In this episode, we unravel the epic saga of Real Madrid, not just as a football club, but as a symbol of political power, national identity, and global ambition. From its humble beginnings in a backroom of a textile shop in 1902, this club grew into one of the most successful and polarizing institutions in football history.

We start with the revolutionary ideas of the club’s founders, the Padrós brothers and Julián Palacios, who believed football should belong to all social classes. Inspired by English sportsmanship and rooted in the progressive ideals of the Institución Libre de Enseñanza, Madrid FC was never just a game. It was a social project wrapped in white shirts and royal aspirations.

By 1920, King Alfonso XIII granted the club the title Real, adding the royal crown to its badge and marking its entry into the establishment. But it wasn’t until the founding of La Liga in 1929 and back-to-back titles in the early 1930s that Real Madrid stamped its dominance on the pitch.

Then came political upheaval.

Under the Spanish Republic, the club lost its Real title and its crown. During the Civil War, it stood with the Republican side, even donating to the war effort. Their stadium was repurposed into a military camp. After Franco's victory, Madrid was in ruins. Players jailed or exiled, leadership executed. And yet, from the ashes, they rebuilt.

Enter Santiago Bernabéu, a man whose name would become synonymous with greatness. He gave the club its iconic stadium and signed legends like Di Stéfano and Puskás. Under his leadership, Real Madrid became the first dynasty of European football, winning five straight European Cups in the 1950s and turning itself into a symbol of Spanish excellence on the world stage.

We also dive into the shadow of Franco. Did the dictator truly favor Real Madrid? Or did the club’s success simply serve his regime’s agenda? The 11-1 win over Barcelona in 1943, one of football’s most controversial matches, still fuels debate today. Was it intimidation? Political pressure? We break down what really happened.

Beyond the trophies, we explore the myths and legends that define the club’s soul. From Bernabéu’s famous quote about staining the shirt with mud and blood but never shame, to the iconic “Ninety minutes at the Bernabéu is a very long time” warning. These aren’t just slogans, they’re battle cries.

We travel through time:

• The rise of La Quinta del Buitre in the '80s

• The Galáctico revolution of the 2000s, with Figo, Zidane, Ronaldo, Beckham

• The Cristiano era and La Décima

• Zidane’s return and the Champions League three-peat

• The continued fight to dominate both on the pitch and in the global market

We also peel back the cultural layers: the socio system that keeps the club owned by its members, the obsession with elegance and comeback spirit, the intense rivalry with Barcelona that goes far beyond football, Castilian vs Catalan, unity vs resistance, crown vs republic.

Through dictatorship, democracy, economic booms and busts, Real Madrid has endured, and reinvented itself. It’s a club of paradoxes: revolutionary roots and royal titles, establishment power and populist pride, global fame and local tradition.

And above all, it's a club that never stops chasing greatness.

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Hala Madrid… y nada más.