Image Credit: Marca
Atlético Madrid is a prominent Spanish football club with an amazing history, although it has often been overshadowed by powerhouse teams like Barcelona and Real Madrid.
Officially known as Club Atlético de Madrid, the team always aims to disrupt the established hierarchy as the underdog to Real Madrid. Additionally, the club has gained a reputation for frequently dismissing managers.
History
Three Basque students living in Madrid established the club, originally known as Athletic Club de Madrid, in 1903 and viewed it as a youth branch of Athletic Bilbao. The club initially wore blue and white shirts, possibly influenced by Blackburn Rovers, before changing to red and white shirts, inspired by Southampton.
The tradition of blue shorts from the original kit continues. Following the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939, Athletic merged with Aviación Nacional, forming Athletic Aviación de Madrid. The new club won La Liga in 1940 and 1941. In 1947, the club changed its name to Club Atlético de Madrid.
In the 1950s, Atlético won two more La Liga titles under Helenio Herrera but struggled in the following years, finishing behind Real Madrid and Barcelona. The following two decades saw a fierce rivalry between Real and Atlético, with both clubs achieving success in domestic competitions. Atlético won La Liga four times, Copa del Rey five times, and the Cup Winners’ Cup in 1962.
“The Animals”
During Juan Carlos Lorenzo’s management from 1973 to 1975, Atlético earned the derogatory nickname “animals”. Atlético’s aggressive tactics in a European Cup semi-final match against Celtic led to the sending off of three players, the issuing of numerous yellow cards, and the awarding of 51 free kicks to the opponents. As a result, they gave the nickname.
Despite this controversial win, Atlético ultimately lost to Bayern Munich in the final. It was not until Jesús Gil became president in 1987 that the club saw success again, winning the La Liga title in 1996.
Gil’s tenure was marked by lavish spending on players but frequent changes in coaching staff. However, his reign ended in 2000 amidst legal issues and financial troubles, leading to the club’s relegation that same year.
The Diego Simeone Era
Diego Simeone became the head coach of the club in 2011 and led them to success through teamwork rather than relying on individual star players. During his tenure, the club won the Europa League in 2012, followed by the Copa del Rey in 2013 and their tenth La Liga title in 2014.
Simeone further solidified his success with the team by winning the UEFA Super Cup in 2018, making him the most successful manager in Atlético Madrid’s history.
Atlético Madrid’s Logo
Atlético Madrid created its current logo in 1917, which features a bear standing upright next to a Madroño tree. Over time, the logo has undergone some simplification, resulting in fewer white and red stripes and a slightly altered shape compared to the original design.
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