Real Madrid and Santiago Bernabeu Stadium
For most visiting football fans, Madrid means only one thing: Real Madrid. Established in 1902 and having obtained the royal seal (and incorporated the Spanish crown into its official emblem) in 1920, Real Madrid has developed into the most successful European club of all time. They have won a record number of Spanish league titles and European Cups and in 2000, were named by FIFA as the world's best football club of the XX century. None of this glory has waned in the new century, as many of the world's very best players have called Real's famous Bernabeu stadium home, including Zinedine Zidane, David Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Luis Figo, bringing with them a new swag of Spanish and European titles.
Situated on wide, tree-lined Paseo de la Castellana, Bernabeu is one of European football's premier stadiums to visit, a prestigious venue that since its inauguration in 1947, has hosted the biggest occasions in the game, including the finals of the Spanish Cup, European Championships, Champions League and World Cup. One of the earliest triumphs of super stadium architecture, this 85,000 seat footballing mecca offers fans an unforgettable experience, with the atmosphere on major occasions being truly electric.