Real Madrid History and Current Players

+13
RealGunner
Weequm
TheRedStag
RealmadridBernabeu
gorooney
the xcx
Zealous
Sabra1
zaboer
The Madrid One
Doc
Shamirr
shaven
17 posters

Page 2 of 4 Previous  1, 2, 3, 4  Next

Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Mon Jun 06, 2011 3:14 pm

Juan Gómez González (juanito) (el-maravilla) by nino mido
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Juanito

Juanito played as a youth with local club Fuengirola, before joining Atlético Madrid in 1972. While still underage, he allegedly forged his papers so he could play for the colchoneros' U18 team. He scored twice on his debut, but a fractured tibia ended his career at Atlético and he never played for the senior team.
Juanito would revive his career at Burgos CF, helping them win the second division in 1975–76. He made his La Liga debut in a 2–1 win over RCD Español in the following season, and was eventually awarded Spanish Footballer of the Year by Don Balón.
Juanito soon attracted the attention of Real Madrid, which signed the player in June 1977. He became a prominent member of the successful Real side during the late 1970s and 1980s, in a squad which also featured Santillana, Uli Stielike, Vicente del Bosque and José Antonio Camacho. Having scored 10 goals in his debut season, he was instrumental in helping the capital team to five league titles, two Spanish Cups and two UEFA Cups. Among his personal highlights were scoring twice in the 1980 domestic cup final, incidentally played against Castilla CF, the club's reserves (6–1). On 11 May 1983, he scored through a penalty in the European Cup Winners' Cup final, in a 1–2 loss against Aberdeen. In the subsequent league campaign, won the Pichichi Trophy after finishing as joint top goalscorer with 17 goals. During ten seasons at Real, he played 284 first division games and scored 85 goals. He also played 55 games in various European competitions, with a further 17 goals.
After leaving Real Madrid, Juanito played for CD Málaga for two seasons (and scoring once against former teammate Francisco Buyo), before retiring in 1989 after a few games as an amateur, with first club Fuengirola. He subsequently began a working as a coach with CP Mérida, leading the Extremadura side to a seventh place in level two in 1991–92. However, on 2 April 1992, after watching Real play Torino F.C. in a UEFA Cup game, he was killed in a road accident while returning to Mérida.

even thou he died since nearly 20 years but RM fans still cheer for him every game in the bernabue at th 7th minute(due to his shirt number)
you can see that in this video
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0j5ak3rsdKQ

illa illa illa juanito el-maravilla

trophies n honors:

UEFA Cup: 1984–85, 1985–86

Spanish League: 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1985–86, 1986–87

Spanish Cup: 1979–80, 1981–82

Spanish League Cup: 1984–85

individual:

Best Spanish Player: 1976–77

Pichichi Trophy(top scorer in la liga): 1983–84

Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Mon Jun 06, 2011 3:15 pm

Can we get some of the older more knowledgeable Fans to do Bios on the following Muñoz, Rial, Amancio, Pirri, Netzer... obviously guys like Zizou, Figo, RC3, Macca, Seedorf, etc etc etc etc etc...

Just pick a name and do a bio...
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:40 am

Found another great article, this time on Puskas it's from b/r and is part of Barney Corkhill's A Tribute To... series. Please enjoy!

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 44452

Today's tribute is to perhaps the greatest shooter in football history, the man who was the star of the all-conquering "Magical Magyars" and the man who played for two different national sides—Ferenc Puskas.

His deadly accurate left-foot struck fear into his opponents worldwide, and his short, stocky frame meant he was often under-estimated, and overlooked, much to his opponents' peril.

Born on April 2nd, 1927 in Budapest, Hungary, Ferenc Purczeld Biro was something of a child prodigy. A supporter of Arsenal in his youth, Puskas' dad lied about his son's age and used a fake name just so he could include him in the youth team he coached, Kispest AC.

It wasn't long before the 12-year-old became the star in a team of players much older than him. By the time he was 15 he was pushing for a first team place in Kispest AC's full team.

His chance came a few months later when a now 16-year-old Puskas made his professional debut. He soon became a regular player and scorer for them, so much so that within a year of his arrival on the scene, there was talk of an international call-up.

That call-up came in 1945, just two years after making his first appearance for Kispest. At just 18 years old, Puskas made his debut for Hungary, scoring in a 5-2 win over Austria. The legend of Ferenc Puskas had begun.

While many thought that Puskas' goal tally would soon run out, it just kept on going. The youngster was scoring for fun, and, in the 1945/46, 1946/47, and 1947/48 seasons for Kispest he averaged more than a goal a game, even managing 50 goals in 32 games in the 1947/48 season.

These 50 goals secured Puskas the title of Europe's top scorer.

In 1948, Kispest was taken over by the authorities and was renamed Honved, a club which was essentially the Hungarian Army Team. This was due to the occupation by the Soviet Union and the transition of the country to a Communist satellite. Puskas ended his Kispest career with a phenomenal 187 goals in 177 appearances.

Honved used the powers of conscription to acquire the best players from all over Hungary. The 'signings' of Zoltan Czibor and Sander Kocsis helped the team become the overwhelming force in Hungarian football, and one of the first truly great club sides.

All the players were given military ranks, despite few, if any, of them actually doing any fighting. Puskas was named a major, which lead to his nickname "The Galloping Major."

The great Honved team cruised to four league titles, spearheaded by a further three top-scoring seasons from Puskas to add to his one from his days at Kispest. While Puskas was experiencing huge success at club level, it was getting even better internationally.

The Hungarian team of the early 50's included many of Honved's great players, and added others such as Jozsef Bozsik, Gyula Grosics and Nandor Hidegkuti, to create a formidable team.

In 1952, Puskas, who was classed as a soldier, so could play in the Olympics, led his team to the Helsinki Games. He scored four goals in the tournament, including the opener in Hungary's 2-0 win over Yugoslavia in the final.

The "Magical Magyars" had been born!

Ferenc Puskas was the brightest star in a group of very talented players. His form at the Olympics, and role in the development and dominance of the Magical Magyars was recognized as he was crowned World Player of the Year.

In 1953, the ever improving Magyars took on England, football's founders and still regarded, by themselves at least, as undisputed champions of world football. They were in for a big shock.

Puskas and co blew England away with a fantastic, fluid performance. England were no match as Hungary won 6-3, at Wembley, inflicting the first defeat England had ever suffered against over-seas opposition. Puskas scored two of the goals.

Surely it was just a fluke? Well, England had the chance to prove that when they travelled to Budapest just a few months later. They knew more about Hungary than last time, and would not let themselves be on the end of such a drubbing again.

To be honest, they didn't have much choice.

Another jaw-dropping performance from Hungary, and a brace from Puskas, gave the Magyars a 7-1 win, a result which, to this day, is England's heaviest ever defeat.

Puskas again won World Player of the Year in 1953.

Hungary were hot favourites going into the 1954 World Cup. They were unbeaten since 1950, already a record, and had demolished England just a few months earlier. They certainly started as they meant to go on, with a 9-0 win over South Korea, in which Puskas scored twice, and an 8-3 win over West Germany, a match in which Puskas got injured.

He returned in the final, again against West Germany. Hungary were overwhelming favourites now. After 32 consecutive games unbeaten, a record which still stand today, including dominant performances against England twice and even West Germany just a few weeks before the final.

When Hungary went up 2-0 within 10 minutes, it looked set to be another thrashing. However, West Germany weren't having it. Two goals took them level going into half time.

They had the momentum, but the Magical Magyars were still favourites. But with 84 minutes on the clock West Germany took a surprise lead. They were six minutes away from World Cup success. But then up popped Puskas to draw it all level again. Or so he thought. In a highly controversial decision, the goal was ruled out for offside.

Somehow, the greatest international team there had ever been hadn't won the World Cup. It was a gross injustice, and one that would later befall the Dutch "Total Footballers" of 1974.

Honved carried on where they left off after the World Cup and competed in the 1956 European Cup. After an away leg against Athletic Bilbao, the Hungarian Revolution broke out. Most of the Honved players never went back to Hungary, instead choosing to move to Western European countries.

Puskas ended his successful career with Hungary with a remarkable 84 goals in 85 matches, becoming one of the most prolific international strikers of all time. In the great Honved side, he managed 165 goals in 164 games.

Unbelievably, Puskas found himself without a club, and with no serious takers. Juventus, AC Milan and Manchester United all expressed an interest, but decided against the ageing and overweight Puskas.

It was the all-conquering Real Madrid side who took the gamble, signing Puskas for £10,000. They already had the great Alfredo Di Stefano and other players of the highest quality who had helped them to consecutive European Cups.

People wondered what Puskas, now 31, could offer which Madrid didn't already have. The answer soon became obvious.

Four hat-tricks in his first season showed people that he still had the quality. He was an integral part to Real Madrid's retention of the European Cup in 1959, and then again in 1960. It was this final in which Ferenc Puskas showed his class. In the 7-3 win over Eintracht Frankfurt, Puskas scored four, and helped Di Stefano get three in one of the best club performances ever seen.

The next season, 1960/61, Puskas helped Real Madrid to the La Liga title. With Gento, Di Stefano and Puskas, Madrid went on to win it each of the following four seasons as well.

In 1962, Puskas became registered to play for the Spanish national side. He played a total of four matches, but was unable to score in any of them.

His career was coming to an end as he got older and older, and retired in 1966, but not before guiding a new generation of Madrid stars to the European Cup.

He ended his career in Spain with 156 La Liga goals in 180 appearances, as well as 35 goals in 39 European ties.

He turned to coaching after his playing days, and his success was limited. By far the best achievement of his managerial career was taking an unfancied Panathanikos side to the 1971 European Cup final, where they were beaten by a Johan Cruyff inspired Ajax.

He will always be remembered for his legendary playing days, however, in which he became the most prolific striker in Europe, and the best player from one of the best teams that has ever been assembled. This has been a tribute to Ferenc Puskas.
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:50 am

Another Article from Barney Corkhill's A Tribute To... series, this time on Don Di Stefano.
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Alfredo_di_stefano_feature

Today's tribute is to the man who played for three different countries, and had a huge part in guiding Real Madrid to five successive European Cups—Alfredo Di Stefano.

Regarded by many as the greatest all-round footballer of all time, Di Stefano was a footballing phenomenon.

Although apparently a deep-lying centre forward, with an astonishing, free-scoring goal record, his balance, vision, and passing skills were those of a midfielder, and his overall contribution to the team play was unselfish and inspirational.

Born on the 4th July, 1926 in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Di Stefano was born to Italian parents. Working on a farm, Di Stefano found little time to play football. However, his love for the game prevailed.

At 12-years-old, Di Stefano joined Los Cardales, a local youth team. He guided them to an Amateur Championship. It wasn't long before he was drafted into River Plate's first team, making his debut on the right-wing at just 16.

He spent three years as a bit-part player, behind the likes of Adolfo Perdernera and Labruna, two greats of Argentinian football. In 1946, at 20 years of age, Alfredo Di Stefano was loaned out to Huracan.

River Plate soon came up against Huracan and Di Stefano. The youngster showed River Plate what they were missing by scoring the opening goal, and ultimately winning goal, after just 15 seconds.

He was soon recalled from his loan and became a permanent fixture in the River Plate side. His fantastic performances ensured the youngster spearheaded the most feared attack in South America.

However, his quality drew jealousy, and from jealousy comes hate, and hate spawns violence. In a game in 1947 he scored the winning goal, before being attacked by the opposing fans, and had to be taken to hospital.

It didn't seem to get to him, though, as he was soon back scoring goals, and eventually helped River Plate to the league title, finishing top scorer in the process, in his first season back at River Plate.

Di Stefano's 27 goals in 30 matches accounted for a third of all River Plate's goals that season, and he was voted the South American Player of the Year.

1947 was a year to remember for Di Stefano on the international stage as well, as it was the year he made his first appearance for Argentina. The appearance came in the Copa America, due to an injury to another Argentinian striker.

Di Stefano made an instant impact. The man who had been taken to the Copa America as a reserve helped Argentina to a 7-0 thrashing of Bolivia. He was one of the first names on the team sheet for the rest of the tournament, scoring five more goals in his next five games.

He finished second top scorer of the Copa America that year, but only played one more match for Argentina, again scoring. He ended his Argentine international career with seven goals in seven games.

In 1949 a players strike over wages prompted many to head elsewhere to look for professional football. Di Stefano found it in Colombia, for Millionarios.

No transfer fee was paid as Colombia weren't part of FIFA, so Millionarios got one of the brightest starts in world football for free. He took Colombia by storm.

In 1949, his first season at Millionarios, he helped them to the Colombian Championship, a feat he was to manage three more times during his time there. He was by no means the only big name at Millionarios. The high wages paid lured a star-studded team to Colombia, but none of the stars shined as brightly as Di Stefano.

In 1951, Millionarios won the Colombian Championship again, and Di Stefano was the top scorer not only in the Colombian League, but the whole of South America. More of the same followed in 1952 as he repeated the feat.

Di Stefano impressed so much that the Colombian National team were considering calling him up. Being outside FIFA regulations, this was allowed, and Di Stefano eventually played four times for them. He failed to score for them, but made his presence felt.

1953 was another eventful year for Di Stefano. He helped Millionarios to another Championship, and a Colombian Cup, as well as being named South American Player of the Year and World Club Cup top scorer.

However, it was a friendly match that changed Di Stefano's life most. In a tournament celebrating Real Madrid's fiftieth year, Di Stefano's Millionarios went to Spain and won the tournament.

The Spanish had been alerted to his talent. Immediately a race went on for his signature. Real Madrid and Barcelona were the two front runners. At one point they agreed to share the player for four years, with Di Stefano playing for both clubs alternatively.

The Barcelona fans went mad at this. The manager left just days after, and the new management gave Real Madrid the chance to buy Di Stefano outright, something which Madrid did for a rather modest £70,000.

He left Millionarios having scored 267 goals in 292 games, after just four years there.

Di Stefano was already 27 when he signed for Madrid. But that didn't stop him. It took him a few games to settle in, but he announced himself on the scene against, who else, Barcelona.

They met just one day after Barcelona had handed over the permanent rights for Di Stefano. If they had just waited a day longer, perhaps the face of football would be different. Di Stefano inspired Madrid to a 5-0 win over their great rivals, scoring four goals himself.

In his first season at Madrid, he helped them to the La Liga title, and then again the very next season. In those two seasons, Di Stefano managed 52 goals in 58 games in the league.

The success in the 1954-55 season allowed Madrid to qualify for the first ever European Cup competition.

Real Madrid met Servette, Partizan Belgrade, and AC Milan on their way to final to face a Raymond Kopa inspired Stade De Reims. Despite falling behind twice, Madrid managed to win the match 4-3, and the inaugural European Cup competition.

Di Stefano, naturally, scored in the final.

In 1957, Madrid won their second consecutive European Cup, with Di Stefano again scoring in the final, and a La Liga title. On a personal level, he was awarded with the European Footballer of the Year award.

It was this year that Di Stefano first represented Spain at international level, his third international team. He went on to win 31 caps, scoring 23 goals.

1958 brought yet more success as Real Madrid won a third European Cup (yet again, Di Stefano scored in the final), and a second consecutive La Liga title. It also saw the arrival of the man who would complete perhaps the greatest attacking line of all time—Ferenc Puskas.

Real Madrid now had Alfredo Di Stefano, Raymond Kopa, Ferenc Puskas, and Francisco Gento as their fantastic front four. They seemed unstoppable. In Europe, they were.

1959 brought an unbelievable fourth European Cup in a row, and Di Stefano continued his record in scoring in every European Cup final there had ever been. Subsequently, he was named European Footballer of the Year for a second time—the first player to achieve such a feat.

In 1960, Madrid and Di Stefano won their fifth consecutive Champions League trophy. Di Stefano scored, once again, in the final. The five-in-a-row is still a record that stands today, and doesn't look likely to be beaten anytime soon. That all-conquering Madrid side will go down to many as the greatest club side ever.

Di Stefano ended his European career with 49 goals in 58 matches, a record which stood until 2005 when Raul broke it. Since then, Andriy Shevchenko and Ruud van Nistelrooy have also overtaken him, but all in a lot more games.

The 1960 European Cup final is still, to many, the greatest match of football ever played. In a 7-3 demolition of Eintracht Frankfurt, Di Stefano scored a wonderful hat-trick, and strike partner Puskas scored four.

From 1961 to 1964, Di Stefano, now an ageing superstar, helped Madrid to four consecutive La Liga titles, before leaving the club to go to Espanyol in 1964. He retired in 1966, after scoring 216 goals in 282 league matches for Real Madrid, a record which stands to this day.

Overall in his career, he is said to have scored over 800 goals, with some saying as high as 893. Despite his genius, Di Stefano never played in a World Cup, he last real chance coming in 1964, when he was cruelly robbed by injury just weeks before the tournament.

In a poll to find the footballer of the century, Di Stefano finished fourth. Maradona himself has said that Di Stefano was better than Pele.

"The Blond Arrow" will forever be in the football history books as one of the greatest players ever, and rightly so.

This has been a tribute to Alfredo Di Stefano.
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:55 am

Here's the final part of Barney Corkhill's A Tribute To... series This time on Zizou.
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Zidane

Today's tribute is to a modern day legend who has surpassed established legends such as Michel Platini. His skills, grace, and pure class captivated audiences for years.

I speak, of course, of the French legend—Zinedine Zidane.

Zinedine Yazid Zidane, born 23 June, 1972 spent his early years in Marseille as the son of Algerian immigrants. At ten years old, he joined his first youth club, US Saint Henri. A few years later and he was spotted by a scout from French club AS Cannes.

Zidane liked the idea of playing for a professional club, so went for a six week trial period. Cannes liked what they saw, and the six weeks soon became four years.

Soon after signing his first professional contract, Zidane made his Cannes debut, aged just 17. He was by no means a first team regular, but his skill was evident even from that early age.

Despite making his debut in 1988, it wasn't until 1991 that Zidane scored his first ever professional goal. The team president was so delighted with his young starlet that he bought him a car.

From this moment on, he started playing much more regularly. In his first two seasons at Cannes, he only played two games. During the next two seasons, however, he was involved in 63 games, scoring six times.

His potential was starting to show through. He wasn't the fastest player, but he just had natural class. He was the type of player who would just get better with age.

Another French club, Girondins Bordeaux, saw the potential in the young Zidane and, in 1992, signed him from Cannes.

Zidane had climbed the first rung on the way to the top of the ladder, and the top of the footballing world.

It was while at Bordeaux that Zidane was approached by both Algeria and France, both of whom he was eligible to play for. It was rumoured that the Algerian coach actually turned Zidane down because he was too slow.

Whatever the true story, Zidane opted for France, and made his debut in 1994, coming on as a sub against Czech Republic, and scoring two goals in 16 minutes.

Zidane had arrived on the world scene.

Consistent performances from him at Bordeaux ensured he was always in and around the French squad, but he was second choice to Eric Cantona. However, Cantona's suspension for his infamous karate kick gave Zidane his chance.

The coach at the time, Aime Jacquet, wanted to build his team around a play-maker. Now that first choice Cantona was out of the equation, Zidane stepped in, and a new French hero was born.

Back at club level, Zidane was fast becoming the brightest star at Bordeaux. Bigger clubs were getting interested.

He helped them to success in the Intertoto Cup in 1995, before guiding them to the final of the 1996 UEFA Cup, only to lose to Bayern Munich.

Also in that Bordeaux team were Christophe Dugarry, whom Zidane was forming a strong partnership with in midfield, for both club and country, and Bixente Lizarazu, who was also part of the France side.

1996 was an eventful year for Zidane. Not only did he reach the UEFA Cup final, but he was voted French Player of the Year for his efforts. His talents hadn't gone unnoticed, and soon big clubs were knocking at Bordeaux's door.

Juventus were the team who won his signature, and Zidane moved from France to Italy later that year. 1996 was also the year of Zidane's first major tournament with France.

His inclusion created a lot of debate. People thought he wasn't the one to replace Eric Cantona, but Zidane, along with the rest of the youthful French squad, proved them all wrong, reaching the semifinals, only going out to Czech Republic on penalties.

1996 just kept on getting better for Zidane. He helped his new team, Champions League holders Juventus, to the European Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup before the year was out.

The 1996-97 season saw Zidane grow even more experienced, and become even more skilled. His tireless and astute midfield play took Juventus to a second successive European Cup final, which they lost.

He also helped them to the Serie A title, and the Italian Super Cup. Zidane was fast becoming one of the most well known, and talented players in the world.

While '96 and '97 were good years for Zizou, none could come close to what was to happen in 1998. Much hype surrounded the World Cup, which was to be held in France.

Zidane showed good form leading up the tournament, helping Juventus to yet another European Cup final, again losing, and another Serie A title.

Then came the World Cup. France weren't expected to do too well. The French public were thinking more of world humiliation than world domination.

But Zinedine Zidane, Didier Deschamps, Laurent Blanc and co, worked their magic. After battling their way into the final, they came up against Ronaldo's Brazil.

It was a battle of the two modern day greats—Ronaldo and Zidane. Unfortunately, Ronaldo was violently sick the night before the game, and many people think that was the main factor behind the events of the day.

Zidane opened the scoring, with a relatively rare header. France, who before the tournament were barely dreaming of success, were now 1-0 up in the final. Ronaldo seemed far from his best. This took the wind out of Brazil's sails and blew it into the French ones.

Zidane later scored with another header, before Emmanuel Petit scored on the counter attack in the 90th minute to give France an unlikely triumph, a 3-0 win over Brazil.

For his performance in the final, and throughout the tournament, Zidane was voted as the European Player of the Year, an award soon followed by World Player of the Year.

At club level, Zidane was repeatedly putting in performances for Juventus, helping them to second in the league in 1999. It was a rare trophy-less season for "Zizou".

However, 2000 soon made up for that. Along came the European Championships, and all eyes were on Zidane's France. As World Cup holders, they came into this tournament with expectation weighing them down.

However, some more fantastic performances, and some timely goals, helped France to the final, where they played Italy. The French, the newest footballing superpower, triumphed, becoming the first team to hold both the World Cup and European Championships since West Germany in 1974.

Zidane's performances made him a contender for his second World Player of the Year crown. It was a crown he accepted, becoming only the second player to have been named World Footballer of the Year twice, the first being Ronaldo.

In 2001, Zidane became a target for Real Madrid. The assembly of the "Galacticos" was in full swing, and Zidane would be the main attraction. It would take a lot of money to get him, however. And it did.

Real Madrid forked out a reported £47.5 million for Zidane, a transfer fee which, to this day, remains a record.

He was one of the few players in history who was actually worth that much.

The next season, in a Champions League final, Zidane hit one of the best goals the competition has ever seen, a spectacular volley which turned out to be the winning goal. He went on to win the Intercontinental Cup and the European Super Cup that same year.

However, the World Cup didn't go as well for him. Injury ruled him out of France's first two games, which included a humiliating loss to minnows Senegal, and despite returning for the third game, he couldn't do anything about France crashing unceremoniously out in the group-stages, without scoring a goal.

In 2003, however, Zidane tasted more success, again with Real Madrid. This time, it was La Liga and the Spanish Super Cup. Individually, Zidane was awarded the World Player of the Year accolade yet again, becoming the second person to have won it three times, again, Ronaldo beat him to it.

Due to Zidane's game not relying on pace, his age didn't seem to have much affect on his play. In fact, at times it seemed to help, rather than hinder, him.

A barren spell at Real Madrid saw the break-up of some of the "Galacticos", and an injury ravaged Zidane announced he was planning to retire from all football after the 2006 World Cup.

It was at this World Cup where one of his more infamous moments came.

Despite a slow start, and Zidane getting himself suspended, France made it through from the group stages. In the second round Zidane returned, creating and scoring a goal. It was more of the same throughout the tournament.

France found themselves in another World Cup final, this time against Italy.

Zidane, in his last ever competitive game of football, scored an early penalty, becoming only the fourth man to have scored in two different World Cup finals. Italy equalised and it went into extra-time.

In the 110th minute, while walking back after an attack, Marco Materazzi uttered something to Zidane. Zidane turned round a headbutted him in the chest, and was sent off.

It was a shame that one of the greatest players ever saw a red card as his last sight on a football field, but what a way to go out!

Overall in his illustrious career, Zidane played in 732 games, scoring 144 goals, and creating hundreds more. For France he played 108 times, scoring 31 times.

He will always be remembered as a genius on the football field, and perhaps one of the most graceful players ever. A three-time World Player of the Year, this has been a tribute to Zinedine Zidane.
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Tue Jun 07, 2011 12:57 am

Here is an incredibly detailed bio on Zizou that I found here: http://www.monstersandcritics.com/people/Zinedine-Zidane/biography/
Enjoy!

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Zidane

Summary

"Zinedine Yazid Zidane" (IPA: ; born 23 June 1972), popularly nicknamed "Zizou", is a retired French football player of Algerian descent, widely considered one of the greatest footballers of all time. He led France to victory in the 1998 World Cup in France. He was a midfielder who played for four European clubs, including Juventus FC and Real Madrid. As a member and later captain of French national team he participated in two World Cup finals - including winning the tournament in 1998 - and in three European Championships, winning that tournament in 2000.

Having gained fame in Europe as a playmaker for Juventus, Zidane attracted worldwide attention in the 1998 World Cup final with two goals headed in against Brazil which won his country its first FIFA World Cup. He also contributed to France's victory in Euro 2000, the two trophies never being won consecutively since West Germany's 1974 team. At the club level he went on to win domestic championships in Italy and Spain with Juventus and Real Madrid respectively. In the final of the 2001-02 UEFA Champions League he scored the winning goal for Real Madrid. At the 1998 FIFA World Cup, he was named 'Most Outstanding Player' of the tournament, receiving the Golden Ball, captaining the French side that reached the final. However, Zidane's career ended in controversy when in his final match he was dismissed in extra-time of the 2006 World Cup Final for headbutting Italian defender Marco Materazzi.

Zidane was elected FIFA World Player of the Year a record-equalling three times (1998, 2000, 2003), finished in the top-three an additional three times (1997, 2002, 2006). He was also named European Footballer of the Year in 1998. The world-record fee of ?66 million (US$87 million, £47 million) for his transfer to Real Madrid in 2001 is the highest ever paid. In 2004, he topped the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll as the 'Best European football player of the past 50 years', and was included in the "FIFA 100", Pelé's list of the 125 greatest living footballers.

As originally announced on 25 April 2006, Zidane retired from professional football after the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Personal life

Zidane was born in Marseille on 23 June 1972 as the youngest of five children, and was raised in La Castellane, a government-sponsored housing project ("cité HLM") in the city's northern suburbs (the "Quartier Nord"). His parents, Ismail and Malika are Berbers (Kabyle) from the village of Aguemone, Algeria, from where they immigrated to France. In 1993, Zidane married Véronique Zidane (born Lentisco), a former French dancer of Spanish origin whose parents live in Rodez, Aveyron, France. They have four sons: Enzo (born 24 March 1995 and named after the Uruguayan Football player Enzo Francescoli, Zidane's childhood hero,), Luca (born 13 May 1998), Théo (born 18 May 2002), and Élyaz (born 26 December 2005).
Name and Ancestry

Zidane's name is of Arabic origin (Algerian Arabic: "Z?n ad-D?n Yaz?d Z?d?n", , transliteration: "Zayn-u-D?n Yaz?d Zayd?n"). "Zinédine" translates to "the beauty of the religion" (Arabic "Zayn-u-D?n"-from "zayn", 'beauty', and "d?n", 'religion; faith'). "Yazid" is a boy's name, sometimes spelled "Yazeed" (Arabic "Yaz?d", 'one who increases, becoming greater'). "Zidane" is expressing the overabundance of something that the bearer of name is said to possess, such as talent (Arabic "Zayd?n"-from "zayd", 'overabundant', and "an", 'two'). The nickname "Zizou" was given to Zidane by coach Rolland Courbis while Zidane played for Girondins de Bordeaux. "Yaz" is the nickname given to him by his brothers and used by his family and close friends.

Allegations by members of controversial French right-wing party Front National that Zidane's father was a Harki (an Algerian who fought for the French during the Algerian War of Independence), have been strongly denied by Zidane. He is said to be very proud of his family and his ancestry, identifying himself as 'first, a Kabyle from La Castellane, then an Algerian from Marseille, and then a Frenchman.'
Club career

Early career, Cannes and Bordeaux (1988-1996)

Zidane got his start in football at a young age when he joined the junior team of US Saint-Henri, his local club in the La Castellane district of Marseille. At the age of 14, Zidane left Septemes and participated in the first year junior selection for the league championship, where Jean Varraud, AS Cannes' recruiter, took notice of him. Zidane went to Cannes for what was intended to be a six-week stay, but remained at the club for four years to play with professionals. Showing the determination of an athlete who wanted to exceed expectations, Zidane played his first game in First Division at the age of 17, and it was from then that football went from an ambition to a passion. The Cannes midfielder scored his first goal on 8 February 1991 (he received a Clio as a promise from the Cannes President, who promised him a car when he scored his first goal as a professional), and his first season with the club was marked by a qualification for the UEFA Cup. Zidane's second season with Cannes was not as promising. During this time he met his future wife Veronique, a Spanish dancer. Afterwards, Zidane spent four years with FC Girondins de Bordeaux, leading them to victory in the 1995 Intertoto Cup and 2nd place in the 1995/96 UEFA Cup tournament. In Bordeaux, he met Bixente Lizarazu and Christophe Dugarry, with whom he played a set of midfield combinations that would become the trademark of both Bordeaux and the 1998 French national team. In 1996, he was transferred to Italy's Juventus F.C. for a fee of £ 3 million.
Juventus and Real Madrid (1996-2006)

At Juventus, Zidane was one of the top players and playmaker of Marcello Lippi's team, along with Didier Deschamps, Alessandro Del Piero, Angelo Di Livio, Ciro Ferrara and Edgar Davids. His team won two Serie A titles and reached UEFA Champions League finals consecutively, in 1997 and 1998, losing both.

In 2001, Zidane was transferred to Real Madrid on a four-year contract. The transfer fee was ?66 million, around £45.6 million or $94 million, the highest in football transfer history. His fellow "Galacticos" at Madrid included Raúl, Luís Figo, Roberto Carlos, and later Ronaldo and David Beckham. He scored a spectacular winning volley in a 2-1 win over the German team Bayer Leverkusen in the 2001-2002 Champions League final at Glasgow's Hampden Park.

On 7 May 2006, Zidane played his last home game for Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. His team-mates wore special jerseys that had "ZIDANE 2001-2006" written on the bottom of the club logo. The Real Madrid fans gave him a warm hump and kept cheering him throughout the game. The opposing team was Villarreal CF, and the game ended in a 3-3 draw, where he scored the second goal for Real Madrid. After the game, Zidane swapped jerseys with Juan Román Riquelme, the Villarreal CF and Argentinean midfielder. Zidane was given an ovation by spectators chanting 'merci', which left him in tears.
Interest from MLS

On 16 April 2007, Los Angeles Galaxy General Manager Alexi Lalas stated that he had made an offer to Zidane to sign with the MLS club. Zidane has not yet publicly announced any decision so far.

The Chicago Fire have also expressed interest in signing Zidane, but are also still awaiting an answer.
International career

Zidane holds dual citizenship of both France and Algeria, and therefore could have played for Algeria. However, coach Abdelhamid Kermali denied him a position on the team, arguing that the young midfielder was not fast enough. This rumor was dismissed by Zidane himself though, saying it was not possible for it to happen as he had already played for France before.

He earned his first cap with the French national football team on 17 August 1994, coming on as a substitute in the 63rd minute of a friendly match against the Czech Republic. France was behind 0-2 when Zidane came on and scored two goals for a 2-2 draw.

At that time, manager Aimé Jacquet had planned to position the team's formation around Manchester United star Éric Cantona, but after Cantona earned a year long suspension in January of 1995 (he launched a 'kung-fu' style kick against an allegedly abusive Crystal Palace fan, Matthew Simmons), Jacquet rearranged the team and positioned Zidane as playmaker. Despite criticism from fans and pundits regarding the choice of players, France made it to the semi-finals of the Euro 1996, where the Czechs beat France on 6-5 on penalties (0-0 after extra time).

In 1995 Zinedine Zidane might have become another high profile signing for Blackburn Rovers during the Jack Walker era. Kenny Dalglish had wanted to sign both Zidane and Christophe Dugarry who were playing in France for FC Girondins de Bordeaux, however Walker reportedly said to Dalglish: 'Why do you want to sign Zidane when we have Tim Sherwood?' (... more)
1998 World Cup

Zidane was a member of the French national football team that won the 1998 FIFA World Cup. During France's second match of the first round, he received a red card and a two-game suspension in a 4-0 win over Saudi Arabia for stomping on Saudi Arabia's team captain Fuad Amin. Reports from people close to Zidane stated that Amin had provoked him verbally. This incident was much like the incident to follow, in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. After scoring in the penalty shootout in the quarter-final against Italy, he scored his only other goals of the tournament in the final against Brazil; both goals were headers off corner kicks during the first half. France won the match 3-0 and obtained their first and only World Cup title.
2000 European Championship

In the Euro 2000 tournament, Zidane helped his team reach the final with inspired play and important goals. He scored a direct free kick in the quarter-final match against Spain and a golden goal penalty in the semi-final match against Portugal. France went on to win the tournament by defeating Italy in the final, making it the first team in 26 years to hold both the World Cup and the European Cup (since Germany held both titles in 1974). Subsequently, his team was ranked 1st in the world.
Injuries, retirement, and comeback (2002-2006)

A thigh injury prevented Zidane from playing in France's first two matches of the 2002 FIFA World Cup. He rushed back from his injury to play in the third game, but could not perform at his usual level. France was eliminated in the first round without scoring a single goal, and the attempt at defending the World Cup title was unsuccessful.

In the Euro 2004 tournament, Zidane and his team started strongly, and he scored a free kick and a penalty in a come-from-behind victory against England in the group stage. On 12 June 2004, after France was upset in the quarter-finals to the eventual winners, the Greek national football team, Zidane retired from international football.

However, after France experienced problems in qualifying for the 2006 FIFA World Cup, Zidane announced on 3 August 2005 that he was coming back to play for France and was reinstated as captain of the national team. He made his competitive return in the 3-0 FIFA World Cup qualifier win against the Faroe Islands on 3 September 2005, and France went on to win their qualifying group.

On 25 April 2006, after an injury-plagued season at Real Madrid, Zidane announced that he would retire from professional football following the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals in Germany.

On 27 May 2006, Zidane earned his 100th cap for France in a 1-0 victory over Mexico at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis on the outskirts of Paris. It was his last match in the stadium, and he became the fourth French player after Marcel Desailly, Didier Deschamps and Lilian Thuram to earn a hundred national caps. He was substituted early in the second half.
2006 World Cup

In the closing minutes of France's second match of the 2006 FIFA World Cup, against South Korea, Zidane received a yellow card for pushing a Korean defender, his second booking of the tournament. As a result, he was suspended from the third and final match of the group stage. France nonetheless beat Togo 2-0, allowing Zidane to play in the knockout stage, from which he would score or assist in every match afterwards. He returned to the pitch in the Round of the 16th match against Spain. Zidane set up Patrick Vieira for the second goal by sending a free kick into the penalty area. He scored a wonderful goal against Spain in the 91st minute after going down the left wing then firing the ball past Casillas.

The win sent France into a quarter-final against defending champions Brazil, in a rematch of the 1998 final. Zidane's set piece free-kick led to a goal by Thierry Henry, who was unmarked, giving France a 1-0 win over the "Seleção". He was named Man of the Match by FIFA's Technical Study Group. In the semi-final against Portugal four days later, Zidane scored a penalty kick against Ricardo for the only goal of the match and saw France through to the final against Italy.

On 9 July, Zidane played his second World Cup final-his final game-and scored in the 7th minute from the penalty spot with a chip shot that hit the crossbar before narrowly bouncing behind the goal line, and then bouncing out again. He became one of only four footballers to achieve the feat of scoring in two different World Cup finals, sharing the honour with Pelé, Paul Breitner, and Vavá. This goal also made him one of the top goalscorers in World Cup final matches, with 3 goals, tied for first place with Vavá, Geoff Hurst and Pelé. He was sent off (see below) in the 110th minute, and thus did not participate in the penalty shootout which Italy won 5-3. Despite the subsequent controversy over his offence in the final, Zidane was awarded the Golden Ball as "Best Player in the 2006 World Cup".
Possible comeback

It has been suggested that Zidane is lined up as a possible guest player in the A-league team Sydney FC, with ex-Real Madrid teammate David Beckham's Los Angeles Galaxy as an opponent, in a one-off invitational match in November 27 2007, at the Telstra Stadium. According to Sydney's "Daily Telegraph", talks to bring Zidane in as Sydney's guest player for the season 'are at an early stage', but they say the approach is serious and Zidane is genuinely interested.
Discipline

Zidane has shown a quick temper on the pitch. On top of his World Cup send-offs (in 1998 and 2006), he headbutted Jochen Kientz in a 2000/2001 Champions League match between Juventus and Hamburger SV, for which he was also sent off. Overall, he was sent off 14 times in his career.

He is one of four players that have been sent off in a World Cup final, one of two players that have been sent off during two different World Cup tournaments (the other player being Cameroon's Rigobert Song) and the only player ever to be sent off during extra time of a World Cup final.
Confrontation with Marco Materazzi

In the 110th minute of the 2006 World Cup final against Italy, Zidane was sent off for deliberately headbutting Marco Materazzi in the chest. The two players exchanged words before Zidane began to walk away from him. Materazzi then insulted his sister at which point Zidane turned around, made a run-up and head-butted Materazzi in the chest, sending him to the ground. Although play was halted, referee Horacio Elizondo did not appear to have seen the confrontation. According to match officials' reports, Fourth official Luis Medina Cantalejo informed Elizondo of the incident through his earphones. After consulting his assistant referees, Elizondo showed Zidane the red card and sent him off.
Provocation

Since video footage suggested that Materazzi had provoked Zidane, newspapers had lip readers try to determine what Materazzi had said, "The New York Times" reporting that Materazzi called Zidane 'the son of a terrorist whore'. In his first, highly awaited comments since the World Cup final, the French football star only partly explained what caused him to react in fury by head-butting an Italian opponent: repeated harsh insults about his mother and sister. Materazzi admitted insulting Zidane, but said that Zidane's behaviour had been very arrogant. He stressed that the insults had been trivial. Materazzi also insisted that he did not insult Zidane's mother, who was ill at the time, claiming that 'I didn't talk about his mother, either. I lost my mother when I was 15, and even now I still get emotional talking about her.' (World Soccer Magazine, August 2006). Zidane later stated that Materazzi had seriously and repeatedly insulted his mother and his sister and that he would 'rather have taken a blow to the face than hear that'. He also apologized to viewers, particularly children and educators, but said that he did not regret his offence because he felt that this would condone Materazzi's actions. Two months later, in continuing to assert that his comments had been trivial, Materazzi refused to apologize to Zidane, but stated his desire for reconciliation. He also offered his version of events, claiming that after he had grabbed Zidane's jersey, Zidane offered it to him sarcastically, and that he replied to Zidane that he would prefer his sister.

Materazzi later confirmed in an interview that his precise words to Zidane were: 'I prefer the whore that is your sister,...'
Reactions

After the final, the then President of France Jacques Chirac hailed Zidane as a national hero and called him a 'man of heart and conviction'. Chirac later added that he found the offence to be unacceptable, but that he understood that Zidane had been provoked.

President Abdelaziz Bouteflika of Algeria expressed his solidarity with Zidane in a letter of support.

French newspaper "Le Figaro" called the headbutt 'odious' and 'unacceptable'.

The editor-in-chief of French sports daily "L'Équipe" compared Zidane's greatness to Muhammad Ali's, but added that Ali, Jesse Owens, and Pelé had never 'broken the most elementary rules of sport' as Zidane had. He questioned how Zidane could explain the offence to 'millions of children around the world', but apologized the following day.

A commentator for "TIME" magazine regarded the incident as a symbol for Europe's 'grappling with multi-culturalism'. Zidane's sponsors announced that they would stick with him. The incident was extensively lampooned on the Internet and in popular culture; 'Coup de Boule', a novelty song written about the incident, reached the top of the French charts. It was also parodied in the "Family Guy" episode, 'Saving Private Brian', and referenced in "The Simpsons" episode 'Marge Gamer'.
FIFA investigation

In light of Zidane's statements, FIFA opened disciplinary proceedings to investigate the incident. FIFA also affirmed the legality of Horacio Elizondo's decision to send Zidane off, rejecting claims that fourth official Luis Medina Cantalejo had illegally relied on video transmission before informing Elizondo about Zidane's misconduct. As a result of its investigation, FIFA issued a CHF5000 ($4,117) fine and a two-match ban against Materazzi, while Zidane received a three-match ban and a CHF7500 ($6,176) fine. According to FIFA, both players had stressed that Materazzi's comments had been defamatory, but not of a racist nature. Since Zidane was already retired at the time, he voluntarily served three days of community service on FIFA's behalf, as a substitute for the three-match ban.
Charity activities

On 24 February 2007, Zidane dazzled more than 10,000 fans at a charity match in northern Thailand for the Keuydaroon charity for children with HIV/AIDS. Zidane scored the first goal by chipping the ball over the goalkeeper's head in the 36th minute before setting up the second for a Malaysian team-mate. The final score was 2-2. The event raised ?260,000 ($7,750) for the charity.

On 19 March 2007 Zinedine Zidane made his first appearance on a European pitch since retiring following The World Cup 2006 final in a charity game at Marseille's Stade Velodrome. Zidane, who captained one team of celebrities, played against another team of famous personalities captained by his ex- Real Madrid team mate and good friend Ronaldo. 'The Match Against Poverty?, was played under the aegis of the United Nations Development Programme 6-2. Zidane, who is currently a good will ambassador for U.N.D.P, stated before the game 'everyone can do something to make the world a better place.? Zidane himself didn't score any goals but set up his team's third goal in the 70th minute which was scored & Friends win charity game'
Awards, honours, and appointments

In 2004, Forbes magazine had named him the 42nd highest paid athlete in the world at earnings of US$15.8 million a year.

Zidane is the President for Life for Nouvelle Vague, a club in Marseille coached by his brother Farid (????).

In 2001, Zidane was appointed as the United Nations Development Programme Goodwill Ambassador for the fight against poverty.

Since 2000, Zidane has been consistently voted one of the most popular French personalities in newspaper polls. He was voted most popular in 2000, 2003, 2004 and 2006, second most popular in 2005, and fourth most popular in 2001 and in 2002.

In November 2006, Zidane toured Bangladesh as the guest of Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus.
Sponsorships

Zidane has had sponsorship deals with companies including Adidas, Lego, Danone, Arentrella, Generali, France Télécom, Orange, Audi, Ford and Christian Dior. Sponsorship deals like these earned him ?8.6 million on top of his ?6.4 million Real Madrid salary in the 2005-06 season, making him the sixth highest paid football player.
Honours

Club

"Girondins de Bordeaux"

* UEFA Cup

** Runners Up: 1995/1996

* UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1995

"Juventus F.C."

* Serie A: 1996-1997, 1997-1998

* European Super Cup: 1996

* Intercontinental Cup: 1996

* Italian Super Cup: 1997

* UEFA Champions League

** Runners Up: 1996-1997, 1997-1998

"Real Madrid"

* La Liga: 2002-2003

* UEFA Champions League: 2001/2002

* Intercontinental Cup: 2002

* European Super Cup: 2002
Country

"France"

* FIFA World Cup: 1998

** Runner Up: 2006

* European Championship: 2000
Individual

UEFA Club Football Awards, Best Midfielder: 1997/1998

"World Soccer" Player of the Year: 1998

FIFA World Player of the Year: 1998, 2000, 2003

FIFA Silver World Player of the Year: 2006

FIFA Bronze World Player of the Year: 1997, 2002

European Footballer of the Year (Ballon d'Or): 1998

UEFA Champions League Most Valuable Player: 2001/2002

UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll (Best European player of the past 50 years): 2004

FIFA World Cup Golden Ball Award: 2006

FIFPro World XI Team: 2005, 2006

Onze d'Or: 1998, 2000, 2001

UEFA European Championship Player of the Tournament: 2000

FIFA All-Star Team: 1998, 2006

UEFA BEST XI: 2001, 2002, 2003

"Chevalier" (Knight) of the Légion d'honneur: since 1998

Torchbearer for the 2004 Summer Olympics

Prince of Asturias Awards nomination in the Sports category, 2006.
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by The Madrid One Tue Jun 07, 2011 1:20 am

wow tremendous thread.

lots of respect for this shamirr.
The Madrid One
The Madrid One
"Imaybeonthesideoftheangels..."

Club Supported : Real Madrid
Posts : 4890
Join date : 2011-06-05
Age : 29

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Tue Jun 07, 2011 2:57 am

Here's a look at our Home grown super team La Quinta del Buitre from the La Croqueta Blog, Enjoy!

Retrospective: La Quinta del Buitre
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 La%2Bquinta
The Vulture's cohort (left to right): Pardeza, Sanchís, Michel, Vázquez and Butragueño.
Much is written of Real Madrid's dominance in the 1950's and 60's and the Los Galácticos era in the early 21st century but one period of equal success (if not more so) that tends to get overlooked but in truth deserves to be mentioned alongside some of the most dominant periods of any club side.

This is the story of the fabled Quinta del Buitre - "five men with unique styles that were joined by destiny to thrill the world with their football" - and how they helped Real Madrid to become a force during the late 1980's at home and in Europe, their story is of jubilation and regret with the grandest prize of them all eluding them.

Genesis and early success

Real Madrid won their 20th La Liga championship at the end of the 1979/80 season under Vujadin Boškov, only one of two trophies won at the club by the Yugoslavian, he left before the end of the 1981/82 season and was replaced by Luis Molowny – his third stint at the club, this time staying for just the one month as Real Madrid lined up the great Alfredo di Stéfano as their new boss.

Di Stéfano had already been managing an array of clubs from his native Argentina – Boca Juniors and River Plate – to his adopted homeland Spain with Valencia, Rayo Vallecano, CD Castellón and Sporting CP in Portugal. In his two years as manager, Real Madrid were to be trophyless, however it was under his watch that set in motion what was to become one of the great dynasties.

During his last season, 1983/84, on December 3rd 1983 he brought on two players from the clubs youth team: defender Manolo Sanchís and midfielder Martín Vázquez against Real Murcia at the Estadio de La Condomina Sanchís would score the only goal of the game. The two debutants performance left a lasting impression and they would go on to feature in the rest of the season. But if Sanchís' goal and Vázquez good play was impactful, then it wouldn’t compare to the events of the 5th February, 1984.

It was on this day another youngster was given his break, his name Emilio Butragueño, a skilful forward who showed his potential away to Cádiz CF, Real Madrid were trailing 2-0 and it seemed defeat was on the cards, on came Butragueño who turned the game around scoring twice and assisting a third. Something special was about to happen. Another forward was given his debut towards the end of the season, Miguel Pardeza.

Despite the emergence of these special talents, Real would finish the season as runners up, agonising on head-to-head, failing to beat champions Athletic Bilbao (who had a better goal difference by one).

Like Boškov the season before, Alfredo di Stéfano would step down at the end of the 83/84 campaign when his contract was up President Luis de Carlos decided not to resign him due to the failure to achieve sporting success. Amancio Amaro would take over at the start of the 1984/85 season he handed a debut to a bright midfielder by the name of Míchel. Now a pattern is emerging, Amaro would leave at the end 84/85 season and Luis Molowny would return for his 4th spell at the club, but this time it would prove to be successful as his first two.

"Miguel and I weren't very important in the first Castilla era," remembers Sanchís with a smile on his face, "Alfredo di Stéfano rescued us and made us play together." "He showed very unusual courage for the time by believing in very young players," adds Emilio, "It was a high risk for him."

Domestic dominance
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Jorge%2Bhugo
Jorge Valdano and Hugo Sánchez key components in Real Madrid's dominance.
At the start of the 1985/86 season Real Madrid had went 5 seasons without winning the league – in that time Real Sociedad and Athletic Bilbao had both won the championship twice and FC Barcelona the once. There was also a change in the boardroom level with Ramón Mendoza succeeding Luis de Carlos as new President. Real Madrid would make up for those 5 barren seasons in some style.

"Real Madrid was then going through a turning point," says Pardeza, "The club had lost many titles and things had to change. We were also very lucky because we arrived at the right time."

Prior to the debuts of Sanchís, Vázquez, Butragueño, Pardeza and Míchel on November 15, 1983 there was a publication in Spanish daily El País titled "La Quinta del Buitre", written by Julio César Iglesias, highlighting the promise of these 5 young players from Real Madrid's youth team - all with the exception of Pardeza born in Madrid - simply, they would become the vultures cohort, the 'vulture'(El Buitre) being their charismatic leader Butragueño.

Pardeza would leave at the end of the 1986/87 season - he was loaned out to Real Zaragoza for the 1985/86 campaign which ended with Real Madrid as champions - but he would return the following season to help Real defend their crown.

The 1986/87 season went down in history as the longest League in Spanish football. After 34 matchdays, each team played 10 more games in a three-part playoff: the top six teams would play for the title, which Real Madrid won, the next six would battle it out for a spot in the League Cup with the possibility of participating in the UEFA Cup, and the last six would duke it out to stave off relegation.

During this time Mendoza was also responsible for signing players of the likes of Hugo Sánchez, Miguel Tendillo, Paco Llorente, Francisco Buyo, Bernd Schuster (from arch-nemesis Barcelona), Chendo, Rafael Gordillo and Antonio Maceda to play alongside stars such as Santillana, Jorge Valdano, Ricardo Gallego, Juanito, José Antonio Camacho and Uli Stielike who were already there and to strengthen the Quinta del Buitre.

Between 1985/86 to 1989/90 the Real Madrid of the Quinta del Buitre won five consecutive leagues (under Molowny, Leo Beenhakker and John Toshack) breaking all kinds of records and equalling the club record achieved between 1960-61 and 1965. The 1989-90 season was to be a season to never forget, Real Madrid ended with 107 goals in 38 games a new league record the partnership of Butragueño and Sánchez were largely responsbile.

European triumph and despair
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Rmadridcamv2ql
Celebrating winning back-to-back UEFA Cup's in 1986
As Real Madrid began to take a stranglehold of the domestic game, their sights turned to Europe, whereas the sides of the 50's and 60's were judged on success on the continent this new generation aimed to do the same. Madrid's last European Cup triumph was in 1966 and before they could return to the same heights they needed a springboard and no better than the UEFA Cup.

On a personal note, Butragueño début in Europe's competition was as dramatic as his first league game for Real Madrid. The same year as his league début, Butragueño played his first European match in the 1984-85 UEFA Cup against Belgian side Anderlecht in the second leg at home, Real Madrid had lost 3-0 in Brussels, but with Butragueño they cruised to a 6-1 victory, scoring a hat trick. Sanchís, would get one and Valdano would add a brace.

Despite not getting on the score sheet the comeback was embodied by the performance of another great in Juanito, who Madridistas today fondly remember as someone who represents everything that is to play for Los Blancos. Juanito would again inspire Real Madrid to a comeback victory over Internazionale over two legs in the semi-final, Real would lose 2-0 at the San Siro but a goal by Míchel and a brace from Santillana in the second leg at the Bernabéu would send them to the final.

Real Madrid would defeat Hungarian side Videoton FC and win their first European honour since 1966. They would successfully defend the UEFA Cup defeating 1. FC Köln in the final (5-3 over two legs) and would remain the only side to have achieved this feat until Sevilla who won back-to-back UEFA Cup's in 2005-06 and 2006-07.

The following season (1986/87) they would reach the semi-finals of the European Cup, only to be beaten 4-2 on aggregate to Bayern Munich. One highlight of the campaign was Buyo's performance in goal against Michel Platini's Juventus side, where Real Madrid defeated them on penalties (after both games ended 1-0 to the home side), Buyo saving three spot kicks.

They would get revenge on Bayern the season after (1987/88) knocking them out in the quarter-finals but would still not reach the final this time losing on away goals in the semis to eventual winners PSV Eindhoven. But, the next season (1988/89) they would get revenge on PSV in the quarter-finals... but they still wouldn't reach that elusive final, as they came up against Arrigo Sacchi's brilliant AC Milan in the semi-finals.

Legacy
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Hontyelo_133909s
Finally got his hands on it.
Butragueño would stay a Real Madrid player until 1995, by then he had played over 300 games for Los Blancos and scoring well over 100 goals.

Sanchís would be the only member of La Quinta to see his career out at Real Madrid, and holds the club record for most appearances with 712, in the process becoming the only one to get his hands on the European Cup in 1998 and 2000.

Míchel like Butragueño would leave his boyhood club in the mid 90's and join Mexican side Atlético Celaya, El Buitre would be at city rivals Club Celaya. Martín Vázquez would play for a host of sides including Torino and Marseille after leaving Madrid in 1990, but would return in 1992 only to leave again in 1995, he would then play for Deportivo La Coruña before joining EButragueño at Club Celaya, he would end his great career at German side Karlsruher SC.

Miguel Pardeza would join Zaragoza in 1987 where he would enjoy success notbabaly winning the Cup Winners' Cup in 1995.

"Titles don't really do justice to the importance the team had back in its day," highlights Pardeza.

"Madridistas don't criticise us for not winning the European Cup, but rather feel sorry for the fact that we never actually made it," says Butragueño. "It may be wrong to say this, but we should have won the title in 1988 because we had an amazing run that year," adds Sanchís, who eventually won the European Cup twice years later.

As eulogised on Real Madrid's website "These five men made up the perfect player thanks to the technique of Martin Vazquez, Pardeza's skill, Michel's excellent precision at passing with his right leg, the versatility and quality of Sanchís... But what about Butragueño? "They used to say the world stopped when he stopped..."

A unique generation of players and an "unbelievable" time.

Real Madrid team of the 1980's (in brackets number of appearances):

Francisco Buyo (110)

Miguel Porlán Noguera a.k.a 'Chendo' (176)
Manuel Sanchís Hontiyuelo (178)
José Antonio Camacho (295)

Míchel (173)
Ricardo Gallego (250)
Uli Stielike (164)
Rafael Martín Vázquez (155)

Juan Gómez González a.k.a Juanito (223)
Hugo Sánchez (180)
Emilio Butragueño (170)


Roll of Honour

La Liga - 1979/80, 1985/86, 1986/87, 1987/88, 1988/89, 1989/90
Copa del Rey - 1979/80, 1981/82, 1988/89
Supercopa de España - 1988, 1989
UEFA Cup - 1984/85, 1985/86

Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Wed Jun 08, 2011 12:28 pm

Here is an Article on Vicente Del Bosque by Kaushik at http://real.theoffside.com (Pretty cool site give it a browse if you have time)

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Vicente_bosque_jugador_real_madrid
When managing a team, you can barely see emotions on the face of Vicente del Bosque. Not when his team is chasing a game, not when his team is scoring goals after goals. Why, there was barely any emotion seen when he conquered the greatest trophy of them all, the FIFA World Cup. Famously, he asked the other squad members to join in the celebrations, later revealing that, sometimes he does not feel happy at the end of games, because he thinks of the pain in the players who wanted to be on the field and couldn’t. A person, who would always put his players in front of himself, someone to look up to when you think of the gentlemen in the game, he was a fine player, and would end up becoming an even finer coach, and one of the best we have had at this institution, Real Madrid.

It is said that defenders possess a certain wit about them when it comes to football. They know which holes they are required to fill. They also know how to start attacks, well they used to know at least, and know to keep the team glued together. It is also because of this, that a lot of players who have played this position end up becoming coaches, because they, need to maintain a sense of calm, show a sense of leadership, and thus have an advantage watching the game from the sidelines. Most successful defenders go about quietly doing their job, and usually don’t get the media time their attacking and flamboyant attacking counterparts get. Few succeed as both players and coaches. Among these, even fewer attain legendary status like Salamanca’s greatest son, Vicente del Bosque.

Here’s something people overlook when they think of Del Bosque — The man played 400 odd games for us as a player. Yes, the picture on top is one of him as a player. In these 400 odd appearances, he won 5 La Ligas, and 4 Copas, and also notched up 15 something goals for us in a span of about 15 years. Not impressive right? Yup, but he was a defender, which is where my paragraph above was coming from. It is interesting to note that a majority of the time that Del Bosque played for Real, it was a period of political instability. Franco kicked the bucket, and Real Madrid was an object of all football related political hatred. Putting that into perspective 5 Ligas is an even more special achievement, than what it already appears by itself, in 15 years. Del Bosque also represented Spain 18 times. Little did people know then, that this journeyman, would go on to scale different heights from the touchline, and become a coaching legend.

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Normal

Del Bosque’s continued to be involved with Real Madrid. His career in management began with the role of handling Castilla. It is this stint, if you can call a 5 year period that, coupled with his time as a product of the Madrid youth system, where it is said that Del Bosque carved a niche amongst managers as one who constantly supports the notion of giving a chance to promising wonder kids. He is known to be a famous advocate of the philosophy where giving opportunities to potential starlets, so that they play with the world’s best, and automatically pick up what was necessary to belong at that top level. Del Bosque would be given a first crack at the big time in 1994 when he was caretaker manager, and his superior Benito Floro was sacked, albeit temporarily. He also got a solitary game in 1996, once again as interim, before being formally appointed in 1999 as the first team coach of Real Madrid.

He would go on to be our man at the helm for 4 years, which itself is quite a mean feat, when you consider in the rich and glorious history of Real, the club has never known to be patient with managers. To those interested in numbers, only 8 managers out of the 55 managerial changes that have taken place in the 100 + years of our existence, have been in service for more than 100 matches. Out of these 2, just a measly two have lasted more than 200. No prizes for guessing Vicente was one of them. For the curious ones, Miguel Munoz is the other one, and he belongs there only because he won 14 titles spanning across multiple competitions in his 14 years in charge. Del Bosque himself would win 2 Ligas, 2 Champions Leagues, one Spanish Super Cup, one UEFA Super Cup, and one Intercontinental Cup during his time in the hot seat. More than the titles, it was the way he managed teams that made him stand out as a manager.

Del Bosque was a firm believer in an unassuming, in a sort of nonchalant, style of management. He believed that more than teaching the players tactics, he should merely guide them. He said, that he would not want to treat his players as kids, but as adults who knew what was right. It is this very approach that made him a hit with all his players. He believed in getting the backs of all his players, as Fernando Hierro would famously tell the world. He was a master at being humble and thus being able to keep a check on egos within the squad. In the middle of his spell, the club underwent a massive rebranding as the Galacticos, and Del Bosque was equally successful in both the, seemingly different, types of times at the club. Under him, the club played a stylish brand of football both pre and post Galacticos. With Redondo, McManamman, Raul, Morientes leading the former, and Figo, Zidane and co taking charge in the latter period. In my opinion, Del Bosque, probably along with Makelele, and Perez of course, but you get the point, was responsible for the rise and fall of the Galacticos. Never before had it been imagined that the galaxy of stars would play under one roof, and so well. It is also well documented that after he was ever so strangely let go, Real and the Galactico policy suffered a decline, more impactful on the world of football than its ascend as well.

In the single most impactful off-season in recent history for Real, Perez strangely did not renew Del Bosque’s contract quoting reasons that the club needed a revamp of the image it showed of its manager. Del Bosque was so silent, seemed so emotionless, and had such a sense of calm, that it didn’t seem to fit in with the capitalist strategy Perez had in mind. Del Bosque was immediately offered the role of Technical Director which he refused. Players, led by Hierro came to defence of the manager they loved so much, and not so strangely he too, was fired. Makelele went, Beckham came, you know how the rest unfolded.

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Vicente-del-Bosque-Spain-001

Del Bosque then went on to have a short forgettable spell in Turkey, after which he inherited Luis Aragones’ European champion Spain team, with a chance to make history by winning the World Cup. This feat of course he achieved, once again stressing that there was no Aragones’ Spain or his Spain, but just one Spain and that the players just needed to be guided. Some say it was not a difficult job because most of the team plays for one club, but that statement does not have an ounce of value when we are talking about Spain and its infamous history in big international competitions. Upon winning the tournament, he became only the second ever manager to win the UEFA Champions League and the World Cup. I am not sure if such statistics are kept, but I am quite sure very few people have won La Liga as a player and a manager.

Del Bosque was always a person who liked to play second fiddle, a person who preferred being behind the scenes, and thus often giving a false impression of disinterest, whereby he is likely to be under-appreciated. People don’t like the Buddha’s these days. They want spice, they want entertainment, which probably goes on to say why Mourinho is in the spotlight so much. Del Bosque statistically, or under the impression of his players, and a small section of appreciative fans like me, will never be under-appreciated, forgotten, or be second to very many people. About a month ago, there was a tribute match played in Del Bosque’s hometown of Salamanca. He was also honoured recently by the King in what I understand is the Spanish version of the knighthood. In this function, he was asked by a journalist, whether he feels bad about the way he was treated, and ultimately sacked by Real Madrid, to which he responded, ever so gentlemanly saying ‘Real Madrid is special because they don’t owe me anything. I was very happy in this club and I was there for so many years that it’s actually me who owes them something’. This quote embodies Del Bosque as a manager, and a person of extra-ordinary class, and a rarity in not just modern, but all of football. Call me old school, but, this class act, Vicente del Bosque will remain in the hearts of fans as one of the best, if not the best managers, this beautiful game has shown us. I really wish our club does something to honour his contribution, when he does decided to call it a day, for he is indeed, forever Blanco.
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Wed Jun 08, 2011 12:40 pm

Here is an Article on Guti by Kaushik this time on there new site: http://www.realmadridfootballblog.com/ (Just as good if not better than the last one.)

Forever Blanco – Guti

There are players, there are legends, then there are immortals. Somewhere between the last two categories a bunch of them get lost in the fine line that separates them. If you were to crown a king, for people of this kind, there’s only one name that deserves it. José María Gutiérrez Hernández, is whom this next instance of the Forever Blanco series is dedicated to. Earlier in the series (at The Offside) I wrote about Raul, Redondo and Del Bosque, who shared a similar success storyline, but Guti is a bit more complicated. Not many non Real Madrid fans will think about him when you talk about football geniuses. But to us, at least for me, he is one of the first people that will come to mind, Guti is without doubt one of the best players who have worn the legendary blanco.

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Guti

When Guti left this summer, it was an emotional thing for me. I, as most of the writers on this blog, have a soft corner for the cantera. I become an even bigger fan when players start off their career here and end it after what seems like eons. It was emotional because Guti and Raul left in the same week, and that leaves Casillas as the only player still remaining from when I started watching. Also because Guti was special, special in a way that nobody else can be. Frustratingly terrible on some days, magically brilliant on others it is players like him that made watching Spanish football so special. You would never know which Guti will turn up, the immense satisfaction of staying up that late to watch a match is fulfilled when he makes those slick passes, those elegant chips, and those audacious back heels, is not explainable in mere words.

Guti has been in Real Madrid ever since he was a kid. When he started off though, in the Juvenils and for Real Madrid B, he played as a forward, and as a striker he had scored many goals. Upon promotion to the first team, in 1996 he was moved back to the mediapunta role which is the classic number 10 role. A role in which he would thrive and give the Bernabeu many magical nights. As his career progressed, football’s evolution would make him drop deeper and deeper which would help us see why in recent times he has been playing in one of the pivots, albeit a bit more offensive than who he is paired with.

Guti’s main claim to fame were his passes and his vision. Often he would pick out passes that most of us could not even dream of or envision. A lot of players have come and gone during his tenure at Real Madrid. What amazes me is that most of these people who come in are asked about what they find surprising about their new club and almost all of them mention Guti’s name. Time and time again interviews like these would make me smile, hearing them say – I knew he was a good player but only when I came here I realised just how special he is would often make my day.

Spot the blonde genius contest.

Guti made his first team debut against Sevilla, co-incidentally, he would have one of his best games against them in 2007 with Los Blancos. In his time at the club, the man has won 15 titles. Yes you read that right 15 titles. That is 5 leagues and 3 CLs. That makes him and Raul have as many titles as all of Barcelona (ha, I just had to say that!). Statistically 2000-01 was his best season in terms of goals. Most of the times he would come off the bench in that season, making the achievement look better than it normally would have with 18 goals.

Starting mostly off the bench, Guti gradually grew into the starting lineup and like mentioned before, starting off playing as a forward. Back in the day, we would play with 5 defenders, one of which would usually be a sweeper, 2 of whom would be wingbacks, and the best in the world at being that. 2 central midfielders, generally ones who had tremendous control on proceedings, usually Redondo and another (Macca/Seedorf/other) and 3 forwards. Cool huh? I used to love watching that formation. Lots of teams used to play that way, even the defensive Juve. Anyway, Guti would play in the role that required most retraction among the forwards. This gave him the freedom to play passes to Raul (traditionally a off-the-ball striker) and also an Anelka/Morientes (traditionally off the ball striker).

As the years progressed, and FloPy was implementing his Galactico policy, back in the day when it was only one signing per year, Guti was pushed slowly but steadily further behind in the pitch. And eventually, post Beckham era, even to the bench. 2002/2003 was fruitful in terms of assists, thanks mainly to the sheer quality in the team. Every pass he would make there is someone to pick it up, Figo and Zidane on either wings, and Salgado and Carlos on wingbacks, not to mention Raul/Morientes/Ronaldo as forwards. Also, having Makelele to do the cleanup work benefited him in giving us some really showman like performances.

With Zidane retiring, FloPy calling it quits, and Calderon stepping in vowing to sign Kaka everyday, but not being able to, Guti would see himself as the regular creative source on most occasions, even with Sneijder being around. His consistency was a question mark, but he would have more good days than bad ones. Guti would thrive again in his role, under Schuster. More recently, when Galacticos 2.0 started to take shape, Guti once again found himself relegated to the bench thanks to big money buys, but eventually won the trust of Pellegrini and would play regularly in what would be his last season in white. Leaving for Besiktas early this season, rather unfairly sent off (or not) by the Real Madrid management, brought a tear in all Madridistas’ eyes. I would be really pleased if when Guti does hang up his boots for good, he is given a good send off by the club, along with Raul.

All things though, were not as rosy as things should/could have been. Guti was a man of questionable temperament. Often he would get sent off in crucial situations. Occasionally he had days where he just looked absolutely uninterested, tired, and an evident lack of effort and initiative. But on days when the whole team would be like this (believe me we had lots more than we are accustomed to seeing now, and somehow I miss it) he would be the one kicking it up from first gear to higher. His cavalier attitude, questionable lifestyle and an apparent sense of carelessness would make him a tough guy to have in the squad. I remember, in an earlier post, someone talked about how Pedro Leon deserved to get punished because he dared to cross Mourinho on some matter, and our lad Zizou (of the ‘put it in gravy’) fame had an excellent reply ready. He said, something to the tune of at least, ‘If going against the word of a manager should have such implications we would have never had Guti’. Touche.

Guti’s career is the story of the greatest passer who could never become the greatest player. He had his shortcomings, but that is what made him such a special nut. His nonchalance, and his volatile nature is what made his turn-on-the-style days completely worth it. You could attribute his not being amongst the greatest to his attitude, or perhaps the sheer amount of talent he played around thus making him seem more grey than white. All said, he was an absolute genius, second to none in his own way, perhaps in a way the story of an underachieving life leading to him being overrated some might say, but a majority will agree with me on him being vastly underrated, in the grand perspective of history. I will end this article, with a couple of videos of this gem, forever blanco, Guti. Shine on you crazy diamond.


Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by zaboer Wed Jun 08, 2011 3:00 pm

roberto carlos cheers
zaboer
zaboer
Banned (Permanent)

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 33
Join date : 2011-06-08

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Fri Jul 22, 2011 10:04 pm

Here's a great article courtesy of our resident Saint Nick. It's from The offside.com and the original can be found here: http://real.theoffside.com/editorialopinion/whiter-than-you-think-a-history-lesson.html


Reader Fahaad sent this my way a few days ago, interested to see what everyone else thought of it. The article is quite long, but its an alternative opinion to the history of Real Madrid FC from someone who wanted to debunk some of the misconceptions about Real’s association with Franco, the bad blood between Barcelona and other factual inaccuracies. Some people have clamored for a post such as this before, and while I have done my fair share of reading, I have never considered myself an expert of facts on the history of Spain during the late 19th and 20th century, its most turbulent times.

I also would not consider myself a master of the history of the club, nor do I have an understanding of the cultural implications and political background to much of the story, so I have never felt comfortable commenting on it through a full post. Personally I do not think I could do it justice, and I like to think when I write their is great purpose and also great perspective and a certain degree of factual clarity and objectivity. This is such a subject I could not see myself being capable of fulfilling these criteria, but there are others out there who are brave enough to try.

So without further ado, here is some writing that should illuminate those who do not know, or provide a different perspective for some that do. The writers of this website had no part to play in the writing of the material below, and thus do not acknowledge agreement with any or all of the views expressed. Please keep that in mind! I will not be heavy handed in the comments as long as everyone plays nice. If you disagree with something written, please say why in a logical explanation. Otherwise, its not worth replying. Enjoy the article and look for the Malaga preview tomorrow.

“Whiter Thank You Think” is a series of articles written by my (Fahaad’s) good friend Mario Gòmez who runs a Real Madrid Spanish blog called Fans del Real Madrid.
Mario attempts to correct some of the misconceptions around Real Madrid in general and dives into the club’s rivalry with Barcelona and the whole thing with Franco.
This is the first article in the series. The rest will be published in the next few days, and we’d appreciate If you helped to spread the word about the truth on Twitter, Facebook or your own blog.

Whiter Than You Think: Real Madrid’s 11-1 Trashing Of Barcelona In 1943: What Really Happened…

 
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Chamartin
Chamartin
Semi-final of Spain’s Cup, second leg: Real Madrid 11-1 Barcelona.

The 11-1 of 1943: The Aggression That Never Was

What you may have heard:

It’s 1943, Spain’s Cup semifinals, second leg. Real Madrid beats Barcelona by 11-1. Many of our enemies try to hide our spectacular victory against the Blaugrana team behind some poor allegations of being helped by General Franco ’s government. For instance, they claim that some agents of the Guardia Civil threatened Barcelona’s players at half time for speaking in Catalan (a regional language spoken in north-east Spain), which was briefly forbidden after the Spanish civil war. Another version is that the officers who came into the visitor changing room gave the Barcelona players a harsh beating which left them in very poor shape. There’s another tale involving government representatives “persuading” the referee that Real should win the match.

The facts:

All these colorful stories can be easily refuted with verifiable data:

- The Guardia Civil agents that supposedly entered Barcelona’s changing room could not
threaten them for speaking in Catalan, since the law banning its public use had been repealed in 1942, the match taking place in 1943.

- The main cause of Barcelona’s trashing could hardly be a beating by the police at half time, since at the end of the first half the score was already 8-0. In the second half, Real Madrid scored only three more goals, and Barcelona managed to score one.

- The only referee’s warning on record was a call for both teams for fair play.
Taking a look at that era, the notion of Franco helping Real Madrid in its victories over his years of government in Spain emerges as certainly odd: while the General won the war in 1939, Real Madrid wasn’t able to grab a title or a cup until 1947, and didn’t win the league until 1954. Instead, during that same period, Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao , two of the clubs based in the supposedly most anti-Franco regions of Spain, were the clubs that won more titles (one League and four Cups for Bilbao and a whopping five leagues and four cups for Barcelona). Regarding the match this chapter deals with, one could hardly understand how Franco’s men could have helped Real Madrid win Barcelona 11-1 and let them lose the Cup final against Bilbao (0-1). Kind of a waste, huh?

Lastly, Bernardo Salazar, one of Spain’s most recognized sports historians (supporter of Real’s rival Atlético Madrid), has explained in one of his writings how two of Barcelona’s players in that game assured him they had never received any kind of pressure of the authorities in order to lose the match.

Those players are José Escolá, who played the 90 minutes that day, and Domingo Balmanya – very assiduous commentator on the media, hardly the secretive guy-, who didn’t play but was at Old Chamartín with his club mates.

The only true thing among this mish-mash of made-up tales is the infernal atmosphere created by the Whites’ fans (whistles were distributed among the spectators at the pitch’s entrance). This is quite understandable taking into account the first match circumstances, with two clearly illegal goals conceded to Barcelona and a valid goal taken from Madrid with the excuse that the first half was already over (though no one has heard the whistle). The public’s pressure in the second match, combined with Real Madrid’s impressive scoring ability resulted in a great match that to this day fills us with pride and stimulates the imagination of some in order to try and hide their shame.


Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Bernabeu
On General Franco & Santiago Bernabeu

What you may have heard:

Among all the fictional tales spread by antimadridista propaganda about Real Madrid, perhaps the most hurtful is the one trying to establish a close relationship between Santiago Bernabéu and the Spanish government headed by Francisco Franco . According to Bernabéu’s detractors, the great success of our team during his mandate was not a result of the work of the president, but a result of Franco’s interest in helping Real Madrid, in return for its image as a symbol of the dictatorship.

The facts:

The relationship between the best president in the history of football and the authorities of his time was hardly cordial. Despite his strong patriotic spirit, Bernabéu was always politically independent and kept Real Madrid safe from the interference of the winning side of the Civil War. Franco’s regime didn’t help Real Madrid – more so, it even but harmed the institution some times, and used its astounding success as a tool to promote its political standpoint without asking for the club’s permission.

It’s funny that the primary cause of the arrival of Bernabéu to the club’s presidency was a result of the government’s protection of Barcelona. A great victory (11-1) of Real Madrid against the blaugrana team was followed by several episodes of violence . To finish it, government officials decided to unfairly force the presidents of both teams to resign. On September 15, 1943, Santiago Bernabéu was “provisionally” elected as Real Madrid’s president. He served the club until his death on June 2, 1978. During the years of the Spanish 2nd Republic (1931-1936), Real Madrid (renamed “Madrid FC” because of the republic’s ban of monarchical symbols) was one of the most successful teams in the country. When the Civil War surprised the Spaniards, our club was the most harmed, since we had to see how a triumphal era came to an abrupt end.

After the war, in 1939, the difficult task of rebuilding the club began. 300.000 pesetas of the time were necessary to rebuild the destroyed Old Chamartín Stadium, which during the war was used as a detention camp. Real Madrid had to attract people to its matches again and get new players for the team (only five players of the squad of 1936 could return to the white club). Achieving these goals was an almost impossible mission, since the club’s heritage had been looted (a few trophies from the beginnings of the 20th Century were among the stolen goods) and there was no official help, since the Spanish Army adopted Atlético Madrid as his team, and even changed its name to Atlético Aviación (after its merger with Aviación Nacional, a team founded by army members), so all aids and favours knew in which direction they had to go.

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Franco

All fans of Atlético and Barça, raise your hand!

As can be seen, when Bernabéu arrived to the presidency, Real Madrid was a dead club in its heritage, its sporting side and its social mass. But the hard work of the Real Madrid lovers that he led, including Adolfo Meléndez, Pedro Parages, Antonio S. Peralba and the Marquis of Bolarque, managed to return the club to the top. In order to refute Madrid haters’ lies about the impeccable figure of Santiago Bernabéu, we only have to focus in some confrontations he had with the authorities of Franco’s regime. These incidents were brought on by his strong personality, which never accepted that the government hadn’t done a thing to help Real Madrid during its reconstruction, but intended to use the victorious club image that he had created for its own benefit.

In that time, when Spain had a very damaged international image for its economical depression and lack of democratic rights, Real Madrid was one of the few things the nation could proudly show to the rest of the world. Real Madrid’s victories during those years, especially in the European Cup (the first five ones and the 1966 edition) have a very easy explanation: it was the best team of the world. No sporting or political manipulation can be blamed for our European reign, and there have never been any serious claims against it. On the contrary, when Real Madrid was on the way to win its 6th consecutive European Cup, in the second leg of 1961’s semi-finals (the first, played in Madrid, finished 1-1) against Barcelona the referee called off… four legal goals! to our team, which lost 2-1 and was unfairly eliminated from the competition in arguably one of the greatest scandals in football’s history.

The years of victories across Europe were accompanied by many conflicts of Bernabéu with UEFA heads, making Real Madrid the most laureate team of the old continent, and at the same time, the most disciplined, showing the mutual aversion between UEFA and our club. The white president was never defeated by UEFA’s sanctions and pressures, and bore with patience the shameful arbitrations of the European Federation over these years. Bernabéu could forgive but not forget these offences, and returned the clash in a masterly way when he rejected the participation of Real Madrid in the newborn UEFA Cup as a minor trophy under the level of the club’s prestige. That decision caused the anger of UEFA, which started a new anti-Real campaign where the referees
were again, sadly, the main performers.

Among the conflicts with Franco’s government, the one involving the president with Millán Astray, founder of the Spanish Legion and battle comrade of Franco, was the showiest. Millán Astray had a reputation of a dreadful temper, and for instance had allegedly attacked the famous argentinian singer Carlos Gardel . Astray was at the box of Chamartín Stadium during a match, and went too far with the wife of one of the guests. When Mr. Santiago heard this, he immediately headed for the guest’s box and expelled the general, banning his entry to the Stadium. Astray threatened Bernabéu with death, and only the intervention of General Muñoz Grandes (who served with Bernabéu during the Civil War) prevented things to go beyond simple words.

The president’s behavior, totally inconceivable in postwar Spain, made his figure rise close to the rank of genuine hero. Another example of Bernabéu’s strong personality was seen in the old Real Madrid Sports Hall (years leter renamed “Raimundo Saporta ”), during a basketball game between Real Madrid and Maccabi Tel-Aviv. In the match presentation, Bernabéu condecorated the israeli general Moshé Dayán (who was proud of being a loyal Real Madrid supporter) with his own Real Madrid gold badge. This unprecedented act caused the anger of the government (General Franco’s regime didn’t recognize the State of Israel), and made lots of his heads vow “eternal hate” to Mr. Santiago.

As a result of this, when in 1973 Mr. Santiago presented his project of building a new stadium, the government objected and impeded its construction. The mayor of Madrid, Arias Navarro, wouldn’t even talk about the matter. In Barcelona, the opposition to the government’s help to Real Madrid’s new stadium was led by the judge Pérez Estevill. Arias Navarro was years later named chief of the Spanish government, but after Franco’s death he was removed from office by the King Juan Carlos , for his strong opposition to the democratic reforms.

Meanwhile, Pérez Estevill starred in a corruption scandal, being convicted under charges of corruption and bribery among other offences. However, Barcelona (which today still considers itself as the most anti-Franco team during that years) had all the favours of the regime in the successive changes of legal status for the lands of the ancient Les Corts Stadium (which permitted to sell them at higher prices). The first favour took place in the 50s by order of Franco himself, and helped to end the financial crisis of the club in that decade. The agreement came to fruition with Antonio María Simarro as mayor of Barcelona and Francisco Miró Sans as president of the blaugrana team.

The second change of status ressulted in the appointment of Franco’s city mayor José María de Porcioles as honour member of FC Barcelona , and helped the club to pay the debts they had in the early sixties. In 1965, the friendship of the president of the Spanish Council of Ministers, Torcuato Fernández Miranda, and a member of Barcelona’s board of directors, Juan Gich, made possible the third legal status change.

All of these urban operations were possible because of Barça’s abundant contacts within the government, to the point that some presidents of the club were notorious Franco supporters. On the other hand there was Real Madrid (the alleged “Franco’s team”), Santiago Bernabéu and his long string of reprimands. Every Real Madrid title was won solely on the field.

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Bernabeu-y-Di-Stefano
The Signing Of Alfredo di Stéfano: Did Real Steal Him From Barcelona?


What you may have heard:

From 1929 to 1953, Real Madrid only won two of 22 leagues, both times before the war. During the eleven years since 1953, the year that Di Stéfano arrived at the club, Real Madrid won 8 leagues , 2 Latin Cups, 5 European Champion Cups and an Intercontinental Cup. Di Stéfano was signed after a race with Barcelona for the Argentinian’s services, who finally went to the Whites. In later years, the Barcelonistas claimed a supposed intervention of Franco’s government for the benefit of Real Madrid, as well as all sorts of dirty maneuvers by the capital’s club to get the player. But once again, reality is very different.

The hard, cold facts:

Alfredo Di Stéfano became known to Real Madrid fans in the club’s 50th anniversary match against Millonarios of Bogotá. Madrid’s council became immediately interested by Millonario’s number 9, but said club officials pointed the impossibility of his signing, because of the “Pact of Lima”, which put the player in a complicated contractual situation.
Some years back, Alfredo Di Stéfano had been the sensation of the 1947 Argentinian league, playing for River Plate and becoming top scorer with 27 goals. But his situation changed drastically with the strike called by the Futbolistas Argentinos Agremiados association, which prevented him from playing again until May 1949. But by then his spirits were down and his relationship with the River rulers was very poor, so in August of that year he left for Colombia.

In that year, Columbian football was in the process of splitting. The club’s rulers had left the Federación Colombiana and created the Asociación Colombiana, which began signing players and paying high sums for them. Among these players were Di Stéfano, who signed for Millonarios de Bogotá. FIFA didn’t recognize the new association’s rights, thus starting a long conflict which was solved in 1951, with the Pact of Lima. In fact, FIFA recognized the club’s rights over the players until December 31, 1954 at most. After that date, the rights would return to the previous player’s owner, River Plate in the case of Di Stéfano.
The Argentinian had emigrated searching for a a better professional future, but the situation in Colombia was changing: every time less people attended the games, and for the players it was becoming increasingly difficult to receive their salaries. During a team’s trip to Chile in Christmas 1952, Di Stéfano declares himself in rebellion. Then he travels to Buenos Aires and decides no to return to Colombia, even considering retiring from football. Millonarios sues Di Stéfano, who had perceived $4000 in advance, and FIFA tells every federation about the impossibility of signing him. As a result of these events, the player was in 1953 in Buenos Aires, unable to sign for any club and waiting until 1955 to return to River Plate.

Meanwhile, in Spain, and thanks to Kubala’s arrival, Barcelona had cemented its hegemony in Spanish football. They had won the Cup in 1951 and 1952 and the 51-52 League. Nevertheless, at the beginning of 1953 Kubala was diagnosed with a lung affection which raised serious fears about the player’s future. Facing this situation, the president Enrique Martí trusted the technical secretary José Samitier with the signing of a star who could replace Kubala. Barcelona then put its eye on Di Stéfano, and started contacts with River Plate, although the rights still belonged to Millonarios. Even so, Barcelona’s president reached an agreement with River Plate by which they’d pay 4 million pesetas for the services of Di Stéfano, starting January 1, 1955.

On May 23, 1953, Di Stéfano arrives in Barcelona. But by that time Kubala’s health has fully recovered, thanks to which Barcelona wins the League and the Cup, being for this reason it was invited to the “Pequeña Copa del Mundo” held in Caracas. Barcelona’s president Martí travels there intending to solve Di Stéfano’s signing with Millonarios. In the interview, Millonarios’s president, Alfonso Seniors, demands a payment of $ 27.000 (roughly 500.000 pesetas) for the players’ rights. Barcelona’s president refuses to do so, and he even declares that they are willing to keep Di Stéfano from playing for a whole season.

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Di-Stefano

In that moment, Real Madrid makes its appearance. Madrid’s vice president, Álvaro Bustamante, sends Raimundo Saporta to Bogotá with the $27.000 required to sign the player. Once this is done, Saporta travels to Buenos Aires to buy the remaining rights from River Plate, but this can’t be achieved, since Barcelona had already paid 2 million pesetas to River. Nevertheless, Saporta gets a commitment from the club to not taking sides in case a conflict arises. Considering Di Stéfano a Real Madrid player in that moment, Saporta travels to Barcelona and contacts him. Those days the player felt abandoned by Barcelona, feeling unable to solve his case and having played only three friendly games with the club. His interview with Saporta gives cheers him back up, and the fact that Saporta pays him his first money as a Real Madrid’s player also cheers his wife, who was already worried about the family’s budget. One week later, Millonarios’ president meets Don Santiago Bernabéu in Madrid, closing the player’s transfer to the White club. Alfredo Di Stéfano was a Real Madrid player… till January 1, 1955.

In this situation, none of the two Spanish clubs held the rights for the 1953-54 season. FIFA told the Spanish Federation that Di Stéfano wouldn’t be granted any license till this conflict was solved. It was necessary thus for both teams to reach an agreement. Faced with this, Barcelona’s president loses his nerve and tries to sell the player’s rights to Juventus of Torino without informing Di Stéfano, which angered the player. After Juventus’ refusal to negotiate for a player with such a complicated situation, Barcelona contacts River Plate asking in quite inadequate manners for the withdrawal of the contract and the returning of the two millions already paid, to which River refuses. FIFA designates Armando Muñoz Calero, former president of the Spanish federation, and who had so strongly worked for Kubala’s signing, to act as mediator. Calero takes a Salomone decision: Di Stéfano will play for Real Madrid in the seasons 1953-54 and 1955-56, and for Barcelona during 1954-55 and 1956-57. After this, both clubs will have to decide about the player’s future.

On a first moment, the clubs agree on this decision. Nevertheless, there was a new problem: Starting August 24, 1954, a new regulation prevented spanish teams from signing foreign players. At this point comes the only government intervention in all the affair, as clubs are allowed to sign those players who were in negotiations before August 22. On September 22, 1953, Real Madrid submits Di Stéfano’s license in the castilian federation. Some hours before, Barcelona’s president resigns his post due to the mistakes made during the player’s signing.

The commission which took charge of Barcelona gave up its rights over the placer provided that Real Madrid offered an economic compensation for all the spending made during the negotiations. There could be many reasons behind this decision, such as Kubala’s recovery, coach Daucik dislike of Di Stéfano first performances with Real Madrid, or his fame as a controversial player. In any case, the commission’s official reason was that Barcelona was too important a club to share a player with another team. On October 25, 1953, before the match which would face both teams in Chamartin, Barcelona signed the document by which it officially renounced to the player, with Real Madrid agreeing to pay the Catalan club 4.400.000 pesetas. On the field, the Madrid directed by the player which Barcelona had refused beat Barcelona 5-0 with two goals by Di Stéfano. Real Madrid’s golden age in national and international football had begun.

Barcelona’s lies

- The phones used by Barcelona in their South American negotiations were not bugged by Real Madrid, as claimed in sources as the FC Barcelona’s Centenary Collection, Book 11.

- There was no intervention by the government. The authorization to sign foreign players already under negotiation was a general one, and several clubs, such as Valencia, Español and Valladolid benefitted from it.

- Contrary to what’s claimed in Barcelona’s web page, Di Stéfano was not on lease on Millonarios of Bogotá. The Colombian club held the player’s rights, and thus could sell him. Also, it’s not true that FIFA supported Barcelona – It declared that both clubs were right and had to reach an agreement. If Barcelona had paid the amount demanded by Millonarios, they’d been able to keep the player. Real Madrid’s better negotiating skills, bigger spending and will to have the player gave them the edge.

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Kubala
Kubala’s Shady Deal

What you may have heard:

Whereas Real “stole” Di Stéfano from Barça, with “the help of Franco’s regime” (see here the debunking of such story), the Catalan club followed the most strict legality to sign their superstar from the 50s, Hungary’s Ladislao Kubala . As a “prosecuted” team, they of course didn’t have any kind of help from the government. Real Madrid claim to be the first to talk to the player, after seeing him in a match at the Bernabéu, but Barcelona had already contacted him months before.

The truth:

Ladislao Kubala turned Barcelona into an unstoppable team. They won almost every disputed title among 1951 and 1953, only missing the the league in 1951. The 1952 season became to be known as the “Five Cups” one: League, Cup, Copa Latina, Copa Eva Duarte and Copa Martini Rossi. During Kubala’s run, Barcelona won the League in 1952, 1953, 1959 and 1960; Generalissimo’s Cup in 1954, 1957 and 1959, and Fairs Cup in 1958 and 1960. His great popularity was one of the reasons for Barcelona’s move from Les Corts to Nou Camp.

Kubala had developed his career among Hungary and Checoslovaquia. In 1949 he was playing for Vasas Budapest . Oppressed by Hungary’s communist dictatorship, which among other things didn’t allow him to join his wife and newly born son in Czechoslovakia, at the beginning of that year he flees the country disguised as as soviet soldier. He arrives in Innsbruck with no papers, and from there he travels to Zurich in the automobile of Pro Patria , a Serie A Milanese team. On march 19, FIFA’s Secretary General assures him his situation will be legal within a year. In consequence, Kubala signs for Pro Patria and starts playing friendly matches. In May 1950, Real Madrid receives a letter from Italy offering the performance in Spain of a team called Hungaria, formed by not only Hungarian players, but also from Croacia, Albania, Romania and Yugoslavia, all having in common his escape from the communist yoke. These evaded players couldn’t get permission from their respective federations to play in western teams, which led them to form this team, coached by Ferdinand Daucik , former Czechoslovakia international and Kubala’s brother in law, who also had fled his country. They played their first match in Gorizia, against the Italian B National Team, but after a protest from the Italian Communist Party their matches were banned.

Real Madrid accepted the offer and Hungaria debuted in Chamartin on June 5, 1950. Kubala shined as his team’s playmaker and put them ahead scoring two goals, but Madrid was able to come back and win 4-2. It was probably in Hungaria’s visit to Madrid when the white club started contacts with Kubala to sign him, but he suggested to have his brother in law Daucik also hired as coach. Real refused, having an ongoing contract with english Keeping, but handles him a contract draft for him to study.

Nevertheless, some weeks later, after a match played in Barcelona, Kubala signs for the azulgrana team, which did accept Daucik as coach. Funnily, Kubaa used the contract draft Real had handed him to try and have Barcelona offering him the same. Thus, on June 16 Kubala becomes a Barcelona player for the next three years, but oddly he signs as an “amateur” player. Immediately after, Real denounces that Barcelona has violated the no agression pact among both clubs, but Barcelona’s vice president, Narciso de Carreras, claims that they had contacted the player months before. There’s no documented evidence of such claim.

Nevertheless, Barcelona faced an insurmountable obstacle – Kubala couldn’t officially play, as he lacked the transfer from Vasas Budapest. Carreras claimed that they had the Spanish Federation support, specially from its president Muñoz Calero. According the Barcelona board, the communist regime had abolished professionalism, and therefore Kubala was an amateur player who should enjoy total freedom to decide. Nevertheless, the Secretary General of the Federation, Ricardo Cabot , historical culé, had publicly assured that no Hungarian players could be signed by FIFA’s decision.

On July 1950, Hungaria’s members dissolve the team and seek a solution to their cases separately. In that moment Kubala realizes that his future was not guaranteed by the amateur contract he has signed with Barcelona. From Mallorca, where Hungaria had played its last match, he writes a letter to Real Madrid, where he opens the possibility of new negotiations. With this, Kubala gets his goal – faced with the possibility to lose such an extraordinary player, Barcelona puts him immediately in its payroll, though still as an amateur.

Thus, on October 12 1950, Kubala debuts in Les Corts in a friendly match against Osasuna. Real Madrid, surprised, addresses the Federation, whose Secretary General had claimed shortly before that no Hungarian players could be signed. The Federation answers that “the aforementioned gentleman, as well as his teammates from Hungaria CF, can’t perform in any club legally affiliated to FIFA, unless they present the transfer certificate sent by their origin Federation, which in this case won’t agree with it, since they abandoned the clubs which held their rights (…) Their participation in friendly matches won’t be possible either, since they must be registered in the club which intends to align them, and this Federation, abiding by the requirement it has received, won’t dispatch any such petition…”

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Barcelona

But the Federation just fined Barcelona with 50 pesetas (around 100 euros in today’s money), a laughable amount for matches which raised an enormous expectation. In consequence, Kubala played again against Zaragoza, and twice against Eintharch Frankfurt in Christmas. In every case the Federation fined the small penalty. Their complicity with Barcelona for him to wear their colors was more than evident. The problem of the transfer by Vasas Budapest was solved, as blaugrana president Montal had predicted, “without much trouble”. Indeed, in April 1951 he was declared a political refugee, which would allow him to play in Spain even lacking the transfer from Hungary. At the same time, he received spanish citizenship. The problem posed for this process by his lack of papers was solved by his baptism in Águilas (Murcia), residence of his godfather, Spanish Federation president Armando Muñoz Calero. Shortly after, they payment of 12 million Liras to Pro Patria and 300.000 pesetas to Vasas Budapest in exchange for the Hungarian Federation agreement would close Kubala’s transfer to Barcelona.

If the Catalan team had such an easy time signing kubala was clearly thanks to the government’s officials. There’s no proof of early contacts among Kubala and Barcelona, but negotiations with Real are well documented. Barcelona didn’t break the no aggression pact in its letter, but did so it in its spirit. Probably Bernabéu wouldn’t have accepted the imposition of any coach, but things could have been different if he had known how easy the Government would make be to normalize the player’s situation. His signing was good propaganda against communism, and in those years Barcelona’s rulers, such as president Agustí Montal, were appointed by the authorities. Just a year after putting his foot in Spain, Kubala obtained the citizenship, with the ostensible help of his godfather, the Federation’s president, a real odd story for such a “mistreated club”. That didn’t prevent them to sorely complain when Di Stéfano’s signing, some time later, didn’t work according to their interests.

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Euro-Cup-Semi
The European Cup Scandal

What you may have heard:

Real Madrid was always favored by UEFA so they could achieve the great successes of their golden era. On the opposite, Barcelona would always be stopped on their tracks by UEFA rulers and referees to prevent them to reach bigger achievements.

The facts:

At the beginning of the 1960-61 season, Real Madrid was the undisputed top team in the world – After winning five European cups in a row, they had conquered the first Intercontinental Cup, beating Peñarol de Montevideo, the American Champions, by 5-1. That season, the world Champions were coupled in the European Cup 16 last round with their historical rival, FC Barcelona. No one doubted that the mighty Real Madrid would pass the round, even though Barcelona were champions of Spain. Nevertheless, the performance of not one, but two referees, were to prevent that.

The first match was played in the Santiago Bernabéu on November 9, 1960. With an enthusiast crowd, Real displayed a great game play, which put them in advantage 2-1 with two minutes to the end of the match. In that instant the Barcelonist Evaristo sent a long pass to the Hungarian Kocsis, who was clearly off-side, foul which was signaled by the linesman. The play ended when the Real’s keeper Vicente hastily left his goal and knocked Kocsis down outside the penalty area. Astonishing everyone in the stadium, the English referee, Arthur Ellis, did not only ignore the offside, but also gave a penalty kick for Barcelona. Luis Suárez would take it to put the 2-2 in the score-sheet.

The European papers covered this controversial play. In the Paris-Presse, Louis Neville reproduced these words from Mr. Ellis: “I’m quite sure to have seen my linesman waving his flag, but it was to signal the penalty”. Nevertheless, the linesman, Mr. Stewart, told to the same journalist: “It’s obvious. I’ve seen a Barcelona player offside”. When he was asked why he hasn’t done anything when the referee gave the penalty, he said: “I thought Mr. Ellis would have a good reason to let the game go on. Thus, I kept my run on and I saw a penalty”.

For the second leg, played on the 23rd of the same month in Barcelona, UEFA designed another Englishman, Reg Leafe, to referee the match. Though we could consider that Arthur Ellis had made an isolated mistake, Leafe’s performance in Barcelona could hardly be defined as any other thing than a deliberate theft. It’s very hard to find another match in the history of international competition where a referee benefited more a team over the other. The match was shown on TV, so we’re not talking about some written account.

What the Spanish and European fans would see were neutral TV images. And this is what happened.

Real started the match playing better than its rival. Nevertheless, it was Barcelona who opened the scoresheet by means of Vergés on the 25th minute, hitting a corner kick. Two minutes later, Canario suffered a penalty in Barcelona’s area and stayed lying in the ground. The ball went to Del Sol, who scored. But the goal wasn’t allowed: Leafe had given a foul… against Real Madrid!

In the second half, Barcelona obtained its second goal at the 68th minute, scored by Evaristo, who beat Vicente with an spectacular low header. Immediately, after the kick-off in the center of the field, Puskas passed to Di Stéfano, who headed to the net. Once more, Real Madrid’s skill had overcome an against goal. But once again, the referee disallowed the goal for Di Stéfaano’s offside. Nonexistent offside – the position of Barcelona’s backleft Gracia validated Di Stéfano’s position.

With 2-0 in the scoresheet, Real Madrid stormed Ramallets’ goal and erased Barcelona from the pitch, despite Pachin playing injured as a right striking winger. In that moment came the play which the press of the time would call “the one-legged man goal”: after a good play of the white team in the right wing, Pachin scored another goal, which was once again disallowed by Leafe.

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Barca-Goal

The next play was a shot by Gento, which surpassed Ramallets, but was taken out of the goal by the defender Gracia, when the ball had trespassed the goal line. Leafe did not only disallow the goal – but he didn’t even consult with the linesman, in a much better position to see the play.

With four minutes to go, Canario was able to score, and for the Blancos’ astonishment, the goal wasn’t disallowed. Madrid desperately went for the draw, and Marquitos almost scored on the 89th minute. Seeing this situation, the referee ended the match before injury time.

Unlike “others”, Madrid’s players didn’t fall into hysteria. Despite their understandable anger, they had enough guts to congratulate their rivals. In the tribune, Real Madrid directors, as much hurt -if not more- as the team, didn’t resort to the gesticulation and rudeness that would make that presidential box famous in following decades. All of
Europe but England, homeland of both referees, gave notice of the scandalous performance of the judge. “France Soir”, in November 26 edition, said “the five-times European champions saved their honor thanks to a goal by Canario in the 86th minute, after the referee, Mr. Leafe, disallowed three goals. The TV broadcast shows that the result of the Barcelona-Real Madrid match was distorted by the referee”. All the headlines of the European press said more or less the same thing: “Mourir en Beauté (Dying in Beauty)”; “The great defeated in the Nou Camp was the referee”; “Three goals disallowed: Mr. Leafe, the referee, disqualified Real Madrid from the European Cup”; “Real Madrid players have lost their European Cup, against all logic, in favor of an injustice and being superior to their beaters. They produced better-quality football. They were the exclusive protagonists of yesterday’s show in Barcelona. It was a victory, but not a success. And much less a triumph. All the honors go for the beaten, defeated by a coalition of luck and refereeing. Thus, this is not what Barcelona had dreamed for days, weeks, months, years. They didn’t guess that if some day they went up to the Capitolium, it would be using the service stairs.”

What can explain such q tendentious refereeing against Real Madrid? Although in the moment there could be suspicions about a bribery by FC Barcelona, this isn’t very credible. A more logical explanation would be that UEFA were afraid that, if Madrid kept winning European Cups, the interest in this competition would decrease. Thus, it was in their interest to expel Real Madrid as soon as possible. We can’t neither forget the tense relationships of Santiago Bernabéu with UEFA rulers, which materialized in the later negative of Real Madrid’s president to play the UEFA Cup, considering it a “minor trophy”.

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Di-Stefano-y-Munoz

A desolate Di Stéfano with Miguel Muñoz.

Barcelona can’t be blamed for the theft suffered by Real that night without falling into their very same faults. The interesting fact is the little legitimacy of Barcelona when they spread those so-called conspiracies which prevent them to be “more than a club”. Also very interesting is the different behaviour of both clubs when faced with a damaging refereeing. At no moment Real signaled Barcelona as the culprit, on the contrary. In its informative bulletin, Real Madrid published the following: “… Regarding the national chorus, its unanimity is chilling: Real Madrid didn’t deserve to lose. The chorus includes, and it’s for us an extremely pleasurable duty to signal it, the great Catalan press, many of its qualified headlines haven’t hesitated to claim that substantive truth [...], that Barcelona -which has a colossal team that can beat us any day, at their home or at ours-, hasn’t eliminated Real Madrid from the VI European Cup in any place other than the cold -though decisive- official truth of the referees’ reports. In the Bernabéu Stadium and in Nou Camp, two English referees had no mercy of Real Madrid, crucifying it with absurd rulings, which went from the invention of a penalty to the relentless disallowance of four goals. An authentic conspiracy which could, in less serene minds than the ones ruling this society, lead to the most direct suspicions. [...] Along with the press, the cinema and TV images say today -and will be available to be reviewed now and always- how Real Madrid fell. That’s why honesty’s election gives us as winners. God may favor Barcelona so it gets in the current edition of the European Cup the same glory that in the five previous ones consecrated the clean Madridista effort”.

Despite Real Madrid’s good wishes, Barcelona lost the final against Benfica. And if anyone cherished any doubts on who should have won that round, eleven days after the referee’s ransack Madrid beat Barcelona on Nou Camp scoring five goals. Interestingly, on the same season in which Real Madrid suffered its most tendentious refereeing ever, its superiority in the league led their adversaries to create fictitious and artificial controversies about refereeing decisions. It would be in that moment when the black legend about the regime’s favor over Real Madrid would begin to be woven.
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Sabra1 Mon Aug 15, 2011 12:24 pm

Here's something of my own on the GREATEAST of all time.. King Puskas.

Puskas is not your everday athlete. He stood at 1.7m tall, and wasn't the skinniest guy around. But that 'short fat guy', as called by English fans before Hungary thrashed them 7-1 in Wembley, made up for that in brilliant technique, pace and an exquisite shot. Some facts of Ferenc's career:

- Scored 7 goals in 2 different finals (4 goals against Frankfurt; hat-trick against Benfica)
- Scored 84 goals in 85 games for Hungary between '45 and '56 (when Hungary had arguably the best internationall football team ever mostly due to Puskas' greatness)
- Lost only once in 6 years with the Mighty Magyars
- Scored 352 goals in 341 games in the Hungarian and Spanish leagues.
- Total official goal tally: +701 (~746)
Not to mention 4 consecutive Pichichi awards, 4 European cups and only player to ever play 12 consecutive years and score in each of them (internationally).

Ferenc Puskas. Simply the greatest.
Sabra1
Sabra1
Banned (Permanent)

Club Supported : Chelsea
Posts : 119
Join date : 2011-08-08

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:15 pm

Real Madrid Legend: Hugo Sanchez
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Hhugol

Cool article on Hugol By MANDO. The og can be found here: http://forzafutbol.com/2011/02/real-madrid-legend-hugo-sanchez.html


With so many quality Spanish players playing in La Liga, we often forget that there are players of great quality coming out of other regions, other traditions. Argentina and Brazil are well-represented, but we disreard how much North Americans have helped shape the course of the Spanish league. No one has done more for the image of the North American player in Spain, than arguably the greatest Mexican player of all: Hugo Sanchez, Hugol.

Sure, we know him today for his less-than stellar turn at UD Almeria replacing Unai Emery, or his mediocre turn as coach of Mexico where he lost 9 of his 26 games in charge, but turn back before he played in Dallas in the inaugural MLS season for the Burn, to his time in Spain and to his formative years in Mexico City; where he was born on July 11, 1958.

Hugo began his career at the Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México and the club that represents that university: UNAM Pumas. In the summer he would spend his vacations playing on-loan with the San Diego Soccers of the defunct North American Soccer League. Playing with the Mexican squad, Sanchez led his side to the 1975 Cannes Youth Cup. He spent six years in Mexico City and scored 99 goals and won two Mexican league titles with Pumas in 1977 and also in 1980-1981.

That very same year he was transferred to Atlético de Madrid of Luis Aragones, debuting on the 19th of September of 1981 in a match won by Atlético 2-0 against Athletic Bilbao. He would play 111 league games in all with Atlético de Madrid and score 54 goals. It was with the colchoneros where he would win his first Pichichi award for scoring 19 goals in 1984. His side would win the Copa del Rey, a Spanish Supercup and finish second to FC Barcelona.

The following season he was transferred to rivals Real Madrid, where he earned four more Pichichi trophies (four straight in fact) and his nickname Pentapichichi. His 1989-90 season was his best at Real Madrid. He would win his fifth trophy as the best goal scorer in Spain, win the Golden Boot, and would tie Telmo Zarra’s 1950-51 record of 38 goals. With Real Madrid he would win five consecutive league titles, one Copa del Rey, three Spanish Supercups and one UEFA Cup. He retired on May 29, 1997 as one of the greatest players ever to wear the white kit of Real Madrid.

His was the time of La Quinta del Buitre, Emilio Butragueño, Michel, Martín Vázquez, Manuel Sanchís, and Miguel Pardeza, but he saw himself not as much with them, but with the veterans at the club, the ones he called his Quinta de los machos, José Antonio Camacho, Rafael Gordillo and Paco Buyo. You can focus on his arrogance, or his macho attitude, but nothing compares to the passion or the joy that Hugo Sanchez brought to scoring goals, the chilenas or overhead kicks he made, or the somersaults he made after scoring, a dedication to his gymnast sister. He was one of a kind and a true madridista at heart if not by birth.
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:19 pm

Here's a cool RC3 interview from the first galactico era I found on 442 og link: http://fourfourtwo.com/interviews/one-on-one/236/article.aspx

Roberto Carlos
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Trophy-Emp
I can’t remember any full-back ever playing in the same way as you. Did you model your game on anyone? (Were you always a defender?)
Tim Garraway, Hereford

Yes, Junior from the World Cup team of 1982. He was the business and I always watched him very closely. He was right-footed, but he played like I do now. He was a full-back but he was very, very attacking. I was originally a winger but when I first went to Italy I learnt to defend a bit more, to mark people, to pressure the opposition. I became a proper full-back. And I was much, much happier there. But I always wanted to do more than just defend – I wanted to play like Junior.
How come Brazilians are so good at football when they learn to play on a beach? It’s bloody impossible to kick the ball, run etc. Is Brazilian sand different?
Iain Frame, via e-mail

What a fabulous stereotype! We all play on the beach, yeah right. Nah. It's nothing to do with sand. It's more about talent and personality. There are great players all over Brazil, it doesn't matter which part of the country you go to, how far you are from the coast or any sand, there are kids of 18 or 19 who are just … wow! People play everywhere. We could put 10 Brazilian national teams out and they would have great ability, that's the advantage we have over the rest of the world. It's about ability and personality. I wouldn't say that Brazilians are irresponsible but we do enjoy ourselves playing football, we play for fun. That, allied to the innate technical quality we have, makes us different. Brazilians are allowed to play with the ball – even defenders.

Who – football or non-football – did you most look up to when you were a kid and why?
Anthony Christoforou, USA

[Immediately]. Maradona. He was spectacular, he was football the way it's supposed to be, so much fun to watch. Everyone talks about Pele but I've never seen him play. For us Brazilians, Pele is the King of football but as I haven’t seen him play Maradona is my No.1. A phenomenon. Who cares if he’s Argentinian?
Have you ever had hair? If you had it now, what style would you choose?
Luke Knowles, via e-mail

Yes, I've had hair, but it's always been <it> really<\it> curly. I shaved it off once as a birthday present for my son – and also because it looked so ugly! I couldn't grow a big Afro, it'd look bloody awful. I think I'll leave it off, thanks.
Who’s the toughest winger you’ve ever come up against?
Joe Corry-Roake, via e-mail

Luis Figo, definitely. He was hard when he played for Barcelona and [rolling his eyes] he's even harder now in training.
What went wrong at Inter? Did you not like the Italian style of football?
Jimmy Lyons, Huntingdon

My problem at Inter was Hodgson, Roy Hodgson. He wanted me to play as a forward when I'm a defender – I prefer to have space ahead of me to run into rather than be a winger already up there; for me it's better to have 80 metres to play in than 20. I didn't like the system or where Hodgson wanted me to play in it. He wanted me further up the pitch, sure, but stopped, still, rigid. The Copa America was coming up and I was playing at left-back for Brazil, so I wanted to play there for Inter too. I had to leave because I didn't want to jeopardise my chances with the national team. If I couldn't play the way I do I wouldn't be able to play for Brazil. I spoke to Massimo Morratti [the Inter president] to see if he could sort things out and it soon became clear that the only solution was to leave.
That free-kick (Le Tournoi vs. France). Scientists say it was impossible to bend it so much with the outside of the boot? Did you think you’d totally sliced it when you first hit it?
Ben Marshall, via e-mail

[Shaking his head] How did I do it? I don't know. I hit the ball and, well… there are free-kicks like the ones you see Beckham hit that move and fool the goalkeeper, but mine was different because the ball went outside-in rather than the other way round. There's no explanation, no explanation… the ball was too light, one of those ones that floats all over the place like a kid's ball, and I hit it really hard – really, really well – with the outside of my foot, but I don't know… it surprised me when it went in: I thought it was going wide and when it swung so far back and went in off the post I couldn't believe it. It was an impossible goal – you'll never seen one like that again. Remember it, because it won't happen again, ha, ha.
Come on, I won’t tell: what really happened to Ronaldo before the 1998 World Cup final?
Mark Goldfinch, via e-mail

Won't tell? Sure. The day of the final, Ronaldo wasn't well enough to play, he was worried, nervous and he had a bad time of it. That's all. Nothing else.
Brazil’s President Lula has just launched a national fitness campaign. Apparently one in four Brazilians are overweight. Why are so many of your compatriots bloaters? And is Ronaldo the fattest guy you know?
Jackie West, via e-mail

Yes, that's true, Brazilians are in poor shape. People don't look after their health in Brazil, mainly because there are lots of people who are in the streets all day and don’t have anything else to do but eat. People eat too much. There are also a lot of people who don’t have much food at all, of course, and when they do get some they over-eat or don’t eat the right sorts of things. When they can eat, they go too far. As for Ronaldo, when people have nothing better to do and nothing to say they start inventing stories about famous people. We don't make fun of him because he's NOT fat.
Do you ever stand in front of the mirror to take in the full splendour of your thighs? How big exactly are they? Do you have to get your trousers specially made?
Malindi Liddle, Shropshire

Er, no. Not in front of the mirror, no. But I do know what size they are. The left one is 58cm and the right one is 60cm – and they're totally natural, they run in the family. I don't work at these. I have to buy very, very big trousers but, no, I don’t have to order them specially. They might be big, these jeans, but they are normal.
How much power do the galacticos actually wield at Real? Do you really decide on when to train and what’s for dinner?
Mike Glendenning, Burnley

No, no, no. The whole galacticos thing is an invention from the press. The galacticos tag really annoys the players, including the ones who get called galacticos. Above any galactico there is a club, a history, a badge. We shouldn't get things mixed up or confuse the issue: if there are players who get known as galacticos it's because we have won lots of trophies, World Cups, important finals, European Cups, not because we control things. We don't have any power beyond the norm. The person who carries the most weight and responsibility is our captain, Raul, and things like training and meals are down to the coach and the captain to decide together. And, no, there aren't any untouchables.
When David Beckham signed, were you upset at no longer being the best-looking guy at the club?
Sarah Hamilton, Sheffield

Yes, very upset. That really annoyed me. Boy, did it annoy me! [Cooing] David is guapííííííííííííííííííííííísimo [unbelievably good-looking]. He's very good-looking, very, very, very handsome, it's amazing, incredible! I'm delighted that Victoria's been lucky enough to meet a guy like David, that they have such a nice family and that people admire him and respect him so much all over the world.
Steve McManaman once said you wore very bad shirts. Has your taste improved since fashion icon David Beckham arrived at Real Madrid?
Louise Crampton, Liverpool

[Grinning] No, David wears much worse shirts than me – all ripped and full of holes and everything. Maybe it's because he's so good-looking that people don't take the piss out of him for it, when they do with me. [Laughing] Anyway, Macca is a bloody liar because all the shirts I wore when he was here were new, maybe a bit odd but always new and always nice, stylish shirts. He'd come here with his smart suit and everything and no one even looked at him. He dressed well because he's ugly, so that he'd look more handsome. I'm the opposite: I could dress down because I'm a good-looking bloke. Steve was trying to divert attention from his face!
Which of the galacticos would you pay to watch?
Rich Sidney, Stockton

All of them. But not just them. There are so many great players I'd pay to watch.
Do you have any unusual hobbies we don’t know about?
Ollie Banks, Glasgow

Not unusual, no. I love cars. I've got some nice ones in Brazil, a Formula 1 car here, and a share in Clarence Seedorf's motorbike GP team. I go as often as I can; I really love cars and love being on the circuit. At home, I play on the PlayStation, of course, like most footballers. Football or basketball games, nothing else. I'm not a fan of Grand Theft Auto.
Pick the best Brazilian five-a-side team ever. No subs.
Dave Johnson, Derby

Of all time? Falcao. Ronaldo. Romario. Cafu and, er… Junior. [FFT: Not you?] You said five.

Is the problem of racism in Spain as serious as we're led to believe in England? Have you ever been the victim of racism at Real, and what do you make of the club’s neo-Nazi following?
Felix Jones, Exeter

Racism is a serious problem all over the world, not just in Spain. Wherever you go to play there are people who go to matches with really bad intentions, bad people who have no respect whatsoever for other human beings. And this business of England talking about Spain being a racist country has to stop and has to stop now. I can't understand why there's this kind of rivalry when it comes to racism, why there's this thing about who's worse – Italy, England, Spain, Brazil, who? I don't think Spain is an especially racist country. It has a problem, but I'm not convinced it's worse than anywhere else and, besides, it's not about that: this isn’t a you're-more-racist-than-us competition between countries. I've had some difficult moments here in Spain but nothing that has actually hurt me. You should always be able to look people in the eye and tell the truth and, yes, I've been subjected to racist chants, just like Ronaldinho has, Eto'o, Pele when he goes to stadiums, even now… Ronaldo, Musampa, Perea, Henry, Vieira… so, so, so many players. It's sad that there are so many stupid people in the world. [And the Ultra Sur?] What happens with them happens at other clubs too. People shouldn’t be allowed into stadiums to abuse footballers. We don't really notice their banners and chants when we're on the pitch at the Bernabeu, to be honest.
Have you ever met a guy called Jonathan Woodgate or did he make it up about joining Real Madrid?
Damien Mass, Wakefield

Yes, I've met him. I eat with him most days. [Waving down the corridor] He's here right now, in fact, doing physiotherapy to get over an injury. And when I saw him play for Leeds and Newcastle, I thought he was a great player. If he's come to Madrid it's because he's one of the best players in England.
English fans like to count the number of times David Beckham says ‘Er’ or ‘You know’ during a two-minute interview. Do the Madrid players do the same? And can you beat 38?
Gaz Ward, via e-mail

We all do it, you know, not just David. With us it's entoncés [so/then]. Entoncés, entoncés, entoncés… I'm as guilty as the rest. We don't take the piss out of David. David is very sharp, a bright bloke, smart. And he's improving all the time in Spanish. He understands everything. He doesn't yet express himself all that well but he knows how to speak Spanish.
What did Luis Felipe Scolari do to help Brazil win the World Cup that [your new Madrid coach] Vanderlei Luxemburgo wasn’t doing when you nearly didn’t even qualify?
Sean Thompson, Shrewsbury

Luxemburgo's problems were personal ones, that's why he left. If he had stayed he might have been world champion as well. All Scolari did was bring the team together, tell us we were going to be champions, and get rid of some players that the press and the fans wanted. He brought together five or six important players – like me, Cafu, Juniour, Rivaldo, and Emerson – explained to us what he was going to do and got on with it. There were off-field problems more than footballing problems for Luxemburgo and, by extension, for us. So it was more a psychological and environmental change than anything else. Scolari said he would sort out some of the troubles off the pitch but it was up to us to get things right on the pitch. Luxemburgo went because of a little problem he had [a 'little problem' like, er, an investigation into tax fraud, sexual harassment and accepting bungs] but if he had been in charge of that team he would have been world champion as well.
Tell us who the next Brazilian football superstar will be. Bet it’s not a left-back…
Paul Downes, via e-mail

Nah! There's no way it'll be a full-back. I think Robinho could be the best player in the world, like Ronaldinho is at the moment. [Is he coming to Madrid?] [Smiling] I don't know. I spoke to him the other day and he said he still doesn’t know anything.
If Real Madrid played Chelsea 10 times, what would be the outcome?
Ed Phelps, via e-mail

Madrid have won 29 leagues, nine European Cups and have an incredible history; Chelsea still haven't won anything very much. Ten games? I think Madrid would win – for their experience and history rather than for their form, though.
If you could choose anyone in the world, past or present, who would you have playing left midfield in front of you?
Iain Frame

[Straightaway] Di Stefano. No doubt.
You’re not paid as much as the other galacticos. Why not?
Iain McLeod, Falkirk

[Grinning] I never tell people what I earn. [Yeah, but it's not as much as the others is it?] [Grinning even more] Everyone earns what they're worth.
Who’s your favourite English team-mate: Macca, Becks, Woody or Owen?
Simon Jones, Salisbury

I still don't know Michael that well, I don't talk to him as often as I would like because he's very quiet, he doesn't say much. I got on <it>very<\it> well with Steve when he was here, I spend as much time with David as I can and I eat with Woody whenever possible. I get on really well with all four of them and although he's quiet Michael is a great person. Of the four, Woodgate already speaks the best Spanish, better than Steve, and he was here four years. It's incredible how quickly he has picked it up.
What makes Ronaldo’s parties so legendary?
Freddie Hopkins, Southampton

Ronaldo's parties? I'll invite you to one of mine and then you'll see what a real party is, ha, ha, ha!
When Real Madrid destroyed Man United at the Bernabeu a few seasons ago, you all seemed to press and press until United passed to Gary Neville, then just retreat and wait for him to punt it back to you. Was this a deliberate tactic or did you only realise how rubbish he was once the game started?
Neil Moore, Manchester

Er, well, it wasn't a tactic. Look, I don't think Gary Neville's such a bad player, but every time they played Real Madrid, Manchester United seemed to get nervous. It was our match to win, theirs to lose, it seemed. The whole of Manchester appeared to be worried about us – so much so that David didn't start the 4-3 at Old Trafford. We were really surprised that he wasn't playing – it was a real relief for us that they weren't playing their best player. We were really pleased that they were going to leave their best player on the bench. [Did you really think he was their best player?] He scored two goals when he came on didn't he? Well, then. And he’d scored in the 3-2.
Over the years you’ve been linked with every club in the world. Have you ever been genuinely close to leaving Real Madrid?
Mickey Walsh, Blackburn

[Without hesitation]. Yes. Yes. In the past there have been big offers from great clubs but, then, this is my home. I wouldn't swap Madrid for anywhere. In the summer there was a serious possibility of me going to Chelsea but in the end, as Madrid made a better offer, I decided that I wanted to stay here.
Will Real Madrid be your last club or do you fancy a move to the Premiership before your career is over?
Stephen Boulder, Oxfordshire

I love English football but, as I said when I first got here, I'd like to retire at Real Madrid.
Why do you think a lot of South Americans have struggled in the Premiership?
Ray Watt, Sale

Mentality. English football is different. There are loads of tackles flying in, lots of contact, and in Brazil we're not used to that. That will change, though, with time.
What do you plan to do when you retire?
Neil Stevenson, via e-mail

I'm going to go back to Brazil, take a year off and then I'll come back as a coach. In Brazil.

Interview originally appeared in the May 2005 issue of FourFourTwo.


Last edited by Shamirr on Fri Sep 09, 2011 11:38 am; edited 1 time in total
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Thu Sep 08, 2011 10:38 pm

Okay so I've just skim read this article but it seems to be a reasonably detailed bio on RC3, It is quite old, but I can't find a publication date to confirm how old. Here is the OG link: http://www.angelfire.com/theforce/groundzero/carlos.html

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 2067929
Personal Details
Full name: Roberto Carlos da Silva
Date of Birth: April 10, 1973
Birthplace: Garca, Brazil
Height: 168 cm
Weight: 69 kg
Current Club: Real Madird
Previous Clubs: União São João (Brazil), Palmeiras (Brazil), Internazionale (Italy)

Technical Details
Kick speed: 170 km/h
Hand throwing side shots: 36 m
Composição Corporal: 7% fat (average is 15%)
Thigh's circumference: 58.5 cm
Impulsão Vertical: 66 cm de altura
Speed: 0 to 100 meters: 10.6 seconds
Maximal speed: 34 km/h
"God gave me a gift for kicking fouls. But training is very important too. One who intends learning how to kick fouls must train hardly." -Roberto Carlos
When It Started
Roberto Carlos was born in Garça, an inland city of State São Paulo, at Farm São José, where there are still coffee plantations. His parents, Mr. Oscar and Mrs. Vera Lúcia, a humble but solid family of farm hands, by noticing the son's skills (Roberto Carlos) encouraged him to develop a career as a football player. His father (Mr. Oscar) was a great all around well-known and respected amateur athlete.
The admiration for his father was the big incentive, which encouraged Roberto Carlos to follow football trail. Seeking for a better future for the children, the parents moved to Cordeirópolis, also in State São Paulo. The State Public School Colonel José Levy was Roberto Carlos' education "cradle".

Verônica Mario Mascarin, his teacher, says: "Roberto Carlos was a good boy who kept good relationship with everyone, he has always been a leader". Marta Iria M. Bertanha, another teacher, states: "Roberto Carlos always said, my father is an athlete and I wish to be a hero like him".

Often he showed medals and trophies that his father conquered in football games. But at physical education it was he organizing the teams and leading the whole group. An excellent scholar, disciplined and getting good concepts.

"I am retired but I am proud of seeing him at football fields all around the world and my heart bits strong at this scene, success for you, my boy Roberto Carlos", says the teacher.

As all children of poor origins he started early at 12, working at a textile industry called Torsão Cardeiro thinking always about football. One day he told his father of his dream of becoming a great football player and also of the great obstacles as he had no time for training. His father, Mr. Oscar, even considering their difficult situation told him: "Let the job go and follow your dream". "This became the happiest day of Roberto Carlos' life", says the father touched and grateful for the lighted decision.


Where It Started
The stages where the great star has been built up, Sugar plant Engenho Velho Stadium, Araras, one of São Paulo's most beautiful.

"First comes God, then the family, the work and recreation which is football, my great passion". Those have been father Oscar's lessons. The uncultivated area behind his place was the field where Roberto started his first kicks.

In 1985, playing for his father's team Atlético Juventus, his first trophy, already distinguishing as a left striker. Playing for Flamenguinho in 1986, Coach João Carlos Campos, known as Pacheco, concluded that the correct place was as left defender and
there he placed Roberto Carlos. What a sensibility and large future vision!


The Career
Roberto Carlos began his career as a forward at Uniao Sao Joao at 16 and represented Brazil for the first time at 18 in the 1992 Olympic qualifying tournament. Endowed with a very powerful shot, he moved to Palmeiras. As a full-back he has won more plaudits for his attacking play than his defending yet he was unhappy for four months at Inter Milan where the club's English coach Roy Hodgson moved him up into midfield. Roberto Carlos, overlooked for the 1994 World Cup finals where Branco and Leonardo were preferred, likes his position. "I like to go up along the touchline but I also like defending. I'm learning to defend more," he says. Paris St Germain could have had him for about $3 million in 1995. Instead he went to Inter for some $7 million. After one season he moved on to Real, joining another of the Spanish club's Italian signings, coach Fabio Capello. Quick in turning defence into attack down the left, the Brazilian international is a fine corner taker and has a devastating shot at set pieces. A free kick specialist remembered for his spectacular goal against France in a summer international, Roberto Carlos says he works at his free-kicks every day and the only secret is concentration. "I always practise, every day. I prefer to kick with the outside of my foot. There's no secret, it's much more (a question of) concentration."

1988 Starts his career at the lower teams of União São João of Araras, participating up to 26 games.
1989 Promoted to the juvenile series of União São João, plays his first official championship organized by São Paulo's Football Federation (FPF). Plays 28 games and gets the vice-championship.
1990 Climbs up to junior series and gets also the FPF's vice-championship, after playing 35 games.
1991 Still as junior, starts playing in the main professional team. Participates in 41 games of São Paulo's Championship. During this same year gets the first call for Brazilian National Team and plays the Pre-Olympics in Paraguay.
1992 Becomes a professional, takes definitively the left defender position at União São João and is transferred to Palmeiras.
1993 Gets the first call for the main Brazilian National Team.
1995 Is transferred from Palmeiras to Internazionale.
1996 Is transferred from Internazionale to Real Madrid of Spain.
1998 Vice campeão no mundial na França.
2002 Campeão Mundial no Mundial Korea Japão.


Titles

1991 Juniors World Vice-Champion (Brazilian Team)
1991 Pre-Olympics Champion (Brazilian Team)
1993 São Paulo's Champion (Palmeiras)
1993 Champion of Rio-São Paulo tournament (Palmeiras)
1993 Brazilian Champion (Palmeiras)
1994 Twice São Paulo's Champion (Palmeiras)
1994 Twice Brazilian Champion (Palmeiras)
1995 São Paulo's Vice-Champion (Palmeiras)
1996 Spanish League Champion (Real Madrid)
1996 Umbro Cup Champion, tournament played in England (Brazilian National Team)
1996 Pre-Olympics Championship (Brazilian National Team)
1996 Vice-Champion Olympic Games Atlanta (Brazilian National Team)
1997 Spanish League Champion (Real Madrid - season 96-97)
1997 America's Cup Champion (Brazilian National Team)
1997 Nations Cup Champion in Saudi Arabia
1998 Europe's Champions Cup (Real Madrid)
1998 World Vice-champion in France (Brazilian National Team)
1998 Intercontinental Cup Champion (Real Madrid)
1999 Two times Champion of European's Champions Cup (Real Madrid)
2000 Champion of Spanish League (Real Madrid - season 00-01)
2001 Three times Champion of European's Champions Cup (Real Madrid)
2002 UEFA's Supercup Champion
2002 World Cup Champion, Japan - Korea (Brazilian National Team)
2002 Intercontinental Cup Champion (Real Madrid 2 x 0 Olimpia)
2003 Champion of Spanish League (Real Madrid - season 02-03)


THE Free Kick
Many fans will remember the free kick taken by Roberto Carlos against France in 1997. The ball was placed about 30 m from the goal and slightly to the right. Carlos hit the ball so far to the right that it initially cleared the wall of defenders by at least a metre and made a ball-boy, who stood metres from the goal, duck his head. Then, almost magically (although there's a scientific aspect to it), the ball curved to the left and entered the right-hand corner of the goal, which left Barthez helplessly standing - to the amazement of the players and media alike.



Characteristics
Music style: "Pagode" and Brazilian Country Music
Singer: Chitãozinho and Xororó, Zezé di Camargo and Luciano, Bruno and Marrone
Singer: Gloria Estefan
Idol: Mr. Oscar, his father
Coringa: His wife, Alexandra
Food: Rice, beans and pasta
Movie: Smoking
Color: Black
Joy: The children, Giovanna, Roberta and Junior
Sadness: His Uncle's death
Quality: Good humor
Fault: Hard-headed

The Entertainer
Brash, showy, reckless and daring, with an unbridled enthusiasm for the game that no one could match last year. Welcome to the world of Roberto Carlos, a defender who lives to attack and the most successful player in world football, left back for two world champions, Brazil and Real Madrid.
Selfish, overhyped and over-rated are tags that often get pinned on Roberto Carlos. He's too extravagent. He showboats to the point where it costs the team, always choosing spectacular over sensible. The abiding memory of Roberto Carlos at France '98 is the fresh air attempted bicycle kick clearance that nearly cost Brazil their quarter-final with Denmark, letting in Brian Laudrup to equalize.

He shoots when his team-mates are better positioned, and these aren't just shots. These are wild, crazy, wacky, misjudged, ill-visioned, popcorm with the lid off projectiles that could go anywhere and usually do. Once in a while, one of them goes in, ripping the back of the net for a goal that will be replayed over and over again. His critics say it's on goals such as these that his reputation rests, and he's been dining out on that free kick at Le Tournoi for the past six years.

So why is this sort of behaviour tolerated on not one, but two world champion teams? We're talking about a guy who won every international competition he entered last year, achieving honours that no player before him has dared dream of. In a year when Brazil captured their fifth world title, the Brazilian left back celebrated a "penta" of his own, winning the World Cup, Champions League, Intercontinental Cup, European Supercup and Spanish Supercup.

He was the only undisputed choice on a World Cup all star team where even Kahn and Ronaldo's places were questioned, this despite the unimpressive stats of one goal and no assists, converting one free kick from a tally of nine attempts that was second in the tournament only to Francesco Totti's. He's been almost universally hailed as the best left back in the world for the past six years, named on European Sports Magazine team of the season five times. Internet voting even saw him sneak on to FIFA's all-time World Cup team last year, ahead of legends like Breitner, Maldini and his double World Cup-winning countryman, Nilton Santos. Not bad for a guy who's too selfish and can't defend.

No player dominates his position as Roberto Carlos does. Raul Bravo is the best young left back in Spain, and is already a regular in Inaki Saez' Spanish national squad, but he couldn't get a name at the Bernabeu, so he's a misfit on loan at Leeds. Santiago Solari showed he's a world class left bak in the Champions League against Lokomotiv, but he has to masquerade as a winger if he wants to play for Real. And there's a whole generation of highly rated young Brazilian left backs who have been tipped to push Roberto Carlos for his place in the ntaional team - Ze Roberto, Serginho, Felipe, Fabio Aurelio, Junior, Cesar - only to end up having to convert to midfield roles to improve their chances of playing for the selecao. Left back is traditionally one of the most competitive positions in the world, but of the current crop, the likes of Mickael Silvestre, Ashley Cole and Francesco Coco aren't even close to challenging the Brazilian's supremacy. So just what is it about Roberto Carlos that makes him such a magnet for silverware and individual honours alike?

On the face of it, he's not your typical Brazilian. He's not the sort of dribbler who can go past defenders, like Denilson or Rivaldo. The main qualities he brings to the table are stamina, energy, speed and a connon of a shot, qualities that are more German than Brazilian. In Brazil, defenders aren't considered important enough to be known by a single name, like Pele or Zico or Ronaldo or Rivaldo, and Roberto Carlos has to live with the fat that in the land of jogo bonito, a defender can never be a superstar. It's also hard to talk of him as the best on his team - that would be difficult, considering he plays alongside guys like Ronaldo, Zidane, Figo, Raul and Rivaldo.

But when we talk of jogo bonito, Roberto Carlos is the beautiful game. He stands for everything that's exciting and pure in football today. To watch Roberto Carlos play is to know that something spectacular could happen at any moment, and usually does, whether it's an amazing goal, a tantalising cross or a glaring miss. Watching Roberto hit Row Z is more entertaining than watching most players score.

He's an anomaly in modern day football, a defender who spends more time on the opposition touchline than most out and out wingers. It was said that Alfredo Di Stefano would cover every blade of grass in the Bernabeu in the course of the game, and Roberto Carlos continues that tradition by making the entire left side of the pitch his territory, switching between attack and defence in the same manner the great Argentine once did. Arguably no player is more fundamental in making Real the devastating attacking force they are today, for every time Zinedine Zidane brings the ball upfield, he knows that this Pepsi'd-up little garden gnome is going to appear steaming forward to his left, making himself open and striking fear into the heart of the opposing defence. As unquestionably great as Raul and Zidane are, it is their lesser sung team-mate who is Real's attacking conscience, always driving them forward and playing every game as though it was his last.

No one can deny Roberto's passion for the game, but the last year has revealed him as the ultimate competitor as well. Eager to throw off the tag that he was a defensive liability, he relished every marking assignment he was given at Korea-Japan, facing up against Beckham, Umit Davala and Bernd Shceider in the last three games, and each time, the Brazilian came out the victor. Even when Schneider and Thorsten Frings had Brazil at sixes and sevens in the opening exchanges of the final, Roberto dug in and gradually wore them down. The possible lenghty ban he now faces for shoulder-charging the referee in Brazil's loss to Portugal in March is a measure of his insatiable appetite for victory, his refusal to accept a red card resulting in a moment of costly petulance. But lets hope FIFA realise that football is a better game with Roberto Carlos playing it than without. In a typical display of bravado, he has vowed to go on playing until he's 37, no doubt dooming the hopes and dreams of another young generation of Brazilian left backs. Ina whirlwind trail that has already earned one World Cup and three European Cups, we can look forward to another seven years of that now familiar sense of awe and wonderment.


Last edited by Shamirr on Fri Sep 09, 2011 7:52 am; edited 1 time in total
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Zealous Fri Sep 09, 2011 1:58 am

+1 this thread for life.

Zealous
Zealous
World Class Contributor
World Class Contributor

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 16098
Join date : 2011-08-01

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Mon Sep 12, 2011 4:27 pm

Bernd Schuster: The forgotten Genius!
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Bernds

Schuster is one of those that saw the light and moved from the darkness to the white! While his time as our coach was ... interesting shall we say, his time as a player was special. He was a truly gifted player who is often forgotten by Madridistas. I found this Bio on him here: http://www.midfielddynamo.com/players/profiles/schuster.htm it is pretty complete, I copied over the parts relevant to madridistas...

Full Name: Bernd Schuster
Position: Central Midfielder / Playmaker
Nickname: der Blonde Engel (the Blonde Angel)
Date of Birth: 22 December 1959 (Augsburg, Germany)
Country: Germany


National Team...
Caps: 21 (1979-84)
Goals: 4
Major Tournaments: European Championships 1980 (2 apps, 0 goals)
Honours: Winner European Championships 1980

Club Teams...
Years Club Country
1971 - 1976 SV Hammerschmiede Germany
1976 - 1978 FC Augsburg Germany
1978 - 1980 FC Koln Germany
1980 - 1988 Barcelona Spain
1988 - 1990 Real Madrid Spain
1990 - 1993 Atletico Madrid Spain
1993 - 1996 Bayer Leverkusen Germany
1997 UNAM Pumas Mexico

Club Honours...
Year Honour Club
1981 Spanish Cup Barcelona
1982 European Cup Winners Cup Barcelona
1983 Spanish Cup Barcelona
1983 Spanish Supercup Barcelona
1983 Spanish League Cup Barcelona
1985 Spanish Championship Barcelona
1986 Spanish League Cup Barcelona
1988 Spanish Cup Barcelona
1988 Spanish Supercup Real Madrid
1989 Spanish Championship Real Madrid
1989 Spanish Cup Real Madrid
1989 Spanish Supercup Real Madrid
1990 Spanish Championship Real Madrid
1991 Spanish Cup Atletico Madrid
1992 Spanish Cup Atletico Madrid

Awards...
Year Award
1980 Silver Award European Footballer of the Year (Ballon d'Or) (1.FC Koln / Barcelona)
1981 Bronze Award European Footballer of the Year (Ballon d'Or) (Barcelona)
1985 Bronze Award European Footballer of the Year (Ballon d'Or) (Barcelona)
1985 Winner Spanish Foreign Player of the Year (Don Balon Mejor Extranjero de la Liga) (Barcelona)
1991 Winner Spanish Foreign Player of the Year (Don Balon Mejor Extranjero de la Liga) (Atletico Madrid)
2000 Winner German Goal of the Decade (Bayer Leverkusen)

History...


What's the abiding memory of the 1980 Euro Championships in Italy? England limping out? The tear gas? The low crowds? No. They were all rubbish. What really stood out was Bernd Schuster. What a player - it wasn't just the mop of blond hair that made him stand head and shoulders above the rest, it was the way he patrolled the midfield, starting off attack after attack with his classy range of passing.

A true midfield general, the talismanic German should be regarded as a rival to Zico, Platini, Boniek and Maradona for the tag of best footballer of the 80's. However, despite winning the European Championship and spending 13 successful years bossing games in La Liga for Spain's 3 big clubs, it's a crying shame that Schuster will be remembered almost as much for his controversial off field persona as for his footballing prowess. Portrayed by the media as an early "enfant terrible" of European football, his disputes with various coaches and players led to transfers, seasons in the reserves, and, most famously, an early retirement from the German national team. Whilst this just seems to have added to the Schuster legend, few would argue that the "Blonde Angel" would have had a major impact on any of the international tournaments he subsequently missed. It wasn't just the player who missed out on these tournaments, it was us, the fans, who were robbed of some genuine star quality. It's probably down to this that he's not that highly regarded by the Britain media, because in 80's Britain, foreigners who didn't play in the World Cup or European Championships were largely ignored. Schuster should be mentioned in the same breath as other great playmakers such as Platini and Socrates, but the average fan in Britain probably doesn't know that much about him. Schuster returned to Germany in the latter years of his playing career, but will forever be associated with his time in Spain, and those arguments, that mop of blond hair, those thunderous 30 yard drives, and those defence-splitting, slide-rule passes. Legendary stuff.

The Early Bundesliga Days
Born in Augsburg, Southern Germany, in 1959, Schuster's first club was SV Hammerschmiede, a local team whom he joined in 1971. In 1976 he joined regional club FC Augsburg. In 1978, aged 19, he moved to crack Bundesliga outfit 1.FC Koln. The coach at Koln was Hennes Weisweller, and he immediately gave Schuster a place in his midfield. So impressive was Schuster in his first year at Koln that by 1979 he became the youngest player to play at international level for West Germany. Koln reached the German Cup final in 1980 and Schuster was starting to become something of a star. The fans nicknamed him "der Blone Engel" (the Blonde Angel), a reference to the mass of blonde hair and his graceful, elegant style. That summer saw him named in the 1980 European Championship squad for Italy. He missed out on the opener against Czechoslovakia but was named in the next game against great rivals Holland. Despite being yellow carded in the first minute for a clash with defender Huub Stevens, Schuster had one of his finest ever games, his range of passing and Klaus Allofs top notch finishing inspiring the team to race into a 3:0 lead before the Dutch pulled it back to 3-2 with 2 late goals. With a place in the final almost guaranteed, Schuster was rested for the final group match against Greece but returned for the final against Belgium, enjoying another cracking performance and providing the killer pass which allowed team-mate Horst Hrubesch to score Germany's opener as they marched to the title with a 2-1 scoreline. Schuster had a major international medal under his belt already, aged only 20. He was also awarded 2nd Place in the Ballon d'Or (the European Player of the Year award).

The Barcelona Years
A bunch of non sense that you can read in the og post, I didn't think his good times at Barca were worth reading about but you can if you like...

The Nightmare of El Tel
With the whole of Catalonia still celebrating and the Blonde Angel playing arguably the best football of his career, Schuster's hopes for the 1985-86 season were understandably high, but big problems were just around the corner. From early on in the season it became apparent that the Anglo-German relationship between Venables and Schuster had dropped to the sort of level more akin to Stan Boardman's local chippy and a German bomber. Despite Steve Archibald becoming a cult figure amongst some the club's supporters (earning him the nickname "Archigol"), Schuster expressed doubts about him, complaining to Venables that he wasn't doing the job he should be doing up front. Venables backed the Scottish striker and claimed Schuster was beginning to believe his own press. However, if that wasn't enough for Venables then he had Schuster's wife to contend with as well. She would often give El Tel an ear-bashing to remember when things went wrong and told him that her husband deserved to be treated better. She often barged through a dressing room full of naked footballers to get her latest whinge across to the gaffer. Poor old El Tel, he didn't have those sorts of problems with Gary Micklewhite at QPR. And it wasn't just Venables that Schuster had a problem with - he was soon involved in a bust up with club president Nunez over unpaid bonus payments to the players. The off-field shenanigans obviously had an impact as Barca got off to a bad start in the league. However, their form in Europe was impressive and as their league hopes drifted away attention fell to the European Cup. A great run against Sparta Prague, Porto, Juventus and Gothenburg led to a final against unfancied Rumanian outfit Steaua Bucharest. With the match being held in Seville, and the ground packed with Catalans, it was virtually a home match. But for Barca, Venables, and Schuster, it would prove to be a night to forget. With the match still goalless after 73 mins, and with Schuster struggling to break down the dogged Rumanian defence, he was substituted. A furious Schuster stormed off the pitch and left the ground immediately, watching the resulting penalty shoot out back at the team hotel. He claimed afterwards that Venables had done it to try and win the match without him being on the pitch, so as to make the point that he was no longer needed. If that was Venables' plan then it didn't quite work out - Steaua went on to win the shootout. Maybe Schuster had a good point though - why substitute your most creative player at such a key point in the game? The sort of player who could turn the game with one exquisite pass, or ram home a 30 yard piledriver? Following his early exit to the hotel and his public outburst, things got worse for Schuster. Nunez claimed that he wouldn't wear the Barca shirt again, while Venables sniggered in the background and patted himself on the back. A high proportion of the fans backed the chairman and manager though, believing that Schuster shouldn't have stormed off to the hotel before the game had even finished.

The Lost Season
The new 1986-87 season started about as well for Schuster as the previous one had ended - terribly. Mark Hughes and Gary Lineker were brought in and took the place of Schuster and Archibald. President Nunez was true to his word and Schuster played no games at all for Barca during the whole season. Obviously, with such a talented 26 year old being wasted in the reserves, there were many top European sides interested in taking him, but strangely Barca didn't sell him. With no sign of a trophy that season, the fans began to change their tune and many called for the Blonde Angel's return. But with no sign of a call-up, Schuster tried to force the clubs hand and demanded to talk to other clubs. A stand-off followed, with the club even going through a period of not allowing him to train with the rest of the players, citing him as a bad influence on the other players. It was an incredible waste of a season - Schuster, in the prime of his playing career, played no games.

The End of an Era
A bad start to the 1987-88 season meant that El Tel didn't last long before finding a P45 stuffed in his locker. Which was good news for Schuster. And there was more to come when the club announced the appointment of their new coach - Luis Aragones, a big admirer of the German's talent. Aragones made no secret of his desire to rebuild the team around Schuster, and re-installed him as the team's captain and playmaker. However, things didn't go as well as Aragones would have wished, the league was won by Real Madrid and they went out in the UEFA Cup to eventual winners Bayer Leverkusen. The one bright note was the victory in the Spanish Cup but the season still finished on a sour note as more arguments broke out between the players and Nunez, and yet again the arguments were over money. Schuster was not involved in this particular argument, his thoughts were elsewhere as he negotiated a remarkable move to Barca's fiercest rivals, Real Madrid. It was the end of an era, the club's famous number 8 was gone. "My time here is over" said Schuster, adding that he would try and start a new life in Madrid to prove to himself and everyone else that he wasn't the cause for all the troubles at the club. "I'll try to forget my bad moments in Barca and remember only the good ones. I gave the best 8 years of my life here and I cant forget that. I hope in the future to be able to remember FC Barcelona as a great time in my career". It was sad that his time at the club ended like this, his years there being remembered by his on-pitch quality and off-pitch controversy in almost equal measures. Looking back on it after he'd retired from playing, Schuster commented that a lot of important moments in his life had occurred during his 8 years at Barca, that he was both happy and unfortunate there, and that in future games he could never player well against Barca. But why choose Real? He'd had plenty of interest from other countries, even the big Italian clubs, but he didn't want to move his young family from Spain, where they were settled. It was an open secret that Real were interested. The appeal to Schuster was that Real were a settled club in comparison to Barcelona, and that he would be far removed from the trouble and scandal he'd had in Catalonia. And of course on the pitch Real had won the last 3 titles, so it was a positive move in a football sense as well as a personal one.

Reborn at Real
Schuster signed a 3 year contract with Real before the 1988-89 season and with the move came a new nickname - the Blond Angel was now the White Field Marshall. With Dutch coach Leo Beenhakker at the helm, Schuster won the league and cup double in his first season there as well as the Spanish super cup. The German was reborn, revelling in this new calmer environment, a weight obviously lifted from his shoulders following all the goings on at Barcelona. Winning week in and week out, and playing alongside quality such as Butragueno, Gordillo and Michel, obviously helped, but Schuster seemed genuinely at ease with the world. In the European Cup they lost to Milan in the semi-final. Schuster was gutted, as the final was to be held in Barcelona. However, despite this disappointment, Schuster was genuinely pleased with how the first season had gone - "I'm happy here, it's a big change after Barca, but I've found a calmness here and I'm happy to be playing every week and winning. I know I'm not the main star now, but this team doesn't need a star, the team is the star".

1989-90, a new season and another new manager for Schuster, John Toshack getting the honour of becoming the club's first Welsh gaffer. Toshack surprisingly moved Schuster to a libero role, and the results, and goals, flowed. The team ran away with the league, scoring more than 100 goals, with Hugo Sanchez and Martin Vasquez on fire up front. Schuster was a big hit with the fans again, his position just behind the midfield giving him the freedom to direct the attacking moves as he liked. So that was two great seasons at Real, but, controversy, as ever, was just around the corner. Real, in their wisdom, had arranged an end of season tour to America and Mexico, but with the majority of the players joining up with their national squads ahead of the World Cup in Italy, the only major stars left to travel were Schuster and Sanchez. As he was carrying an injury, Schuster suggested to the club that it would be a bad idea for him to tour, a comment that went down like a lead balloon with the club's hierarchy. Club President Mendoza called Schuster unprofessional, claiming he was only willing to tour if his family could go as well. Schuster denied this and went on the month long tour, but his injury only allowed him to play in the last week. Despite publicly stating his desire to stay with Real, the rumours continued that Real were looking to move Schuster out in order to bring in both Georgi Hagi and Robert Prosinecki. It was another bizarre situation for the Blond Angel to be in. The Real fans were totally bemused - Schuster had performed fantastically for two seasons and still had another year on his contract, yet the club's top brass were trying to force him out. The rumours were true, Schuster had the final year of his contract paid up and was free to move to another club. Toshack claimed that it was his decision to get rid of him as he wanted to bring in some younger players, but the fans believed he had been told to say this in order to protect club President Mendoza.

Jesus signs the Blonde Angel
Bizarrely, after the goings on at the Bernabeu during the summer, Schuster began the 1990-91 season without a team. He was linked with moves back to Germany, to Italy, even Japan, but with his family settled in Madrid he eventually opted for another controversial switch, this time to Real's city rivals Atletico. Who else but Schuster could move from Barcelona to Real, and then to Atletico? Run by larger than life president, Jesus Gil, the press thought the signing was purely an Atletico marketing gimmick - why would Schuster want to join a struggling team after 2 great seasons with Real, and why join a club with a president like Gil? Schuster and Gil at the same club !?! Surely this was some sort of Spanish tomfoolery ! It was 2 months into the new season when Schuster eventually joined and all of a sudden they became a club reborn. With the German pulling all the strings in midfield, and with quality players such as Paulo Futre and Manolo around him, Atletico came close to a sensational league title. Ultimately they lost out to the Johan Cruyff's Barcelona 'Dream Team' of Stoichkov, Michael Laudrup, Ronald Koeman et al, but a Spanish Cup triumph meant that Schuster became the first player to win the Spanish Cup with 3 different teams. At this point Schuster had been re-united with Luis Aragones as coach and he stated that Schuster was one of the best players he'd ever coached, remarking that it was his winning mentality that made him stand out from the rest rather than his more obvious footballing qualities. Aragones also said that Schuster read the game as well as anyone he'd ever seen, "Sometimes while sat on the bench I thought it would be perfect now if he passed the ball forward and he would! He would always pass at the right time". His heroics earned him the 1991 Don Balon Foreign Player of the Year award, the 2nd of his career, but despite calls from back home he still could not be persuaded to return to the national fold.

Atletico started the next season, 1991-92, in top form, Schuster creating the chances and Manolo scoring them. La Liga, Europe and the Copa del Rey all looked on the cards for Aragones' team, but as the season went on Barcelona edged ahead, eventually winning both La Liga and the European Cup. Atletico went out in Europe following a controversial loss to Parma. However, the Copa del Rey was a happy hunting ground again. A showcase Atletico-Real Madrid final was won by Atletico, Schuster scoring with a trademark 30 yarder.

1992-93, Schuster's third season at the Vicente Calderon was one that started with high expectations. Following two seasons at the top end of La Liga, the fans were actually starting to believe that this could be their year. At the end of 1992 they were still in with a chance, but an injury to Schuster showed just how reliant they had become on him - with the German running midfield Atletico were capable of challenging, but without him they were ordinary. His three month absence cost Atletico any chance they had of claiming the title, and this is where Schuster's next controversy started. Up until this point his relationship with Jesus Gil had been quite cordial, especially compared with the previous Schuster-President relationships at BArca and Real. However, now it was open season for Gil. Realising the impact that Schuster's injury was having on the team's results, he ridiculously accused Schuster of not doing enough to get better, that he should be having more treatment. This was the beginning of the end for Schuster at Atletico, and in La Liga. As the end of the season approached, he was allowed to train with the team, but not play. What a way to end a great La Liga career. Barcelona, Real and Atletico - life was never dull in Spain for the Blond Angel.

Back 'Home'
Next stop on the Schuster journey was a trip back home to Germany, as he joined Bayer Leverkusen. His 3 seasons there seemed to pretty much sum up his career, brilliance on the pitch coupled with controversy off it. On the pitch he played arguably the best football of his career, the clamour for him to be named in the 1994 World Cup squad obviously grew, but he still refused to return. Alongside another German legend enjoying an Indian summer to his career, Rudi Voller, the Werkself (the Factory Squad) played some fantastic attacking football but missed out on the trophies. Schuster claimed a first in German football as he became the only player to claim 1st, 2nd and 3rd positions in Germany's prestigious goal of the season award in 1994-95. His winning goal, a shot from the centre circle, was also named goal of the decade. However, off the pitch problems started to surface once again, this time between Schuster and coach Erich Ribbeck. The saga ended before the 1995-96 season had finished, with Ribbeck dropping Schuster after claiming he was threatening legal action against the club. Schuster denied the allegation but lost the club captaincy following a players vote and then had his contract terminated. It was a classic Schuster ending. But he'd certainly provided the Bundesliga with nearly 3 years of fantastic football. Even the robotic Lothar Matthaus grieved after his departure, saying, "Schuster is a genius. One of the best players the Bundesliga has seen, if not the best. Bayer Leverkusen have lost a piece of their heart without him".

The end is nigh !
Having left Leverkusen, Schuster was on the look out for a fresh challenge. It appeared to have come in the form of the American team San Jose Clash. They appeared keen to sign him, but wanted to have a look at him before offering him a contract, so they invited him on their tour of Asia. Schuster's performances on the tour were good, and it looked like he would be heading to the States, but after the tour had finished, the Americans pulled out of the deal, citing problems with the contract. The press suggested it was time for Schuster to retire, but he still believed he had something to offer. He remained a free agent until December, then surprised everyone by surfacing in Mexico to sign for UNAM Pumas. Now 37, Schuster may have lost a yard or three of pace, but he still had an eye for the killer pass, and he still had a passion for the game... "I'm not here for the money, I'm just here to play. I love football and I believe I can bring something to UNAM" was Schuster's response to Mexican journalists when they questioned how much he was going to cost the club. Schuster played 9 games for the Mexicans and then finally hung up his boots. It was probably quite fitting that he ended his career this way - despite all the criticism and controversy throughout his career, here was a player who ultimately just loved to played football, and was willing to move to Mexico to try and extend his career.


It could be argued that Schuster was a classic Latin playmaker in every sense except nationality. Certainly his strident views, usually backed up by actions, were never going to ingratiate him w ithin the rigid structure that prevailed throughout his career at national level. Schuster, idiosyncratic and intelligent, was able to cut himself from the national team with ease. He was cosmopolitan in outlook and Latin in his playing culture. Sadly, this meant he was never able to demonstrate his sublime skills on a global stage. Off-field controversy may have followed Schuster wherever he went, but when it came to the footballing side of things, the Blond Angel had no equal. It must never be forgotten that from his early days with 1.FC Koln to his last main contract with Bayer Leverkusen, Schuster carried off his role of midfield general to perfection.

A genuine legend.
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by the xcx Mon Sep 12, 2011 4:30 pm

Legend indeed. Pity that he had to spent his 8 years in the dark side.
the xcx
the xcx
Banned (Decade)

Club Supported : Real Madrid
Posts : 7505
Join date : 2011-06-05

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Mon Sep 12, 2011 4:35 pm

Here is another article from MidfieldDynamo.Com, this time on Raul! The OG can be found here: http://www.midfielddynamo.com/players/profiles/raul.htm but I've reverted to the norm and copied the entire article.
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Raul+kissing+ring
I have always felt a gift diamond shines so much better than one you buy for yourself.

When you are given something as astonishing and rare as a diamond as a present you treat it as if it's the last diamond on earth, this diamond may not be the best, it may have a few rough edges and it may not shine as bright as the others but it will do one day. This diamond was a gift. You didn't have to pay for it. It's got more significance than any other diamond you own. That's what makes it the best diamond.

Jesus Gil the president of Atletico Madrid between 1987 and 2003 specialises in diamond gifts. Gil decided as Club President that to save money Atletico Madrid would need to close down its youth academy. What he did not realise was that positioned in his club's youth academy was one of the rarest and brightest diamonds to grace the arid lands of Spain, let alone Europe.

A natural goal scorer is said to be a rarest diamond in football, in that case Jesus Gil's decision to close down Atletico Madrid's youth academy presented the biggest gift in world football to a neighbouring team who already had its own collection of the world's finest diamonds, all bought and paid for, of course.

I am of course talking about Raul Gonzalez, one of the most natural goal scorers of all time. After amassing an incredible goal scoring record that reads 323 goals in 741 games. This in turn broke the most prestigious record at arguably the most prestigious club in European football, this was of course Real Madrid's all-time goal scoring record formerly held by club legend Alfedo di Stefano.

Raul announced himself to the gods of the world's greatest goal scorers on February 15th 2011 when he became the leading goal scorer in the history of UEFA competitions. His 71st goal in European football came against Valencia for his new club Schalke 04.

As Raul's love affair with the UEFA Champions League continues there is a worry that Schalke 04's 2010/2011 Champions League campaign could be his last in the Champions League given Schalke 04's poor league position. Raul admits it will be sad if he could not play in the competition he has made his own over the past decade.

"Whenever I hear the Champions League theme music, I get Goosebumps.'' he said.

"You never know, it could be my last Champions League game, but the special relationship between Raul and the Champions League will last forever, no matter what happens.''

Raul now sits above the likes of Filippo Inzaghi, Andriy Shevchenko, Alessandro Del Piero, Thierry Henry, Gerd Muller, Eusebio and Ruud Van Nistelrooy. Yet the recognition that Raul receives is minimum for a player who has broken ever record to be broken in the final third of the pitch.

For a player who has won everything at club level multiple times, Raul is a player who wasn't won many individual awards, remember Raul is a player who played in a team who won the Champions League in 1998, 2000 and in 2002 top goal scoring most seasons. Yet Raul has only won the Bronze award for World Player of the Year in 2001 and a Silver award in the Ballon d'Or in the same year. This personifies the character that is Raul Gonzalez, he doesn't player for himself he plays for the team. That is one of the main reasons why Real Madrid were so successful in the late nighties, early noughties. Raul was the maverick of the most successful club of his generation.

"We all know what Raul represents, not only for his team but also for football." These are the words of then Juventus and France striker David Trezeguet, this quote symbolizes the kind of respect that Raul acquired from his colleagues. Trezeguet obviously doesn't know how strenuous it is to put quotes onto another player, but now thanks to the former Juventus frontman we all have a much greater appreciation for what Raul represent for the game of football. If that wasn't quite enough praise for a player who doesn't like to take the limelight, his one-time former Real Madrid team-mate Luis Figo delivered the praise of all praises, by stating that Raul and I quote. "Is the greatest player to have ever played the game." Well it's now obvious to all that Raul got the respect and praise from his peers but not quite enough to win individual awards.

Many players leave Real Madrid. Many are ushered out the back door never to be spoke of again or leave in a big all singing all dancing tantrum. Not Mr Madrid, having made more appearances for Real Madrid than any other player in the history of the club and scoring more goals than anyone in the history of the club Raul left on a humble quiet note. His reason for leaving was clear he wanted to play every week.

Apparently Sir Alex Ferguson wanted to bring the veteran forward to Man United when his contract ran out at Real Madrid but Raul had already agreed terms with Schalke 04. Not surprising as Sir Alex has been a long term admirer of Raul. He was once quoted as saying. "I hope he doesn't like travelling, Failing that we will stop him entering the country." This came on the eve of Real Madrid's visit to Old Trafford. Sir Alex usually knows a good player when he sees one, though the last time he was so desperate to see someone prevented from entering the country was probably after Kleberson's summer holiday in 2005. The Brazilian must be well rested, that break has lasted five years so far.

In the eyes of many including my own Raul should be a European Championship and World Cup winner. Raul unfortunately missed out on being involved in both squads. This seems unfair to a player who has always given his all to the national team, especially considering he seemed to be one of Spain's only brightest lights in a generation of underachievers. It is crazy to believe a player such as Raul with his ability and experience was dropped, with the likes of Daniel Gonz lez Giza of Real Mallorca and Sergio Garc¡a of Real Zaragoza. I'm not saying that Raul should have been in the squad just because of who he is, in this respect this is a similar scenario to Beckham and England. However Raul brings much more to the team, he was still in good form and wasn't exactly passed it. Raul of all players wouldn't want to have been placed in the squad purely because of who he is and what he's done in the past. Raul has never been one to sing his own praises.

Raul has defiantly had a career many a player would be jealous of with multiple La Liga titles and three Champions League winners' medals but as his career moves into the final chapter many wonder how long Raul can carry on playing for. The Schalke 04 striker has scored 15 goals in 38 games this season across all competitions. This isn't exactly retiring form for a 33 year-old who will be 34 in June. One of the main reasons why Raul has still, well essentially 'got it' is because Raul is one of very few players in today's that require a pace. By all mean Raul is not slow, he wouldn't finish last in a sprint test at the Schalke 04 training ground but he wouldn't be steaming out in front. Raul is one of the cleverest footballers of his generation, having that ability to see a situation before it unfolds is one of the most useful skills to have in a footballer's toolbox. Many of Raul's 338 career goals have come from being in the right position at the right time through excellent reading of the game.

Raul's relationship with the Champions League continues as Schalke 04 were drawn with reigning Champions League winners Inter Milan. Raul will hope his team can progress so he can have his fairy-tale game against Real Madrid but he will have to wait until the final for that to happen and with no disrespect to Schalke 04 I highly doubt they will have the strength to beat Inter Milan and then one of Chelsea or Manchester United.

Controversial Spanish politician and former owner of Atletico Madrid, Gil famously stated. "With my popularity, I could be god". He's right who in their right mind would close the Youth Academy of one of Spain's biggest football clubs. If Raul had made it at Atletico Madrid he could have commanded a fee of 20 million plus in his prime, but for the stupidity of a non-footballing man involved in football, Real Madrid were able to capitalise on the situation and the Bernab‚u crowd were treated to one of football's greatest for 15 years. There are not any players aside from Raul who have become such iconic figures within a club having started their careers with the arch rivals of that club.

It is a well-known fact that Raul kisses his wedding ring every time he scores a goal, I just wonder if he has a diamond planted on his wedding ring because Raul is one of football's all-time greatest goal scoring diamonds, had Jesus Gil kept Atleltico Madrid's Youth Academy it could have all been so different.

Article written by: Chris Parsons
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:06 pm

Here's a Macca interview I found on: http://news-realmadrid-football.blogspot.com/2011/05/interview-steve-mcmanaman.html

Interview: Steve McManaman
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Steve+McManaman+Commentator
Steve McManaman in the ESPN office
What is your life?
I work for ESPN in the United States and even do programs for Mexico, speaking Spanish. I live well, near Manchester airport with my wife and two daughters.

But you spend time in Spain...
I have a house in Mallorca. I love Spain. I spend long seasons. The four years of Madrid were the best of my life. Last year I was at the Bernabeu with veterans playing against Milan and was wonderful to see the grandstands full and reconnect with my teammates.

What you like is to be a commentator?
It is a way to not forget my footballer stage, commenting on every game and always watching football. I got the opportunity and, as I love football, I did not waste it.

Dou you want to be coach?
No, no. In England it is very difficult to achieve. It is a difficult job for the family. I prefer the TV at the moment.

Are you following Real Madrid?
I watch the team every week. I like it this year. I think things are better. Its problem is Barcelona, despite having won the Spanish Cup with merit.

Can Real Madrid comeback?
Yes, yes, but Barcelona is doing very well and when they play as they know it is very difficult to beat. When the Champions League started the logic favorite was Barcelona ,but I saw Madrid second in the pools. Now they have faced and only one may be in the final. But what is clear is that Madrid will fight.

You won in the Nou Camp 0-2 in the semifinal of the Champions in 2002, and you scored a goal.
What memories! It was an unforgettable night. First, we played in Barcelona and Zidane scored a goal and then me. It was a goal as important as I managed in the final of Paris 2000. Then we tied at home and played the final in Glasgow. Everyone knows what happened: the Ninth.

Would you have liked to play on this team?
I stay with mine with which won two European Cups with Sanchis and Hierro. My team was also wonderful, is my team. But I really like Özil, the environment and the stadium, the white shirts. I love everything that is Real Madrid. Xabi is also a phenomenon. The captain, Casillas, I also like. When I played he was a bambino. In what the captain of Spain has become, is incredible.

And Mourinho?
I really like, but I have not the luck to meet him. I have followed his career with Porto, Chelsea, Inter and now in Madrid. His records are amazing and has won everything. He came to Madrid and he wins the "Copa del Rey". Real Madrid has made ​​a good choice withhim, sure.

And do you like his so defensive plans at the Bernabeu?
People in Madrid want to win trophies. You can not play like Barcelona because they have their individualities. You have to ask yourself what you want. Nice play every week and not win anything or play different and get trophies. In Madrid they want titles.

What about Cristiano?
He is fantastic and is up to Messi. He scores amazing goals. The Spanish league is lucky because has Messi, Cristiano, Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Iniesta... I think Cristiano is much better now than when he was in Manchester. It is a different country and a different team, but he always scores goals.

Did you know that in Spain, Cristiano and Mourinho are hated?
I do not understand. In England everybody respects them. People do not love them but they are not hated. This is normal, they generated a lot of jealousy because they were very dangerous opponents.
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:15 pm

Okay guys the next few bios (12 of them) are from http://news-realmadrid-football.blogspot.com It is a reasonably cool site, so check it out for things other than bios. The OG can be found here: http://news-realmadrid-football.blogspot.com/2010/12/legends-juan-padros.html

Legends: Juan Padrós
JUAN PADRÓS
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Real+Madrid+Juan+Padr%25C3%25B3s

Juan Padrós

Born in Barcelona in 1869, son of Timoteu Padrós and Paula Rubio, who ran a textile business in the Catalan capital. In 1886 he moved to Madrid, where he led with his brother Carlos, the family business “Al Capricho”, a fabric boutique at number 48, Calle de Alcala.

On March 6, 1902, along with his brother and former members of the Sky Foot Ball Club, founded the named Madrid Foot Ball Club. Juan Padrós was elected to the Constituent Assembly as the first official president of the club and took charge of the probate proceedings of the society, whose first office was installed in the back room of his own trade of Alcalá.

The first meeting of the new formed club took place just three days later face among themselves members of the entity, divided into two groups: blue and red. Juan Padrós, sided with the former, while his brother was the referee of the match.

After creating the new club, the efforts of the brothers parents focus on the implementation of a national inter-club championship. The Championship of Spain was organized by the club, always with the help of his brother Carlos, then chairman of the regional federation.

In 1903 Juan Padrós saw as the presiding club won their first title, the Central Regional Championship.

In early 1904, Madrid FC absorbed “AS Amicale” and, shortly afterwards, joined the “Moderno FC”, after which Juan Padrós left the club presidency in favor of his brother.

After a long period away from the football matters, the name of Juan Padrós returned to the present in July 1911, when the assembly of the Spanish Federation of Foot-ball Clubs asked him, as president. The pressures did, finally, Padrós to accept the position on an interim basis that had rejected a year earlier. His term lasted only one year, long enough to achieve the reunification of Spanish football around the Royal Spanish Football Federation, founded in September 1913.
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:18 pm

OG:http://news-realmadrid-football.blogspot.com/2010/12/legends-santiago-bernabeu.html

Legends: Santiago Bernabéu
SANTIAGO BERNABÉU
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Real+Madrid+Santiago+Bernab%25C3%25A9u+2

Santiago Bernabéu
Playing career

Bernabeu was born in 1895 in a village of Albacete.He was the seventh son of José Bernabéu, lawyer and administrator in Valencia, and Antonia de Yeste, of cuban origin. With only five years he moved to Madrid with his parents and brothers.

After reaching the capital of Spain, Bernabéu entered the Alfonso XII Royal School of the Augustinians in “San Lorenzo de El Escorial”, where he had his first contact with football. In addition, his older brothers Antonio and Marcelo were also players. Later he studied high school at the Cardenal Cisneros Institute and studied law at the Central University. Although he graduated as a lawyer, never pursued that career.

At school Bernabéu began playing center forward on the soccer team, a position he assumed in his first team, Gimnástica de Madrid. During his time as a bachelor gets to enter Madrid FC- the current Real Madrid CF, where his brother, Antonio Bernabeu, was one of the founding partners. Although the coaches wanted to play as a goalkeeper, his brother Marcelo managed to convince them to play the striker position. The player was part of the youth team for three seasons, until in 1913 he debuted in the ranks of first team

Bernabeu was Real Madrid striker from 1913 to 1927 and during its period of activity scored 69 goals in 78 games, being a hard and effective player.Was also part of the Madrid squad that won the Copa del Rey 1917. Santiago never played an international soccer match in the Spanish team, although it got to be summoned for a match against Portugal on December 17, 1922, without ever debut.

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Real+Madrid+Santiago+Bernab%25C3%25A9u
Santiago Bernabéu (Player)
Member of the Board

Santiago Bernabéu retired from football in 1927 and wanted to continue leading the football team. At that time took a position as delegate and assistant coach, and a year later was appointed manager during the period of President Luis Urquijo.

In 1929 he assumed the secretariat of the Board of Directors of Real Madrid, a job he held until 1935. In those years saw the birth of the Spanish Football League with the professionalization of the institutions as the main objective. Its work was instrumental in the signing of players such as Ricardo Zamora. In 1934 Castilian Football Federation awarded him the medal for footballing merit.

With the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War took refuge, for two years, in the embassy of France. Later he went into exile in that country and in the last months of the conflict he enlisted in the ranks of the national side.

Real Madrid Presidency

After the war, he returned to the Real Madrid leadership positions, which in those years going through a difficult situation losing most of their best players and without stadium or office. In those years, married in 1940 to Maria Valencia and took a position as a Finance Ministry official.

On September 15, 1943, the Board appointed Real Madrid president Santiago Bernabéu, who has set as its objective the construction of a new stadium, heal the battered economy of the club and professionalize the institution. In June of 1944 formalized the purchase of some adjoining land to the former Chamartín to build the facility, and finally the new Chamartin Stadium was inaugurated on December 14, 1947 with victory over Belenenses 3-1 with 70,000 spectators in the stands. The Board of the club changed the name of the camp on January 4, 1955 by the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, despite the initial reluctance of the president.
Later he opened the sports city, an independent training center of the football stadium which was the usual venue for the preparatory exercises.

In a first stage without success in sports, Bernabéu tried to consolidate the reform on the Real Madrid sporting institutions. After, the club won major titles becoming one of the powers of international football (16 Spanish Leagues, 6 Spanish Cups, 6 European Cups and 1 Intercontinental Cup)

He passed his last months of life relatively smoothly and the president received important awards, including gold and diamond medal of the Royal Spanish Football Federation and the gold medal for sporting merit, awarded by the King Juan Carlos I. He died on June 2, 1978.
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:19 pm

OG: http://news-realmadrid-football.blogspot.com/2010/12/legends-ciriaco-errasti.html

Legends: Ciriaco Errasti
CIRIACO ERRASTI
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Real+Madrid+Ciriaco

Ciriaco Errasti

Ciriaco began playing at the Unión Deportiva Eibar in his hometown, but acquired a wide reputation in the Deportivo Alaves, where he began to form a great defensive tandem with Quincoces. The great work of both was to set their team to the first division. Not unnoticed for Santiago Bernabéu.

Ciriaco was a very strong and powerful player that stood by the forcefulness which he applied in all his actions. He played well but simply, the main slogan for defenders of his time.

His arrival at Real Madrid was quickly endorsed by the successes. In his first two seasons (31-32 and 32-33) won the first two leagues in the history of the club. Its simplicity and forcefulness were instrumental in those titles. In those early campaigns played almost all league matches, forming an almost impregnable defense. Zamora (GK) received only 15 goals in the first championship; 17 in the second.

An injury marred season three of Ciricao. He could play the last two league games. His absence was important and that is why Real Madrid failed to get his third consecutive league title. The importance of the return of the brave defense Eibar was noticeable and Madrid could win the Cup against Valencia. Victory that the team repeated in 1936 by defeating Valencia again by 2-1 in Barcelona. In 1934 he played at full the World Cup in Italy and his trio with Quincoces and Zamora was recognized as the best in the world. The beginning of the Civil War ended the career of a racial defense that left its mark by the indomitable way to defend his team.
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:20 pm

OG: http://news-realmadrid-football.blogspot.com/2010/12/legends-jacinto-quincoces.html

Legends: Jacinto Quincoces
JACINTO QUINCOCES
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Real+Madrid+Jacinto+Quincoces

Jacinto Quincoces

Quincoces born in Barakaldo, 17 June 1905, but his family moving to Vitoria for family reasons. This will mean, eventually, something very important in the career of Jacinto. With thirteen years is called by the first team in the capital Vitoria, Alaves, to play just one match against Osasuna in Pamplona. Jacinto was still forming and Alaves definitely engages the player in the 1925-26 season, seven years after that first test.

At this time, the Vitoria team turns in his career and what were defeats turn into successes. Successes that will benefit his players, in particular, Quincoces.

The year was 1931, when Jacinto Quincoces gets the prize for their worth in sports: a move to Real Madrid. Beside him is his inseparable friend and companion Ciriaco. His sobriety and acrobatic punts made him acquire fame. Zamora, Ciriaco and Quincoces formed a legendary defense, which is still cited as one of the best defenses in the world, model technique and strength.

The first year as a Real Madrid player could not be more fruitful, both for Quincoces to Real Madrid. The white team gets the league championship without losing a game in tough battle with Athletic Bilbao, which was resolved in the last two days. Would not be the only award he would get on their way to Real Madrid. The following year, 1932-33 season, Real Madrid would rise again to the league title, one more award to add to the history of fierce defense. In the Cup of Spain, the Madrid achieved the runner-up.

In the next season would be the reverse. Whites, with Quincoces fully integrated would be second in the league tournament and cup winners. Two more consecutive league runners-up gave way to the first cup final between Real Madrid and Barcelona, 21 July 1936. The Madrid won tournament (2-1), in an intense match at Mestalla and Quincoces emerged as an impregnable bulwark.

The Spanish Civil War brought a hiatus to any sporting activity. The war almost retired Quincoce as player, and although he rejoined the Real Madrid, his career was short-lived.

Jacinto Quincoces think of retirement. He is 34 years and the long hiatus of the war seemed an insurmountable handicap. However, he would prolong his career until 1942. On that date and after a match against Sevilla at Chamartin, Quincoces took the decision to leave football career. On December 8 Real Madrid gives him a deserved tribute.

After his retirement, Quincoces continued connected to the football.He became coach and debuted with Zaragoza. After a couple of seasons in the team, was named national coach in 1945. Then he coached Real Madrid, winning the League 1945-46. Jacinto Quincoces died on May 10, 1997 in Valencia.
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Shamirr Mon Sep 12, 2011 8:21 pm

OG: http://news-realmadrid-football.blogspot.com/2010/12/legends-ricardo-zamora.html

Legends: Ricardo Zamora
RICARDO ZAMORA
Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 RM+Ricardo+Zamora

Ricardo Zamora

Ricardo Zamora Martínez, was known as "Divine." An adjective that describes the effect that Zamora produced on the fans and rivals. Its passage by the Spanish football left a deep imprint. Its always perfect position covering the goal, the security that showed in all his actions, his incredible reflexes, nerves of steel and personality. Undoubtedly one of the best Spanish players in history.

Ricardo Zamora was born in Barcelona in 1901, and began to play soccer when the sport took its first steps in Spain. His career began in 1916 when just 16 years joined RCD Español, club where he trained as a professional player and where he played his first games. In 1919, after a quarrel with the Español executives, joined rival club in the city, Barcelona. He was Barcelona player for three seasons and with the Catalans won his first title, a Spanish Cup.

In 1920 the Spanish football team went to the Olympic Games in Antwerp. In the first action of Spain as a football team in an official tournament, reached the silver medal after winning four matches and losing only the final, which was considered a success. After returning from Belgium, Zamora asked the president of Barcelona, Mr. Gamper, an increase in salary, a request which Barcelona did not accept. In 1922 he returned to Espanyol. Zamora's return to his home club was hatched after a spectacular signing that broke all economic records established.

However, Ricardo Zamora had to taste the sweetness of victory with his arrival at Real Madrid. In midsummer of 1930 the capital of Spain is a hotbed of rumors. Zamora joins Real Madrid. Zamora was basic piece at Real Madrid for the title in the 1931-32 season in a great championship, which the team finished undefeated. Would not be the only league title to win. In the following year he repeated luck with the revalidation of the League. Zamora's competition was once again a basic role in the victory. Zamora increase his record with Real Madrid with two Spanish Cups, achieved in 1934 and 1936 seasons.

On the latter, the last official match football to be played before the civil war that ravaged Spain for three years, was born the myth of Zamora, in a final that faced Real Madrid and Barcelona at the Mestalla stadium in Valencia. The white team won 2-1 and the player was paraded on the shoulders of the enthusiastic spectators fans.

During the Spanish Civil War, Zamora was arrested, being detained at the prison in Barcelona, although there were no known reasons. Finally, the Embassy of Argentina interceded for the release of the player. After his release, Zamora was exiled first to the country that helped rescue, and a year later in Nice (France), a city in which football club he met his friend Josep Samitier. He remained there until the end of the conflict, and retired from football.

As a coach, after the war, he joined Atletico. He coached this club for six seasons and won a league title in 1940-41. Subsequently he held the bench Celta Vigo, Malaga CD, RCD Espanyol and in 1952, for the Spanish National team. He was also coach of Venezuela in 1953. He died on September 8, 1978.

As a tribute to Zamora, the trophy awarded to the keeper with least goals conceded in the league, bears his name. If it had granted in his day, he would have won three times in the 1929/30 season with RCD Espanyol and those of 1931/32 and 1932/33 at Real Madrid.
Shamirr
Shamirr
Starlet
Starlet

Club Supported : Sao Paulo
Posts : 623
Join date : 2011-06-06

Back to top Go down

Real Madrid History and Current Players - Page 2 Empty Re: Real Madrid History and Current Players

Post by Sponsored content


Sponsored content


Back to top Go down

Page 2 of 4 Previous  1, 2, 3, 4  Next

Back to top

- Similar topics

 
Permissions in this forum:
You cannot reply to topics in this forum