2017), Landover, MD (2018, 2019), Houston, TX (2019).
•Total ICC Attendance: 1,490,088 fans
•Best ICC Moment: Defeating Chelsea 3-1 in the inaugural ICC Final in 2013.
Stadium - Santiago Bernabeu
One of the most famous stadiums in the footballing world, the Santiago Berrnabeu has been Real Madrid’s home since 1947.
The Berrnabeu has hosted many international competitions during its history, including the 1982 World Cup final between West Germany and Italy (won by Italy).
The stadium is undergoing a major renovation at the moment, with the COVID-19 pandemic providing an opportunity for the project to be completed sooner. As a result, Real Madrid has been playing its home matches since the restart at the team’s training facility.
Manager - Zinedine Zidane
After establishing himself as one of history’s greatest footballers, Zinedine Zidane took over as the manager of Real Madrid in January, 2016. Zidane led Los Blancos to a LaLiga title in 2016-2017, and three straight UEFA Champions League titles beginning in 2015-2016. After winning his third straight Champions League, Zidane resigned from his position in May, 2018.
In March, 2019, the club announced that Zidane would return as the team’s manager. In 2019-2020, he went on to capture his second LaLiga crown as a coach.
Key Players
Sergio Ramos
The Spanish captain has worn the armband for Los Blancos for years, and has been one of the best defenders in the world for the better part of the past decade.
Acquired from Sevilla in 2005, Ramos established himself as a force for club and country, helping Spain win two European Championships and the 2010 World Cup.
Karim Benzema
The French striker played second fiddle to Cristiano Ronaldo for years, but has stepped up admirably to become Real Madrid’s lead attacker following the Portuguese star’s departure for Juventus.
The former Lyon striker arrived in Madrid in 2009, and has been a consistent goal-scorer from day one.
Thibaut Courtois
In August, 2018, following his Golden Glove performance with Belgium at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, Thibaut Courtois officially made the move from Chelsea to Real Madrid.
After an up and down first season with Los Blancos, Courtois’ league-leading 18 clean sheets helped the team secure their record 34th LaLiga title in 2019-2020. He won the Zamora Trophy that season, as the keeper with the lowest goals allowed to games played ratio.