Atlético Madrid

A professional football club based in Madrid, Spain, and a prestigious club active in La Liga and the UEFA Europa League.

Atlético Madrid

Overview

Atlético Madrid (Club Atlético de Madrid) is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain, founded in 1903. Along with Real Madrid, it is one of the two major clubs representing Madrid, and it is a major European club with 11 La Liga titles and the record for most UEFA Europa League titles. Nicknamed "Colchoneros" (mattress makers) and "Rojiblancos" (red and white), it has established itself as a team symbolizing grit, defensive organization, and a strong identity.

Main Content

Founding and History

Atlético Madrid began on April 26, 1903, when Basque students studying in Madrid started as a branch organization of Athletic Bilbao. In 1921 it became independent from Bilbao and was recognized as an official club, and throughout the 1920s and 1930s it grew into a major force in Spanish football. It won its first La Liga title in the 1939–40 season, and after a period of merger with an air force team (Atlético Aviación) in the 1950s, it was reorganized under an independent system in the 1960s. In the 1970s it distinguished itself on the European stage and entered its prime, including winning the 1974 Intercontinental Cup.

Stadium

For a long time it used the Vicente Calderón Stadium (1966–2017), and from 2017 it moved its home ground to the Wanda Metropolitano (now Metropolitano). With a capacity of about 68,000, it contributes to the diversification of the club's financial revenue along with modern facilities.

Major Trophies

11 La Liga titles
10 Copa del Rey titles
3 UEFA Europa League titles (2010, 2012, 2018)
3 UEFA Super Cups
1 Intercontinental Cup
3 UEFA Champions League runners-up (1974, 2014, 2016)

Diego Simeone Era

Diego Simeone, appointed in December 2011, is regarded as the most successful manager in the club's history. Nicknamed "Cholo," he rebuilt the team with tactics combining strong defensive organization and quick counterattacks under the philosophy of "not conceding even one goal per match." In the 2013–14 season he led the team to the La Liga title, breaking the two-horse race between Real Madrid and Barcelona, and also took the league summit in the 2020–21 season. He has produced consistent results on the European stage as well, including two Europa League titles and two Champions League final appearances.

Legendary Figures

Luis Aragonés is a symbolic figure who led the team both as a player and as a manager, and Fernando Torres, Radamel Falcao, Diego Godín, Jan Oblak, and Antoine Griezmann are counted among the club's representative stars. In particular, Griezmann established himself as a symbol of the team by breaking the club's all-time scoring record.

Rivalries

The match against Real Madrid is a world-famous derby called "El Derbi Madrileño," with intense tension and competition between fan bases. The relationship with Athletic Bilbao is a special structure in which friendship and rivalry coexist, originating from the club's founding roots, and recently it has also formed league competition with Barcelona, Sevilla, and others.

Support Culture and Identity

The working-class identity based in southern Madrid remains the club's color, and passionate supporters' groups lead the atmosphere at home matches. The chant "Atleti, Atleti" and the team-color red-and-white striped uniform are symbols of the club.

Recent Developments

In the 2024–25 season, Atlético sought to strengthen its squad while aiming simultaneously for the La Liga title race and a berth in the upper rounds of the Champions League. In the summer of 2024 it strengthened its attack by signing Julián Álvarez from Manchester City, and in 2025 it added Alexander Sørloth and others to broaden the squad's depth. Diego Simeone's managerial regime remains in place, and club-level long-term projects—such as expanding the facilities of the Metropolitano Stadium, diversifying commercial revenue, and investing in the youth academy—are being carried out in parallel. In addition, under La Liga's financial regulations (salary cap), the strategy of increasing the efficiency of squad operation continues to be emphasized.