Real Madrid

Place of Birth: 

Almansa (Albacete)

Date of Birth: 

08 June 1895

Titles Won: 

16 Leagues
6 European Cups
6 Spanish Cups
1 Intercontinental Cup
2 Latin Cups
2 World Club Championships

The greatest President in the history of the Club took office in September 1943 as the man who probably knew the Club better than anybody, having been a Club Member since the age of 15. He had been a player, team captain, Director and even coach at Real Madrid before becoming its President.

Bernabéu had an eye for spotting talent, leading him to sign some of the Club’s best-ever players such as Luis Regueiro and Alfredo di Stéfano. But he also had a gift for knowing if someone was truly a good person and he many times turned down signing excellent players because he thought they could end up being agents of discord on the squad.

The first thing Bernabéu wanted was to build a new stadium. It was inaugurated in 1947 as New Chamartín and it currently bears his name. He also promoted other sports at the Club and was a driving force behind its basketball section.

Bernabéu was also one of the creators of the European Cup (now known as the Champions League) and, during his office, Real Madrid was the only Club in the world to take part in the creation of FIFA. Santiago Bernabéu became a well-known and respected figure all over the world.

He died on 2 June 1978 during the Argentina World Cup. Such was the grief for his death that FIFA decreed three days of mourning during the championship and one minute of silence to be held in his memory –something unheard of at the time-.

The Club won the most prestigious competitions in the world with Bernabéu at its helm. European Cup, Intercontinental Cup, World Club Championship, La Liga, Spanish Cup... These are but a few of the titles the Club repeatedly won during his office.