Club Atlético de Madrid
Colchoneros · Madrid, Community of Madrid · LaLiga EA Sports
The most tactically distinctive big club in Spain, and the one most openly in transition.
The club
Founded on 26 April 1903 by three Basque students in Madrid as a branch of Athletic Club, which is why both clubs still wear red and white stripes. Atlético have won LaLiga eleven times and the Europa League three times, and moved to the Metropolitano in 2017 after fifty years at the Vicente Calderón. They have reached three European Cup finals without winning one.
Things worth knowing
- The nickname *Colchoneros*, mattress-makers, comes from the red-and-white stripes resembling old Spanish mattress ticking.
- The club was called Athletic Aviación de Madrid between 1939 and 1946 after merging with an air force side.
- President Jesús Gil closed the youth academy in 1992. One of the displaced 15-year-olds was Raúl, who joined Real Madrid.
- Lost the 1974, 2014 and 2016 European Cup finals, the 2014 equaliser came in the 93rd minute.