History of Atlético Madrid in Timeline
Atlético Madrid, often called Atlético or Atleti, is a professional Spanish football club located in Madrid. They compete in La Liga and play their home matches at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, a stadium that holds over 70,000 fans. The club is a significant force in Spanish football.
April 1903: Club Founded by Basque Students
In April 1903, Athletic Club Sucursal de Madrid was founded by three Basque students living in Madrid.
April 1903: Club Foundation
On April 26, 1903, Athletic Club Sucursal de Madrid was founded as a branch of Athletic Club (Bilbao).
1904: Joined by Dissident Members of Real Madrid
In 1904, Athletic Club Sucursal de Madrid was joined by dissident members of Real Madrid.
1909: Failed Blackburn kits purchase
In late 1909, Juan Elorduy, a former player and member of the board of Athletic Madrid, went to England to buy "Blackburn Rovers" blue and white kits for both teams but failed to find any to purchase.
1910: Adoption of Red and White Striped Shirts
By 1910, both Athletic Bilbao and Athletic Club Sucursal de Madrid were playing in red and white striped shirts.
1911: Copa del Rey Win with Borrowed Players
In 1911, Athletic Bilbao won the Copa del Rey Final using several 'borrowed' players from Athletic Madrid, including Manolón who scored one of their goals.
1919: Land Acquisition near Ciudad Universitaria
In 1919, the Compañía Urbanizadora Metropolitana acquired land near the Ciudad Universitaria.
1921: Move to Estadio Metropolitano de Madrid
In 1921, Athletic Madrid became independent of parent-club Athletic Bilbao and moved into the Estadio Metropolitano de Madrid.
1921: Copa del Rey Runners-Up
In 1921, Athletic were Copa del Rey runners-up, facing Athletic Bilbao.
1926: Copa del Rey Runners-Up
In 1926, Athletic were Copa del Rey runners-up, facing Athletic Bilbao.
1928: Invitation to Inaugural La Liga
In 1928, Athletic were invited to join the Primera División of the inaugural La Liga played the following year.
1934: Brief Return to La Liga
In 1934, Athletic briefly returned to La Liga.
1936: Relegation from La Liga
In 1936, Athletic were relegated from La Liga after Josep Samitier took over in mid-season from Fred Pentland.
1937: Aviación Nacional Founded
In 1937, Aviación Nacional was founded by three aviation officers of the Spanish Air Force.
November 1939: Playoff win against Osasuna
On November 26, 1939, Aviación won 3–1 in a match against Osasuna.
1939: Merger with Club Aviación Nacional
In 1939, Athletic Club Sucursal de Madrid merged with Club Aviación Nacional.
September 1940: Super cup in Spanish football Win
In September 1940, Atlético Aviación won the first Super cup in Spanish football after beating RCD Español.
1941: La Liga Title Retained
In 1941, Atlético Aviación retained their La Liga title.
December 1946: Club Name Change
On December 14, 1946, the club decided to drop the military association from its name, and shortly after, on 6 January, it settled on its current name of Club Atlético de Madrid.
1946: Name Change to Atlético de Madrid
In 1946, following the merger with Club Aviación Nacional, the club officially changed its name to Atlético de Madrid.
1947: Victory over Real Madrid
In 1947, Atlético beat Real Madrid 5–0 at the Metropolitano.
1950: La Liga Title Win
In 1950, Atlético won La Liga again under Helenio Herrera.
1951: La Liga Title Win
In 1951, Atlético won La Liga again under Helenio Herrera.
1953: Departure of Helenio Herrera
With the departure of Herrera in 1953, the club began to slip behind Real Madrid and Barcelona.
1957: Ferdinand Daučík Takes Charge
In the 1957–58 season Ferdinand Daučík took charge of Atlético.
1958: European Cup Debut
In 1958, Atlético Madrid made its debut in the European Cup.
1958: Second Place in La Liga and European Cup Qualification
In the 1957-58 season Atlético finished in second place in La Liga, qualifying for the 1958–59 European Cup.
1960: Copa del Rey Win
In 1960, Atlético defeated Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final.
1961: UEFA Cup Winners' Cup Entry
In 1961, Atlético Madrid entered the UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
1961: Copa del Rey Win
In 1961, Atlético defeated Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey final.
1961: La Liga Runners-Up
In 1961, Atlético finished as La Liga runners-up.
1961: First European Title
In 2010, Atletico Madrid wins Europa League which marked the first time since the 1961-62 European Cup Winners' Cup that Atlético had claimed a European title.
1962: European Cup Winners' Cup Victory
In 1962, Atlético Madrid won the European Cup Winners' Cup.
1963: Inter-Cities Fairs Cup Entry
In 1963, Atlético Madrid entered the Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.
1963: La Liga Runners-Up
In 1963, Atlético finished as La Liga runners-up.
1963: European Cup Winners' Cup Final Loss
In 1963, Atlético reached the European Cup Winners' Cup final, but lost to Tottenham Hotspur 5–1.
1965: La Liga Runners-Up and First Win at Bernabéu in Eight Years
In 1965, Atlético finished as La Liga runners-up and became the first team to beat Real Madrid at the Bernabéu in eight years.
October 1966: Inauguration of Vicente Calderón Stadium
On October 2, 1966, Atlético inaugurated the Vicente Calderón Stadium with a fixture against Valencia.
1969: José Eulogio Gárate Wins Pichichi
In 1969, José Eulogio Gárate won the Pichichi.
1970: José Eulogio Gárate Wins Pichichi
In 1970, José Eulogio Gárate won the Pichichi.
1971: José Eulogio Gárate Wins Pichichi
In 1971, José Eulogio Gárate won the Pichichi.
1973: La Liga Title
After winning La Liga in 1973, the club reached the 1974 European Cup Final.
1974: UEFA Champions League Final
In 1974, Atlético Madrid reached the UEFA Champions League final.
1974: Loss in European Cup Final
In 1974, Atlético lost the European Cup Final against Bayern Munich after a replay.
1974: Appointment of Luis Aragonés as Coach and Intercontinental Cup Win
In 1974, shortly after the defeat in the European Cup Final, Atlético appointed Luis Aragonés as coach and subsequently won the Intercontinental Cup.
1976: Copa del Rey Victory
In 1976, Aragonés led the club to success in the Copa del Rey.
1977: La Liga Victory
In 1977, Aragonés led the club to success in La Liga.
1980: End of Real Madrid Dominance Era
Between 1961 and 1980, Real Madrid dominated La Liga, winning the competition 14 times.
1980: Aragonés' First Coaching Spell Ends
In 1980, Luis Aragonés' first spell as coach of Atlético Madrid came to an end.
1982: Aragonés Returns as Coach
In 1982, Luis Aragonés began his second spell as coach of Atlético Madrid.
1985: Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España Win
In 1985, Aragonés led Atlético to a runners-up finish in La Liga, a Copa del Rey win against Athletic Bilbao, and a Supercopa de España win.
1986: European Cup Winners' Cup Final Loss
In 1986, Atlético lost their third successive European final, this time 3–0 to Dynamo Kyiv in the European Cup Winners' Cup final.
1987: Transformation to S.A.D.
After 1987, Jesús Gil oversaw the transformation from sports club to sociedad anónima deportiva (S.A.D.).
1987: Jesús Gil became club president
In 1987, Jesús Gil, a controversial politician and businessman, became the club president of Atlético Madrid.
1987: End of Aragonés' Second Coaching Spell
In 1987, Luis Aragonés' second spell as coach of Atlético Madrid ended.
1991: Copa del Rey trophy
In 1991, Atlético Madrid won one Copa del Rey trophy.
1991: Aragonés Returns as Coach
In 1991, Luis Aragonés began another spell as coach of Atlético Madrid.
1992: Atlético's conversion to Sociedad Anónima Deportiva
In 1992, Atlético Madrid went through a forced conversion from a fan-owned club to a Sociedad Anónima Deportiva, during which Jesús Gil seized 95% of the shares.
1992: Copa del Rey trophy
In 1992, Atlético Madrid won one Copa del Rey trophy.
1992: Conversion to Sports Limited Company
In 1992, Spain’s new Sports Law forced Atlético Madrid to convert into a sports limited company. Jesús Gil and Enrique Cerezo seized control of the club without paying.
1993: End of Aragonés' Coaching Spell
In 1993, Luis Aragonés' spell as coach of Atlético Madrid ended.
1994: Avoided relegation
In the 1994 league campaign, Atlético Madrid narrowly avoided relegation via a draw on the last day of the season.
1995: 1995-96 league
According to Spanish football writer Andy West, Atlético fans came to quickly to embrace Simeone, especially in light of his role as a pivotal player in their 1995-96 league and cup double.
1995: Managerial change and squad clearance
Following a close call with relegation in 1994, 1995 saw another managerial change at Atlético Madrid, along with a significant squad clearance during the summer transfer window.
1996: La Liga and Copa del Rey Double
In 1996, Atlético Madrid won both the La Liga title and the Copa del Rey.
1996: Qualified for the UEFA Champions League
The 2007-08 season proved to be the most successful season for Atlético in the past decade. The team finished the league season in fourth place, qualifying for the UEFA Champions League for the first time since the 1996–97 season.
1997: UEFA Champions League Debut
In 1997, Atlético Madrid took part in the UEFA Champions League for the first time.
1998: Arrigo Sacchi appointed manager
In the summer of 1998, Arrigo Sacchi replaced Antić as manager of Atlético Madrid, though he remained in the managerial position for less than six months.
December 1999: Suspension of Gil and board
In December 1999, Jesús Gil and his board were suspended pending an investigation into the misuse of club funds, with José Manuel Rubí appointed as administrator.
1999: Claudio Ranieri appointed manager
In 1999, Antić returned briefly before Claudio Ranieri was appointed as manager at the end of the season.
1999: Charges of Fraud and Embezzlement
In 1999, Jesús Gil, Enrique Cerezo, and Miguel Ángel Gil were charged with fraud and embezzlement. However, the statute of limitations had expired.
2000: Relegation to Segunda División
In 2000, despite reaching the Copa del Rey final, Atlético Madrid were relegated to the Segunda División.
2001: Nike Kit Sponsorship
Since 2001, Atlético Madrid's kit has been made by Nike.
2002: Aragonés Returns as Coach
In 2002, Luis Aragonés began another spell as coach of Atlético Madrid.
2002: La Liga debut of Fernando Torres
In 2002, Luis Aragonés gave Fernando Torres his La Liga debut, marking the start of Torres' successful career with the club.
2002: Promotion to Primera División
In 2002, under manager Luis Aragonés, Atlético Madrid won the Segunda División championship and were promoted back to the Primera División.
May 2003: Jesús Gil's resignation
In May 2003, controversial politician and businessman Jesús Gil resigned as club president of Atlético Madrid, after running the club since 1987.
July 2003: Chelsea's offer for Torres rejected
In July 2003, soon after Roman Abramovich took over Chelsea, Chelsea offered £28 million for Fernando Torres, which was rejected by Atlético Madrid.
2003: King Felipe VI becomes Honorary President
In 2003, King Felipe VI became the Honorary President of Atlético Madrid.
2003: End of Aragonés' Coaching Spell
In 2003, Luis Aragonés' spell as coach of Atlético Madrid ended.
2003: Columbia Pictures Sponsorship
In its 2003–04 season, Atlético Madrid was sponsored by Columbia Pictures, who would change the shirt sponsor's logo. Films included Columbia Picture's 2004 film White Chicks.
2003: Cerezo Becomes President
Since 2003, Enrique Cerezo has served as the president of Atlético Madrid, while Miguel Ángel Gil Marín has been the chief executive officer.
2004: Spider-Man 2 Sponsorship
In 2004, Atlético Madrid had Columbia Pictures as a sponsor and as such their away shirt was the logo of Spider-Man 2.
2006: Signing of Costinha, Maniche, and Agüero
In 2006, Atlético Madrid signed Portuguese midfielders Costinha and Maniche, as well as Argentine forward Sergio Agüero.
July 2007: Torres leaves the club for Liverpool
In July 2007, Fernando Torres left Atlético Madrid and signed with Liverpool for €38 million.
July 2007: Agreement to move to Olympic Stadium
In July 2007, the Atlético Madrid board reached an agreement with the City of Madrid to sell the land where their stadium was located and move the club to the City-owned Olympic Stadium.
2007: Champions League and UEFA Europa League
From the 2007–08 season, Atlético Madrid has taken part in either the Champions League or the UEFA Europa League every year.
February 2009: Dismissal of Javier Aguirre
On February 3, 2009, Javier Aguirre was dismissed from his post as manager of Atlético Madrid after a poor start to the season.
October 2009: Quique Sánchez Flores appointed manager
In October 2009, after a 4–0 defeat to Chelsea in the Champions League and the departure of Abel Resino, Atlético Madrid appointed Quique Sánchez Flores as the new manager for the remainder of the season.
2009: UEFA Super Cup Entry
In 2009, Atlético Madrid entered the UEFA Super Cup.
2009: Koke begins playing for Atlético Madrid
Since 2009, Koke has played in more than 700 matches for Atlético Madrid.
May 2010: Europa League Champion
On May 12, 2010, Atlético Madrid won the Europa League, beating Fulham 2–1 in the final held at HSH Nordbank Arena in Hamburg, with Diego Forlán scoring twice.
August 2010: UEFA Super Cup Win
On August 27, 2010, Atlético Madrid won the UEFA Super Cup against Inter Milan with a 2–0 victory at the Stade Louis II in Monaco.
2010: Disappointing season
Atlético Madrid had a comparatively disappointing 2010–11 season, finishing only seventh in the League and being eliminated in the quarter-finals of the Copa del Rey and the group stage of the Europa League.
2010: UEFA Europa League and Super Cup Victory
In 2010, Atlético Madrid won the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup.
December 2011: Diego Simeone appointed as manager
On December 23, 2011, Atlético Madrid appointed their former Argentine player, Diego Simeone, as manager, replacing Gregorio Manzano.
May 2012: Europa League win
On May 9, 2012, Atlético Madrid, led by Diego Simeone, won their second Europa League title in three years, defeating Athletic Bilbao 3–0 in the final.
August 2012: UEFA Super Cup victory
On August 31, 2012, Atlético Madrid won the UEFA Super Cup against Chelsea with a 4–1 victory, including a hat-trick by Falcao.
2012: Shirt Sponsorship by Azerbaijan
Between 2012 and 2014, Atlético Madrid's main shirt sponsorship by the government of Azerbaijan, featuring the slogan 'Land of Fire', was condemned by Reporters Without Borders.
2012: UEFA Europa League and Super Cup Victory
In 2012, Atlético Madrid won the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup.
May 2013: Copa del Rey victory
On May 17, 2013, Atlético Madrid beat Real Madrid 2–1 in the Copa del Rey final, ending a 14-year winless streak in the Madrid derby.
May 2013: Copa del Rey Victory Over Real Madrid
On May 17, 2013, Atlético Madrid ended a 14-year winless streak against Real Madrid by beating them 2–1 in the Copa del Rey final at the Santiago Bernabéu.
September 2013: Victory Against Real Madrid in La Liga
On September 29, 2013, Atlético Madrid continued their success against Real Madrid with a 1–0 victory at the Bernabéu.
July 2014: Antoine Griezmann Joins Atlético Madrid
In July 2014, Antoine Griezmann transferred to Atlético Madrid from Real Sociedad after a standout season and participation in the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Griezmann became Atlético's top scorer for five consecutive seasons, establishing himself as a world-class player.
August 2014: Criticism of Azerbaijan Sponsorship
In August 2014, the Helsinki Foundation for Human Rights called on Atlético Madrid to end the sponsorship by Azerbaijan due to the country's human rights record.
2014: Expulsion of Frente Atlético
In 2014, Atlético Madrid expelled Frente Atlético and prohibited the display of its symbols in the stadium.
2014: UEFA Champions League Final
In 2014, Atlético Madrid reached the UEFA Champions League final.
2015: Wanda Group Purchases Stake
In 2015, the Chinese conglomerate Wanda Group purchased a 17% stake in Atlético Madrid.
2016: Champions League Final Loss to Real Madrid
In 2016, Atlético Madrid faced Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League final and lost.
2016: Champions League Final Loss and Ballon d'Or Ranking
In 2016, Atlético Madrid reached the Champions League final for the second time in three seasons, facing Real Madrid and losing on penalties after a 1–1 draw. Antoine Griezmann also finished as the top scorer at UEFA Euro 2016 and placed third in the Ballon d'Or rankings.
2016: UEFA Champions League Final
In 2016, Atlético Madrid reached the UEFA Champions League final.
2016: Champions League Knockout Phase Upset
In 2016, Atlético Madrid upset Barcelona in the Champions League knockout phase.
2016: Stadium bought by the club
In 2016, the City-owned Olympic Stadium changed hands and was bought by Atlético Madrid for €30.4 million.
2016: Club badge remodeling
In 2016, the club's badge which was firstly introduced in 1917 featuring the Coat of arms of Madrid, then incorporated into the club's jersey from 1947, was remodeled.
2016: Revenue Generated
In the 2016–17 season, Atlético Madrid generated revenue of €272.5 million, making it the third-highest-grossing football club in Spain.
2016: Failed Bid to Host Summer Olympic
The Riyadh Air Metropolitano was expanded from a 20,000 seat capacity (when it was known as La Peineta) to 68,000 after it was used for Madrid's failed bid to host the 2016 Summer Olympic.
May 2017: Last Game at Vicente Calderón Stadium
On May 21, 2017, Atlético Madrid played their last home game at the Vicente Calderón Stadium, marking the end of an era before moving to their new home, the Wanda Metropolitano.
2017: UEFA Europa League
In 2017, Atletico Madrid participated in the UEFA Europa League.
2017: End of Partnership with Atlético de Kolkata
In 2017, Atlético Madrid ended its partnership with the Indian Super League (ISL) franchise in Kolkata, formerly named Atlético de Kolkata.
2017: Quantum Pacific Group Acquires Stake
In 2017, Quantum Pacific Group acquired a 15% stake in Atlético Madrid.
October 2018: First Academy in Pakistan
In October 2018, Atletico De Madrid announced their first academy in Pakistan which was based in Lahore, which was the first European football academy in Pakistan.
2018: Europa League and UEFA Super Cup Victories
In 2018, Atlético Madrid won the Europa League final 3–0 against Marseille at the Stade de Lyon. Following that, Atlético won the UEFA Super Cup, defeating Real Madrid 4–2 at the Lilleküla Arena in Tallinn.
2018: UEFA Europa League and Super Cup Victory
In 2018, Atlético Madrid won the UEFA Europa League and the UEFA Super Cup.
April 2019: "Football School Program" launched in Lahore
In April 2019, Atletico De Madrid launched "Football School Program" in Lahore.
October 2019: Talent scouting in Lahore
In October 2019, Atletico De Madrid conducted talent scouting in Lahore.
2019: Griezmann's Departure to Barcelona
In 2019, Antoine Griezmann controversially departed from Atlético Madrid to join Barcelona.
2020: Luis Suárez's Move to Atlético
In 2020, Luis Suárez moved to Atlético Madrid and played a crucial role in the team's championship run.
May 2021: La Liga Title Secured
On May 22, 2021, Atlético Madrid secured the La Liga title with a 2–1 victory against Valladolid at the José Zorrilla Stadium.
2021: Capital Increase and Shareholding
After a 2021 capital increase, Gil Marín, Cerezo, and Ares Management hold 66.98% of Atlético Madrid shares through 'Atlético HoldCo'.
2021: Griezmann's Return to Atlético Madrid
In 2021, Antoine Griezmann returned to Atlético Madrid amid Barcelona's financial struggles.
June 2023: Vote to Reinstate Historical Badge
On June 30, 2023, a vote revealed that 88.68% of club members wanted to reinstate the historical badge.
2023: Alternative kit origin location
An investigation in 2023 proposed an alternative kit origin location as Sunderland, whose team also wore those colours.
2023: Revenue Generated
In the 2023–24 season, it ranked 12th in Europe with €409.5 million.
July 2024: Historical Badge Reinstatement
On July 1, 2024, the historical badge will be represented.
January 2025: Atlético Madrid ranks 16th on Instagram
As of January 2025, Atlético Madrid ranked 16th in the top 20 most popular sports clubs on Instagram worldwide.
November 2025: Apollo Sports Capital Acquisition Announced
In November 2025, Apollo Sports Capital, a United States-based investment firm, would acquire a controlling stake in Atlético Madrid, with the transaction expected to be finalized in the first quarter of 2026.
March 2026: Apollo Sports Capital Acquisition
On 12 March 2026, Atletico Madrid announced that Apollo Sports Capital had completed the acquisition of a majority stake in the club.
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