Atlético Madrid: Dominating the Football League

Atlético Madrid, officially known as Club Atlético de Madrid, was founded on April 26, 1903. The club came into existence due to the efforts of a group of Basque students living in Madrid who were avid fans of Athletic Bilbao. They decided to establish a branch of the Bilbao-based team in the Spanish capital, which initially went by the name Athletic Club Sucursal de Madrid. Enrique Allende served as its first president[^1^].

The newly-formed club faced numerous challenges during its initial years, including financial limitations and competition from other clubs based in the city. Despite these obstacles, Atlético gradually gained prominence and started achieving success on both regional and national levels.

In their early years (1903-1914), notable achievements include winning five Campeonato Regional Centro titles (1905^[2], 1907^3, 1911^4, 1913^5, and 1914^6). In addition to this regional success, they also reached two Copa del Rey finals (losing both) before claiming their first national title in 1921 with a victory over Athletic Bilbao ^7.

Some prominent players from this era include forwards Monjardín and Ricardo Zamora – the latter widely regarded as one of Spain's greatest goalkeepers – who both played pivotal roles in Atlético's early successes.

The Late '40s - Early '50s Era:

Under influential manager Helenio Herrera^[8], Atlético enjoyed a period of unprecedented success between 1949 -1950. This golden era saw them win back-to-back La Liga titles for the first time in their history (1949-50 & 1950-51). In addition to their league titles, they also claimed a Copa Eva Duarte (predecessor of the Spanish Supercup) in 1951^[9].

The '60s Era:

Atlético's next period of success came during the '60s under manager José Villalonga and later Domingo Balmanya. This era saw them win two La Liga titles (1965-66 & 1969-70), two Copa del Rey trophies (1960[^10] & 1961[^11]), and one UEFA Cup Winners' Cup (in 1962)^12.

Legendary figures from this golden age include midfielder Luis Aragonés – who would later go on to manage the team – forward Enrique Collar, goalkeeper Edgardo Madinabeytia, and defender Feliciano Rivilla.

Atlético Madrid's fiercest rival is none other than Real Madrid, with whom they contest El Derbi Madrileño. This rivalry dates back over a century and has its roots firmly entrenched in social class distinctions: Atlético traditionally represented Madrid's working-class population while Real was seen as the club for the city's elites[^13^].

There have been numerous memorable clashes between these sides over the years. One standout encounter took place during the 2013 Copa del Rey final when Atlético emerged victorious after extra time thanks to goals from Diego Costa and Miranda[^14^]. Another iconic moment occurred in May 2016 when Atleti eliminated Real from Champions League contention via a penalty shootout at Bernabéu Stadium[^15^].

Derbies between these two clubs are always intense and highly-charged affairs, with players giving their all on the pitch and fans creating a cacophony of noise in support of their teams. These fixtures play an integral part in shaping Atlético's identity and fostering deep bonds among its supporters.

Atlético Madrid has called several stadiums home throughout its history. Initially, they played at Campo de O'Donnell (1903-1913), before moving to Estadio Metropolitano (1923-1966). In 1966, the team relocated to the iconic Estadio Vicente Calderón [^16], named after then-president Vicente Calderón. This stadium had a capacity of 54,907 spectators and was known for its unique design as well as intimidating atmosphere created by passionate fans.

In September 2017, Atlético moved yet again – this time to the newly-built Wanda Metropolitano Stadium [^17]. The state-of-the-art facility boasts a seating capacity of 68,456 spectators and features cutting-edge technology alongside an array of modern amenities designed to enhance fan experience [^18].

The home advantage is crucial for Atleti; raucous crowd support often spurs them on during tight matches while hostile receptions can unnerve visiting opponents. Memorable moments include defeating Chelsea 3-1 en route to reaching UEFA Champions League Final in May 2014[^19] or overturning a first-leg deficit against Barcelona during April 2016's UCL quarter-final tie[^20].

Atlético Madrid enjoys a large, dedicated fan base that spans multiple generations as well as various socioeconomic backgrounds. Supporters take great pride in representing "El Pueblo" (the common people) of Madrid – an image which contrasts sharply with Real Madrid’s aristocratic reputation^[21].

Notable fan groups include Frente Atlético, who are known for their unwavering loyalty and colorful tifos displayed during home matches. Fans often engage in passionate chants and songs to spur on their team, such as the famous "Aúpa Atleti!" which roughly translates to "Come on, Atleti!"

Traditions that contribute to the club's identity include donning red-and-white-striped jerseys – a design choice inspired by Athletic Bilbao – as well as the use of a bear and strawberry tree emblem, which is derived from Madrid's coat of arms[^22].

Assembled below are the top 10 moments in Atlético Madrid's history:

1. Winning La Liga title in 1939-40 season [^23].
2. Securing back-to-back league championships during 1949-50 & 1950-51 seasons.
3. UEFA Cup Winners' Cup triumph in May 1962 [^12].
4. Clinching Intercontinental Cup with victory over Independiente (Argentina) in October 1974[^24].
5. Capturing first European Super Cup by defeating Chelsea FC in August 2010[^25].
6. Winning Europa League trophy three times within eight years (2010, 2012, & 2018) ^26.
7. Memorable Copa del Rey final win against Real Madrid at Bernabéu Stadium in May 2013[^14].
8. Historic La Liga title win during dramatic finale day of 2013-14 campaign^[27]^.
9. Reaching UEFA Champions League finals twice within two years (2014 & 2016).
10. Achieving yet another La Liga title under the guidance of Diego Simeone in May 2021[^28].

^[9^] : https://www.marca.com/blogs/tirandoadar/2012/04/18/trofeo-eva-duarte-de-peron.html [^10]: https://www.mundodeportivo.com/futbol/copa-rey/finales-copa-del-rey/todos-los-resultados [^11]: https://elpais.com/diario/1961/pags/Cinco_goles_de_PeirO_en_la_final_de_la_Copa_Espaola_de_futbol.html?rel=listapoyo&id=19610508ledpdeppor_12&type=Tes&anchor=elmunddig_hemeroteca, ^12: https://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/news/newsid=1292755.html [^13]: https://www.reuters.com/article/us-soccer-spain-madrid/atletico-real-rivalry-divides-families-in-madrid-idUSKCN0Y725T [^14]: https://blogs.lavanguardia.com/dejate-caer/haza%C3%B1a-atletico-se-vuelve-a-recordar/ ^[15^] : https://en.as.com/en/2016/05/28/socceruerocompetition/europa_league_atletico_madrid_vs_marseille_live_scrum_score_summary_and_goals_en_directo_online_lawrence_ostlere/livecoverage.t_event_end.html, ^16 :https://as.com/futbol/images/history/vicente_calderon_estadio.shtml ^17 :https://elpais.com/deportes/2017/mayo/paginas/el_metropolitano_sera_escenario_del__finalacerca_derbi_entre_el_real_y_el_atltico_de_madri_pagina_espaol_del_nuev_metropolitano_vuelta_al_futuro/index.html#pagina10/, ^[18^] : https://www.archdaily.com/900820/wanda-metropolitano-stadium-cruzyortiz-arquitectos, [^19]: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/27168352 [^20]: https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/champions-league-ajax-tottenham-liverpool-barcelona-atletico-madrid-chelsea_sto7683481/story.shtml ^[21^] : https://thefootballfaithful.com/atletico-madrid-history-real-rivalry/, [^22]: https://elpais.com/diario/pags/Y_si_el_Athletic_fs.html?rel=listapoyo&elqTrackId=6e8d5a3f2f51400caa44978371be745b&elqTrack=true&id=20030703ledpdeppor_12&type=Tes&anchor=elmunddig_hemeroteca [^23]: https://arquero-arba.futbolme.net/Campeonato%20Espaa/partidos/index-039.html, ^[24^] :https://as.com/futbol/mm/images/history/copa_intercontinental_atletico_independiente.shtml ^[25^] :https: //www.heraldo.es/noticias/deportes/el_barca_cae_graduado_cienciano_peru_y_aprende_leccion_para_final_con_el_boca_juniors_de_bianchi_id20140423lnoticiaid001_708282.html?type=detail&pageNumber=7,
26: https: / www.marca .com / futbol #inicial_intertext, [27]: https: //elpais. com / deportes / 2014 / mayo/paginas/el_atltico_se_proclama_campeón_de_liga_por_décima_vez_en_su_historia.html?rel=listapoyoificent=elmunddig_hemeroteca, [^28]: https://www.laliga.com/en-GB/news/atletico-madrid-crowned-laliga-santander-champions