Club Atlético de Madrid. Club of the people. With a team full of ‘bastards’. And authentic cojones. The only club that really gives Real and Barça a hard time, and also does well in Europe. A great club to bet on.
Betting on Atlético Madrid is a weekly favourite of many people. This is because in Spanish football, there are of course other successful football clubs besides Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.
The most eye-catching is undoubtedly Atlético Madrid. City rival of ‘the Royal’ and a real club of the people. Time to tell you everything you want to know about Los Rojiblancos and, of course, how and where to bet on Atlético Madrid on Mobile Wins.
History of Atlético Madrid
The nice thing about betting on Atlético Madrid is that when you place your bet you don’t dwell on the fact that the club is over 100 years old. Indeed, like many other clubs, Atlético Madrid’s first steps can be found at the turn of the 1900s.
In 1903, three Basque students in Madrid decided to found a football club. They had just seen their youth club Athletic Bilbao win the Copa del Rey, and saw their own club as a kind of youth branch of that club. A year later, some dissidents from the also newly formed Real Madrid joined.
The club started in blue and white shirts, just like Athletic Bilbao. By 1911, however, both clubs were playing in the now-famous red and white striped.
One explanation is that those shirts were the easiest to make, like mattresses. Hence that other nickname, Los Colchoneros (The Mattresses). Another explanation is that they normally came to buy shirts from Blackburn Rovers.
On one occasion, however, a board member could not find those shirts. So he allegedly bought the old shirts from Southampton FC, the port city where you arrive in England from Spain.
First big stadium, first prices
The club’s first home was on the south side of Madrid, in the working-class area. In 1921, the club was suddenly able to move to the Estadio Metropolitano de Madrid stadium, which could accommodate 35,800 spectators.
The few years before, Athletic Madrid, as it was still called, had often finished second behind Real Madrid in the regional championship. Fans of betting on Atlético Madrid are not unfamiliar with that roll call.
In 1920-21, they finally won the Campeonato Regional Centro and made it to the final of the Copa del Rey. They eventually lost that one to their ‘parent club’ Athletic Bilbao. In 1925 and 1928 they also won the regional championship, and in 1926 they lost the cup final against FC Barcelona.
First steps and first championship in La Liga
In 1928, La Liga was created by the Spanish Football Association. Athletic Madrid was also invited to join. In the first season, they finished a respectable sixth out of the 10 competing clubs (FC Barcelona champion).
The following season they came last and the club was relegated to the Segunda División however. In 1934, the club returned to the highest level after four years. Two seasons later, they were officially relegated again. The Spanish Civil War (and three-year hiatus) however allowed the club to stay in La Liga.
By 1939, Athletic Madrid had merged with Aviación Nacional from Zaragoza to become Athletic Aviación de Madrid. Under legendary coach Ricardo Zamora, the club immediately became national champions in the first La Liga after the Civil War.
Sevilla and Athletic Bilbao were narrowly trounced. The following season (football continued in Spain in WWII), the club prolonged its title.
Name becomes Atlético Madrid, more national titles
In 1941, dictator Francisco Franco decided that no more foreign names or terms should appear in sports clubs. Therefore, Athletic Aviación de Madrid was renamed Atlético Aviación de Madrid.
In 1947, the club also decided to remove the military association (with the air force), and adopt the current name: Club Atlético de Madrid. With which, betting on Atlético Madrid was well and truly given its official baptism of fire.
Having won two national titles, Atlético Madrid were strong in the 40s. They were third five times and second once behind mainly Valencia and FC Barcelona however.
In 1949, Argentine Frenchman Helenio Herrera was appointed coach. He led Atlético Madrid to great heights, winning La Liga titles in 1950 and 1951. Herrera would later become two more national champions with FC Barcelona and win the European Cup I twice with Internazionale (1964-1965).
Lagging behind Real Madrid, and reemergence to the top
With Herrera’s departure in 1953, the club fell into sporting decline. Atlético Madrid dropped to eighth, ninth place in La Liga. In the late 1950s, Real Madrid crowned themselves king of Europe, but Atlético also started to come back somewhat.
In 1958, they finished second in La Liga behind Real Madrid and in 1960, Atlético Madrid won its first Copa del Rey. When a club takes a prize for the very first time, it is often at favourable odds. Betting on Atlético Madrid as cup winners will have paid off nicely at the time.
In 1961, they took the Spanish Cup again and were allowed to go to the newly created European Cup Winners’ Cup. After wins over Leicester City and Werder Bremen, among others, they reached the final against Fiorentina in Glasgow, Scotland just like that, on 10 May 1962.
That match ended 1-1 and therefore there had to be a replay. It wasn’t until 5 September that it happened, and in Stuttgart, Atlético Madrid won 3-0. Again, betting on Atlético Madrid will have been at favourable odds.
The European prize was extra sweet for the club, as city rival and rival Real Madrid had not yet won it. Moreover, Atlético won the prize under coach José Villalonga, a former Real Madrid coach.
A year later, Atlético was again in the final of the European Cup II, but went down against Tottenham Hotspur (5-1). It would be the winners’ curse, as no club managed to win this prize twice in a row.
Atlético Madrid the best after Real Madrid
Atlético Madrid did manage to win La Liga in 1966, in the year Real Madrid won its sixth European Cup. That same year, Atlético Madrid moved to the new Estadio Vicente Calderón, where they would play until 2017.
So, after the 1970 title, Atlético Madrid got to go to the European Cup I. In the semi-finals, they still made things very difficult for Ajax with a 1-0 win in the first game. After a 3-0 win, however, Ajax still went to the final, which it also won over Panathinaikos.
Also in 1970, the title went to southern Madrid. It was the time of the top duo Luis Aragonés/José Eulogio Gárate. For ten years, they would alternate being club top scorers.
Between 1961 and 1980, Real Madrid was by far the best club in Spain. Not even Johan Cruijff could change that between 1973-1978 with FC Barcelona.
Loss against Bayern München, first era of Aragonés
Three years after the 1970 national title, Atlético would become champions again and be allowed to go to the European Cup I. Ajax had just won the title three times in a row, but then, unfortunately for Atlético, Bayern Munich‘s hegemony began.
Argentine-tinged Atlético Madrid took the lead in the 114th minute (extension) through a goal by Aragonés. In the last minute (typical German?) however Bayern equalised. Betting on Atlético Madrid as the winner then no doubt caused a lot of furiously torn betting forms. In the replay two days later, Bayern Munich were far too strong with a 4-0 win.
Immediately after that season, Luis Aragonés became coach of the club. Bayern Munich could not compete in the Intercontinental Cup, the competition between the champions of Europe and South America, due to a busy schedule. So Atlético Madrid was allowed to play the match and promptly they beat Argentina’s Independiente. They had lost to Ajax as recently as 1972 and won to Juventus in 1973. Aragonés grabbed another Copa del Rey with Atlético Madrid in 1976 and the eighth national title in history in 1977.
Second era of Aragonés and acquisition by Jesús Gil
Luis Aragonés had already been coach from 1974-1978, 1979-1980. In 1982, he returned for four years at Atlético Madrid. During those years, he had top striker Hugo Sanchez, who would unfortunately celebrate his greatest successes at rival Real Madrid from 1985 onwards.
In 1985 they did reach second place in La Liga and win the Copa del Rey. So the club was again allowed to go to the European Cup Winners’ Cup. However, they lost their third European final in a row, this time to Dynamo Kiev. Thus, betting on Atlético Madrid as a prize-winner in a European context remained a hard laugh.
In 1987, controversial politician and businessman Jesús Gil became owner/president of the club. He spent heavily on transfers, but could not compete with Johan Cruijff’s FC Barcelona.
Moreover, he closed the youth academy in 1992, leaving a certain 15-year-old Raúl Gonzalez Blanco to Real Madrid. The club won the Copa del Rey in 1991 and 1992, but failed to win the La Liga title.
Yet, by the mid-1990s, the much-desired success did come. In 1994-1995, Atlético finished 14th and just missed out on relegation. With an almost completely new group of players, Atlético surprisingly became Spanish champions the following year and won the cup.
Four years later, the club would still be relegated. From relegation candidate to champion in one year however…. You can imagine what that did to the odds for outright winner when betting on Atlético Madrid.
Success under Diego Simeone
Atlético Madrid returned to the Primera División in 2002, in Luis Aragonés’ fourth coaching spell. A few years after Jesús Gil’s departure also came the great successes we know of in recent years.
In 2009, Quique Sánchez Flores became coach and he led the club to wins in the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup.
In December 2011, former player Diego Simeone became coach. That season, he immediately won the Europa League with Atlético Madrid and then the UEFA Super Cup.
In 2013, he won the Copa del Rey and in 2014 a handsome national title in Spain. Bhey had to leave the Champions League to arch-rival Real Madrid in the final.
Simeone would remain loyal to Atlético Madrid for a long time and lead them to new successes: the Supercopa de España in 2014, the Europa League and UEFA Super Cup in 2018, the national championship in 2020-2021 and always a top-three finish and thus Champions League football. The Simeone period has undeniably ensured that betting on Atlético Madrid has become a very realistic choice.
Club icons of Atlético Madrid
During and just after World War II was Atlético Madrid’s first period of success. Ricardo Zamora and Helenio Herrera were very successful as coaches with both winning two national titles. Adrián Escudero was one of the contributing players at the time, as were Machín and Ramón Gabilondo.
Two cup wins and the European Cup II followed in the 1960s under coach José Villalonga. Key players were Enrique Collar, Feliciano Rivilla, Isacio Calleja and Adelardo Rodríguez. Of course also the duo José Eulogio Gárate and club top scorer Luis Aragonés, with the latter also going on to become a successful coach.
In the last 15 years, successes have mainly been achieved under former player and now trainer Diego Simeone. The best-known (former) players include Fernando Torres, Sergio Agüero, Gabi, Diego Forlan, Raul Garcia, Koke, Diego Godín, Juanfran, Filipe Luís, Antoine Griezmann and Saúl.
Rivals Atlético Madrid
In terms of prizes, they are still below those other two Spanish clubs. For city rivals Real Madrid (El Derbi Madrileño) and FC Barcelona, Atléti is a formidable rival. In European football, they don’t specifically have a rival, but they do encounter Premier League clubs very often.
In recent years, they often switch opponents from the Bundesliga. No matter who they play against in which league, there is always value in betting on Atlético Madrid.
Looking back at Atlético Madrid’s season 2021/2022
Fans had probably hoped for more from last season. Atlético Madrid however threw away title chances especially in December with four defeats in a row.
There were also early eliminations in the Copa del Rey and Supercopa de España. In the Champions League, though, the club cleverly survived a pool of death.
They finished second behind Liverpool, above Porto and AC Milan. After a win over Manchester United, a loss against Manchester City unfortunately followed in the quarter-finals.
Looking ahead at Atlético Madrid’s upcoming season 2022/2023
It will be another tough season for Atlético Madrid in La Liga, with strong Real Madrid and fiercely strengthened FC Barcelona. When betting on football, however, anything can happen. You can bet (live) on Atlético Madrid in La Liga, the Champions League and Copa del Rey.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the significance of the Madrid Derby?
The Madrid Derby refers to the matches between Atlético Madrid and their city rivals, Real Madrid. It’s one of the most intense and storied rivalries in football, showcasing the fierce competition between the two Madrid-based clubs.
What is the club’s motto and what does it mean?
Atlético Madrid’s motto is “Coraje y Corazón,” which translates to “Courage and Heart.” It reflects the team’s fighting spirit and determination that have become part of the club’s identity over the years.
What are Atlético Madrid’s team colors?
Atlético Madrid’s team colors are red and white. They are commonly known as the “Los Colchoneros,” which translates to “The Mattress Makers.”
How does Atlético Madrid’s history impact Spanish football culture?
Atlético Madrid’s history, passionate fanbase, and successes contribute to the vibrant tapestry of Spanish football culture. The club’s resilience, competitiveness, and rivalry with Real Madrid enrich the football narrative in Spain.
When was Atlético Madrid founded?
Atlético Madrid, officially known as Club Atlético de Madrid, was founded on April 26, 1903.
