Atleti blows out the candles in its 118-year history

More than 35 outstanding titles prove that Atlético has a past. And if we highlight that 14 of them have been raised in the last decade, there are plenty of reasons to believe in the present and in the future in both male and female. In the 1939-40 season, the first and longed-for League arrived in what was a turning point on the aspirations of the mattress entity. A campaign later they also achieved the same achievement and the Atlético brand has already expanded internationally. Then they were years of transition and internal growth until the third league title would arrive in 1949-50 and, as had happened previously, they would also repeat the same feat of repeating as leader a season later. And, subsequently, the club faced a crisis without titles until 1959-60 with the lifting of its first Copa del Rey and its second in the following campaign. His first and only International would also arrive. After a successful period, history repeated itself and they were until 1964-65 without any joy. This new League gave oxygen to the following domestic titles: 1971-72, 1975-76, 1984-85, 1990-91, 1991-92, 1995-96 and 2012-13. But that Recopa was also key in 1984-85, where the sixth Spanish Cup was won. It is no secret that since the arrival of Simeone the rojiblanco power increased: One League, two Europa League, the King's Cup, two European Super Cup and the Spanish Super Cup support the Argentine coach. Now, there are no titles since 2018-19 … A period of two years in white and that can be altered to the third. This new League would mean a before and after for the next five years. That force in Spain would be one more stimulus to take that little step forward in Europe that did occur previously. Nor should we forget the women's section and its five major titles: the 2016 Cup, the three leagues in a row between 2017 and 2019, as well as the Spanish Super Cup in January 2021 under the command of José Luis Sánchez Vera, the coach who more mark is leaving in the history of the entity.

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Atlético has been established in stability since the arrival of Diego Pablo Simeone to the club. Probably in the best stage in Atletico's history due to his continuity in achieving his goals, Cholo arrived at Atlético in December 2011 to replace Gregorio Manzano and has led the team for ten consecutive seasons. With Simeone, the team has lifted seven titles (LaLiga, two Europa League, the Copa del Rey, two European Super Cup and the Spanish Super Cup) and is fighting this year to repeat the league title despite the economic inferiority compared to Barcelona and Real Madrid . The Argentine is the coach with the most victories in the club's history (312 in 522 games) and only has Luis Aragonés ahead in direct matches (612), the two figures who have marked Atlético from the bench.

El Sabio de Hortaleza commanded the rojiblanco team in different stages, after taking charge of the dressing room for the first time, going directly from the pitch to direct those who until then were his teammates after the 1974 European Cup final. With Luis on the bench came the Intercontinental, a League, three Copas del Rey and a Spanish Super Cup. Although his last great achievement as a mattress coach was to return the team of his heart to the First Division in 2002, after two seasons in Hell and with a very young Fernando Torres as an outstanding student. The 2002-03 season, already in the place that corresponds to the team, was his last at the controls of Atlético before writing the history of gold and brilliants in the National Team.

But this has not always been the case. If Cholo has chained Atlético for more than ten years in a row, the usual thing previously was instability that caused multiple lurching in the team's leadership and even within the same season, mainly with Jesús Gil as president. With his impulsive temperament, it was normal to see up to three and four changes on the bench in the same course. After Simeone and Luis Aragonés, the only coach who led Atlético more than 200 games was Ricardo Zamora (206), between 1939 and 1946. A legendary exporter, as a coach, he led the club to its first two league titles once the Civil War ended. (in addition to a Regional Championship and a Center Federation Cup). Radomir Antic came to Atlético to command the historic Double, lifting LaLiga and the Copa del Rey in the 1995-96 season (with Simeone putting his services on the pitch). After leaving the club in 1998, he would return to try to give a push in the 1999-00 season in the fight to avoid losing the category, but not even with the Serbian did Atlético elude the Second Division. In total, Antic led the team in 189 games.

Beyond Simeone, Atlético's bench has always had the main attraction for Argentine coaches. Up to eleven have acted as rojiblancos technicians, with special mention to Helenio Herrera (120 games and two league titles), César Luis Menotti, Ovejero, Pastoriza, Cacho Heredia, Jorge D'Alessandro, a short stage of Coco Basile and already in the XXI century to Carlos Bianchi. The mythical Frederick Pentland commanded the team in 117 duels, Marcel Domingo in 102, the Brazilian Otto Gloria in 79, José Villalonga lifted a Recopa de Europa and two Copas del Rey in 73 games and Max Merkel a League and a Cup in that same number of encounters.

More recently, and after many years with few joys for the fans, Javier Aguirre and Quique Sánchez Flores took a step forward. With the Mexican Atlético returned to the Champions League and played the top European competition for the first time in the 21st century. Aguirre is the fourth coach with the most matches directed in the club's history (131). And with Quique the titles returned to the shore of the Manzanares. His Atlético won the first Europa League in history in 2010 (after changing the UEFA Cup nomenclature) and reached its first European final since the 1986 Cup Winners' Cup. Later, he would lift the European Super Cup against Inter, leaving fond memories in the 102 matches that he coached Atlético, a figure that places him in eighth place in matches directed at the club together with Rafael García 'Tinte'. A long list of coaches, to which we should add, among others, Ferdinand Daucik, Rudolf Jeny, Tomislav Ivic, Claudio Ranieri, Javier Clemente, Abel Resino, Marcos Alonso or Arrigo Sacchi on a bench in many hot years, but with Simeone He has recovered the coach-fans connection and is living a moment of glory and calm. If we talk about great coaches, we must also make special mention of José Luis Sánchez Vera. The current Atlético Femenino coach is a clear example of what it means to reinvent himself in the lower teams until reaching the first team. The League that wins in 2018-19 and the Super Cup in 2021 make him one of the most illustrious strategists in the women's section.

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In the mind of the fan, the images of their captains are related to the field draw, the photos, the bracelet and, above all, the titles won. That privilege, lifting a trophy and showing it to the world, is the most beautiful (and one of the most envied) of a task that also has its least grateful part when it comes to leading a dressing room. You have to be through thick and thin. Now it is the turn of Koke, Oblak, Giménez and Saúl, who have learned from Gabi, Godín, Torres… The Vallecano dreams of raising the League, perhaps it is not that far away. Koke inherited Godín's bracelet in 2019, which in turn had collected it a year before from Gabi, one of Atlético's historic captains. Today, the leader of the dressing room is already the second footballer who has played the most games with the rojiblanca and, With his 29 years, he will still accumulate several more seasons with the captaincy to get into the top 10 of a ranking of authentic legends.

The great captain par excellence of Atlético de Madrid was Enrique Collar. El Niño made his debut in 1953, became captain in 1959 and was until he left in 1969, to play one last season for Valencia. In that decade, the Sevillian was able to raise a League, three Cups and the Recopa of 62, successes to which he contributed with his 105 goals in 470 games, the fourth most. His heir was Calleja, then Adelardo, Ayala, Luiz Pereira … A decade with the bracelet – physical or symbolic, since this garment has not always been used – is an almost impossible feat, and of course it will take Collar to catch up at Atlético. Gabi, who succeeded Antonio López, was captain for six years, the same as Miguel Ángel Ruiz (in the 80s), Escudero (in the 50s) and Pepe Mesa (after the Civil War). Now the honor falls to Koke, athletic from the cradle and eager to lift his first title with his soul team. In the women's Atlético the captain par excellence is Amanda Sampedro. She has been at the club since the lower categories, debuted in 2008 and is captain since 2010. In addition to Amanda, other players such as Ángela Sosa and Ludmila da Silva they have also been able to perfectly interpret the club's values ​​on the pitch.

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Congratulations Atlético! The rojiblanco club turns 118 years old and has a great state of health. Sometimes ailments come to him, but he maintains that smile and that joy that makes him special. There he is, fighting for the league title, which is what his people ask of him. He has always held a privileged position in our football, but now he feels strong, confident, hungry and resourceful at the same time. The years have given him maturity and serenity. Atlético fights the league against the greats and that is excellent news for a fans that have never stopped believing. At the institutional level, the club is managing to get ahead in this stage so complicated by the pandemic. Revenues have fallen a lot, but not the competitive level. In sports, the team has some of the best footballers in Europe: Oblak, Marcos Llorente, Luis Suárez, João Félix (although the Portuguese must still perform much more). And at the social level it continues to grow, with more and more clubs, with more partners, with representation in all parts of the world. It is not easy in this season and a half where the fans have not been able to go to the stadium. But people are still there, giving warmth to theirs.

The Wanda Metropolitano is already a reference in world football and the entity continues with its project of the Sports City around the stadium, which will make it climb another step. Territorio Atleti (the new museum) delights those who visit it and the stadium has been equipped with numerous services for its fans. Atleti has ailments and it is not acceptable to see their second team as it is. Someone should give an explanation of what has happened. Top-level players have come out of that quarry. The women's team also continues to fight, although in the League it is not among the best. Atlético fell to Chelsea in the Champions League and in this sense they did miss a great night like Liverpool's, a match of those that only the rojiblanco team stars. He also said goodbye to the Cup very soon, something that Atlético fans do not like. For several seasons now, the Madrid club has not been the protagonist in the most beautiful game of the season. For the rest, congratulations Atleti for your 118 years. And congratulations to all those who make up this rojiblanco universe, from Cerezo to the last member who has just joined this fantastic and special adventure that being from Atleti means.

Koke and Adelardo congratulate the entity in AS

Some emblems such as Koke and Adelardo have wanted to send AS a special message about this anniversary. “Since I was little I dreamed of playing for Atleti. Being captain of a club with so much history is much more than I ever imagined. During these 118 years many players have contributed to writing the history of this great club and for me it is an honor to be one of them, “Koke said.

“For me playing and being from Atleti is the greatest thing that has happened to me in life. I am proud to have been part of these 118 years of history and many more that remain to be written,” said Adelardo.

Survey