50 Fun Facts About Atletico Madrid

The club was founded in 1903 as a branch of which other Spanish club?

Three Basque students set it up after watching Athletic win that year's Copa del Rey final in Madrid.

In which year was the club founded?

It became independent of its Bilbao parent club in 1921.

What colours did the club originally play in?

They were Athletic Bilbao's colours at the time; the red and white stripes arrived in 1911.

The nickname Los Colchoneros refers to which trade?

Red and white striped cloth was used for mattress ticking, and offcuts supposedly became shirts.

Board member Juan Elorduy reputedly bought red and white shirts from which English club in 1909?

He had failed to find Blackburn kits; a 2023 investigation proposed Sunderland as an alternative source.

Unlike parent club Bilbao, what did Atlético keep when adopting red and white shirts?

Bilbao later switched to black shorts, while Atlético kept blue shorts as part of its kit for more than a century.

Who managed the club in its debut La Liga season, 1929?

The Englishman's side were relegated after two seasons.

With which club did Athletic merge in 1939?

It had been founded by three Spanish Air Force officers in 1937.

Which legendary goalkeeper managed the club to its first La Liga title in 1939–40?

The title was retained in 1941; captain Germán Gómez led the midfield.

Why did the club change 'Athletic' to 'Atlético' in 1940?

The military association was dropped from the name in 1946, giving the current Club Atlético de Madrid.

Which coach led Atlético to league titles in 1950 and 1951?

Larbi Benbarek was the star; the club slipped behind Real and Barcelona after Herrera left in 1953.

Atlético's 1962 Cup Winners' Cup final win came against which Italian club?

It took a replay, and it remains the one major European trophy Real Madrid never won.

Which English club beat Atlético 5–1 in the 1963 Cup Winners' Cup final?

Atlético had beaten Real in two straight Copa del Rey finals in 1960 and 1961 under ex-Real coach José Villalonga.

Which stadium did Atlético open in 1966 on the Manzanares riverfront?

The old Metropolitano was demolished for university buildings; the last game at the Calderón was in May 2017.

Which striker won the Pichichi three times running, 1969–71?

He also scored in the 1974 European Cup semi-final second leg against Celtic.

Which Argentine coach took Atlético to the 1974 European Cup final?

His cautious, disruptive style was controversial but won La Liga in 1973.

Whose last-minute equaliser for Bayern forced a replay of the 1974 European Cup final?

Aragonés's free kick had looked like the winner; Bayern won the replay 4–0.

Why did Atlético play in the 1974 Intercontinental Cup despite losing the European Cup final?

Atlético beat Independiente 2–0 at home after a 1–0 away defeat to take the trophy.

How many separate spells did Luis Aragonés have as Atlético coach?

1974–80, 1982–87, 1991–93 and 2002–03, the last one bringing promotion back to La Liga.

Which Mexican striker won the Pichichi with Atlético in 1985 before joining Real Madrid?

He scored twice in that year's Copa del Rey final win over Athletic Bilbao and left after one season.

Atlético lost the 1986 Cup Winners' Cup final 3–0 to which club?

It was the club's third straight European final defeat.

Which controversial politician became club president in 1987?

He seized 95% of the shares in 1992 without paying and ran the club until 2003.

Which future Real Madrid star left Atlético's academy when Gil closed it in 1992?

He was 15 at the time and went across the city.

Which Portuguese winger, fresh from winning the European Cup with Porto, was Gil's marquee signing?

The spending brought only two Copa del Rey wins, in 1991 and 1992.

Which coach delivered the 1995–96 La Liga and Copa del Rey double?

His squad included Simeone, Kiko, Caminero and Pantić.

Which club knocked Atlético out of its first Champions League campaign in 1996–97?

They went out in extra time in the quarter-finals.

Atlético were relegated in 2000; in which year did they win the Segunda División to return?

Aragonés, in his fourth spell, took them up; they had narrowly missed promotion the year before.

At what age did Fernando Torres become the club's youngest ever captain?

He had been at the club since he was 11 and scored 13 league goals in his debut season.

Fernando Torres left Atlético in July 2007 for which club?

The €38 million sale came four years after a £28 million Chelsea bid was rejected.

Which film studio sponsored Atlético's shirts in 2003–04, changing the logo with each release?

Sixteen film titles appeared, and the away shirt changed for Spider-Man 2; replica shirts carried no sponsor at all.

Who scored both goals in the 2010 Europa League final win over Fulham?

His 116th-minute winner in Hamburg gave the club its first European trophy since 1962.

In which city was the 2010 UEFA Super Cup, Atlético's first, played?

Reyes and Agüero scored in a 2–0 win over Inter at the Stade Louis II.

In which month and year was Diego Simeone appointed manager?

The team was 10th at the time; his first six games all brought clean sheets.

Which Italian club was Simeone's only previous European managerial job?

The appointment was seen as a risk given his inexperience.

Which teenage loanee goalkeeper anchored Simeone's first defence?

He was on loan from Chelsea alongside centre-back Diego Godín.

Who scored a first-half hat-trick against Chelsea in the 2012 UEFA Super Cup?

Atlético won 4–1 in Monaco after beating Athletic Bilbao 3–0 in the Europa League final.

Atlético's 2013 Copa del Rey final win ended how long a winless run in the Madrid derby?

The 2–1 win at the Bernabéu ended a 25-match streak without beating Real.

Where did Atlético clinch the 2013–14 La Liga title with a 1–1 draw?

It was the first title since 1996 and the first since 2004 not won by Barcelona or Real.

Who scored Real Madrid's stoppage-time equaliser in the 2014 Champions League final?

Godín had put Atlético ahead; Real won 4–1 after extra time in the first all-city final.

How was the 2016 Champions League final between the Madrid clubs decided?

It finished 1–1, and Atlético lost a second final to Real in three seasons.

Who holds Atlético's appearance record, with more than 740 matches since 2009?

The midfielder came through the academy and captained the club for years.

Which captain scored in the 2018 Europa League final in his last match for the club?

Atlético beat Marseille 3–0 in Lyon for a third Europa League in nine years.

In which city did Atlético beat Real Madrid 4–2 in the 2018 UEFA Super Cup?

The match was played at the Lilleküla Arena.

Which striker, signed from Barcelona in 2020, powered the 2020–21 title win?

He scored 17 in his first 19 league games and decisive goals in the final two matches.

Who is Atlético's all-time record goalscorer with 212 goals?

He is also the club's biggest sale, at €120 million, while João Félix is its record signing.

Who is Atlético's most expensive signing, at €126 million?

The record sale, at €120 million, came when the club's all-time top scorer first left for Barcelona.

Who has been the club's honorary president since 2003?

He took the role as Prince Felipe; Enrique Cerezo has been actual president since 2003.

The Metropolitano was expanded from a 20,000-seat ground previously known by what name?

It was used for Madrid's failed 2016 Olympic bid and hosted its first competitive match against Málaga.

Which US investment firm completed a majority takeover of the club in March 2026?

The deal valued the club at around €2.2 billion; Cerezo and Gil Marín kept their roles.

In which country did Atlético open its first academy in 2018, the first European academy there?

Atlético Madrid Lahore later joined the Football Federation League as a professional club.