Real Madrid Club de Fútbol: A Modern History of the Club and Its Kit

Real Madrid Club de Fútbol, commonly known as Real Madrid, are the most successful club in Spanish Football history, winning a record 31 La Liga titles, 18 Spanish Copa del Rey Cups, 8 Spanish Super Cups, a record 9 UEFA Champions League Titles, 2 UEFA Cups, 1 UEFA Supercup, and 3 Intercontinental Cups. Founded in 1902, Madrid FC were granted royal patronage in 1920 by King Alfonso XIII, thus bestowing the title "Real Madrid", which roughly translates as "Royal" Madrid. Real Madrid are one of only three teams never to have been relegated from La Liga, the top league of Spanish football. Madrid hold the distinction of being the world's highest grossing football club with annual revenue topping €401 million.

With the emergence of Raúl González, who would go on to become Real Madrid’s all time top goal-scorer, Madrid won La Liga in 96-97 and the UEFA Champions League in 97-98 and 99-00, but when Madrid acquired Luís Figo from rival club Barcelona during the summer of 2000, it heralded a period that would come to be known as the first gálactico era. Soon Zinédine Zidane would be purchased from Juventus, and Real would win three more La Liga titles and another UEFA Champions League title. Once Ronaldo was acquired from Inter Milan in 2002, and David Beckham acquired from Manchester United in 2003, Real Madrid President Florentino Perez’ gálacticos were complete. Despite the early success, however, the club failed to win another title until 2007, and this first gálacticos era came to an end when David Beckham, the last of the four remaining gálacticos, left to join the MLS in the fall of 2007.

Perez lost presidency of the club in 2006, but regained presidency in 2009 and vowed to restore the club to its earlier glory. His second term ushered in what has come to be known as the second gálacticos era. In June of 2009 he signed the Brazilian National Team star Kaká for a then record €57 million, which was trumped two days later when he signed the Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United for an astounding €80 million. With the further additions of Benzema, Alonso, Carvalho and Özil, the second team of gálacticos were assembled, winning their first trophy on April 20th, 2011 with a 1-0 victory over their rivals Barcelona in the Copa del Rey Final.

A Quick Look at the Real Madrid Kit

The Real Madrid Home Shirt has always been white, while the Away Shirt is either black or purple. The Madrid crest has remained relatively unchanged since the 1940’s, and remarkably remained entirely unchanged for a period of over 50 years from 1941 to 1997. Its design features the letters MFC over a white background with a mulberry stripe, representing Castile, the former Kingdom of Spain. Atop the crest sits an ornate crown, also representative of the kingdom and the club’s royal association.

Real Madrid is undeniably one of the top brands in football worldwide, so it is fitting that their kit be produced, marketed and distributed by a top company. As such, adidas have held sole rights to all official Real Madrid Shirts, Real Madrid Training Wear, and Real Madrid Accessories since 1998.