1900-1910
Carlos Padrós:
Real Madrid President from the Club's official inauguration in 1902 to 1904
The first decade of the 20th Century was taken over by events related to Real Madrid, establishing the Club as the banner of the incipient Spanish football scene. The rough first pitches, the establishment of football federations, the first official title, their international debut... All this was promoted by Carlos Padrós, President of Madrid Football Club and a decisive figure in the strong rooting of the sport in Spain.
Sky, direct precedent
At the start of 1897, young students at the Institución Libre de Enseñanza formed a sports group they named Football Club Sky. It was the direct precedent of Madrid Football Club.
Julián Palacios led the Club
An important group of players captained by Julián Palacios left Sky. Palacios led the split and unofficially presided over the newly established Madrid Football Club and its 50 members.
The pitch of marble mason Estrada
The first pitch Madrid played in was a plot of land next to the workshop of marble mason Estrada in the levelled area of Velázquez street, next to the construction works of future streets Lista (now named Ortega y Gaset) and Núñez de Balboa.
Renting of a plot of land on the Bullring's avenue
The second pitch in Real Madrid's history was a plot of land on the avenue where the Bullring was. The plot was partly co-owned by H.M. Queen María Cristina and the Counts of Villapadierna. The Club paid 150 pesetas (90 Euro cents) each year as rent and the players changed into their playing kit in a tavern called La Taurina.
Madrid Football Club foundation
On 6 March 1902, after a new Board presided by Juan Padrós had been elected, Madrid Football Club was officially founded. On 18 April, the Club Regulations, comprised of 22 articles divided into three headlines, were presented to the authorities. On 22 April 1902, José Sánchez-Guerra, Civil Governor of the Province approved the document.
I Spanish Championship is established
To celebrate the proclamation of Alfonso XIII as King, Madrid Football Club created the first Spanish Championship. Alberto Aguilera, Mayor of the Town and Court of Madrid -as the capital was officially called back then- supported the organisation of this football tournament and donated a silver cup as the prize for the winning team. The tournament took place in Madrid and Vizcaya were the victors.
The first Madrid-Barcelona
On 13 May 1902, the semifinals of the I Spanish Championship saw the first Madrid-Barcelona clash in history. Barcelona won 3-1 thanks to the six foreigners they lined up.
Albéniz, the first Madrid player to be transferred from Barcelona
Alfonso Albéniz Jordana was the first player to leave Barcelona in order to join Madrid. On 23 May 1902, a newspaper of the time confirmed the transfer with the following lines: "We have learned that Mr. Albéniz, former notable and enthusiastic Barcelona player, has joined Real Madrid Foot Ball Club, as well as other good players whose names we regrettably don't remember, but will quote in forthcoming match reports."
First trophy: two ceramic plates
Madrid were invited to take part in the festivities at El Escorial in 1902. Part of the programme featured a match between Madrid and Moncloa. On 11 August 1902, next to the facade of the monastery, the clash ended with a 6-5 score favourable to Madrid. The victors were awarded two ceramic plates that represent the first trophy the Club won in its history.
Driving force behind the creation of FIFA
Carlos Padrós, President of Madrid 1904-08, was the creator of the Spanish Championship, the Madrid Championship in 1905 and one of the driving forces behind the creation of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association in 1904.
Five-time victors of the Madrid Championship
As the President of the Madrid Football Club Association, Carlos Padrós felt the necessity of creating a Madrid Championship that took place for the first time in the 1904/05 season. Madrid won the short-lived tournament (9 editions) five times.
First official title
From left to right: Standing: Lizárraga, Álvarez & Alcale; Centre: Bisbal, Berraondo & Normand; Seated: Parages, Prast, Alonso, Revuelto & Yarza
On 18 April 1905, after eliminating Recreation San Sebastian from the Madrid Championship, Madrid faced Athletic Bilbao in the final and won thanks to a goal by Manuel Prast. This was the first official title in the history of the Club.
International debut
Madrid organised a friendly game against French side Gallia to commemorate the visit of French President M. Loubert to Madrid. The match took place on 23 October 1905 and ended with a 1-1 draw. It was the first international clash to take place in the Town and Court of Madrid.
Keep the Cup of Spain trophy
Winning the Cup of Spain three consecutive years -1905, 1906 and 1907- allowed Madrid to keep the original Cup. They won the tournament again brilliantly in 1908, achieving a four-year dominance over national football.
Creation of the Spanish FA
On 4 January 1909, after a meeting at the Club with delegates from other Spanish football clubs, the Spanish FA was born. Real Madrid President Adolfo Meléndez signed the foundation agreement after being named Secretary of the organisation by everyone present at the meeting. On 11 November 1909 the Spanish FA was legally registered at the Civil Government of Madrid.
Former Madrid player Berraondo founds Real Sociedad
José Ángel Berraondo played a crucial role in Madrid's success in the four Cups of Spain they won between 1905 and 1908. He was both a player and Vice-president with Arturo Meléndez at the Club, as well as Provisional President. In 1909, he returned to his home town, San Sebastián, for professional reasons and founded Real Sociedad with some colleagues.
1,000 pesetas monthly rent for the pitch
In 1910, Madrid abandoned the primitive pitch at the Bullring's avenue to move to the O'Donnell pitch, located between the streets Narváez, O'Donnell, Duque de Sesto and Fernán González. Madrid paid a month's rent of 1,000 pesetas (six Euro). The pitch was 115 metres long and 85 metres wide. Two years later, in 1912, the Club built a fence around it.
The first dressing room
1911-1920
It was a decade of non-stop events in the life of the entity: the start of the Bernabéu saga, the inauguration of O'Donnell Field, the birth of the Madrid-Barcelona rivalry, Madrid's dominance in the Regional Championship, the title of Real was granted by Alfonso XIII, and the first tour of a European country. Ten years of growth which can boast of many more high points than low ones.
The Bernabéu family sets foot in the Club
Antonio, Marcelo and Santiago Bernabéu joined Madrid Football Club at the start of the 20th Century and forever left their mark on its history. Antonio had the organisational talent: he was a founding member of Bologna FC and later became President of the Spanish FA, Marcelo was an outstanding player, and Santiago was everything possible for the Club: player, delegate, director, secretary, and President.
Bernabéu debuts at the age of 16
Santiago Bernabéu made his Madrid debut on 3 March 1912 when he was only 16 years old. It was in a friendly against English Sports Club, and it took place at the Pradera del Corregidor, along the Manzanares River in Madrid. The Madridista squad defeated the English side 2-1, and Bernabéu, playing as a left midfielder, scored the winning goal.
Creation of the Regional FA and his first tournament
Adolfo Meléndez, two-time President of Madrid (1908-10 and 1913-16), presided over the meeting hosted by Madrid, during which the Madrilenian FA was created. Acting as Secretary, the main overseer of the Club signed the accord which, among other agreements, established the first competition between teams from the city, and whose winner would be elegible to play in the Spanish Championship.
Inauguration of O'Donnell Field
Thirty-one October 1912 witnessed the inauguration of O'Donnell Field. Two days later, the headline of Spanish daily ABC read: “The match between Sporting Club of Iran and said Society was held a Madrid's field and was a booming success. Sporting Club is one of the best teams to visit Madrid. They pass very well and have a beautiful aerial game. Perhaps they missed the sandy pitch. Madrid deserve the most profound congratulations for drawing against a team as fine as Sporting".
The regional tournament decked in white
The Regional Championship of the city will always be linked to the history of Real Madrid. While Adolfo Meléndez, President of the Club, pushed for the creation of the tournament, the Madridistas became its domineering participant, winning 12 of the 18 editions.
Madrid-Barcelona: eternal, epic qualifier
The semifinal of the 1916 Spanish Cup between Madrid and Barcelona turned into an eternal and epic elimination round. Because away goals didn't count twice in those days, the teams had to play four matches to determine the winner. Barça won the first game in the Ciudad Condal 2-1, which Madrid later bested 4-1 on the field of the Spanish capital's Athletic, where the last two matches were also held. By the end of regulation time in the first, the score was a 4-4 draw, which ended 6-6 by the end of injury time. Finally, Madrid defeated Barcelona 4-2 in the fourth match and qualified for the final.
The hostilities begin
In the final match of the aforementioned 1916 Cup semifinals, Barcelona players walked off the pitch with seven minutes remaining in protest of the fourth goal, which they considered to be offside. During the final between Madrid and Athletic Bilbao, hosted by Español in Barcelona, the Guardia Civil, Spain's Civil Guard, had to protect Madrid players on their way into the dressing room. Later on, rocks and stones were thrown at the bus that transported the team to the hotel. The hostilities between the two Clubs had begun.
Alfonso XIII grants the title of Real
On 29 June 1920, the Club received a communiqué from the Primary Superintendent of his Majesty the King Alfonso XIII which granted Madrid the title of Real. The decision, which would change the entity's original name, was eagerly anticipated by the Madridista Directors.
The first tour takes place in Italy
In 1920, Madrid went on their first tour, comprised of five matches in Italy. The trip was organised by Natalio Rivas, another of the founding members of Bolonga and Madridista player. The budget for the expedition was very small, so the team was forced to eat at the cheapest restaurants they could find.
Elegant ladies of society attended football games at O'Donnell Pitch
Elegant ladies of society attended football games at O'Donnell Pitch
The stands were always full of fans
Source: realmadrid.com
