1951-1960
Real Madrid turned legend into myth
in the 1950s. The Club celebrated its 50 year anniversary and signed Di Stéfano
during this magnificent decade. The arrival of the Argentine player was an
inflexion point for the Whites. The team won their first League in 21 years and
Bernabéu and Saporta played key roles in the establishment of the European Cup,
which Real Madrid won five years in a row. The crowning moment to the decade
was the Whites' victory in the first Intercontinental Cup.
Brilliant Gold Wedding Anniversary
celebration
Santiago Bernabéu's administration
spared no money and efforts to commemorate the Club's 50th anniversary. They
celebrated several acts that amounted to 20 million pesetas in cost. A
magnificent football tournament was held, but the Club didn't forget about
other sports and organised basketball, handball, chess, horse racing, wrestling
and bull fighting competitions to celebrate their Golden Wedding Anniversary.
Two extravagant Madridistas, Benito Pico and Manolo Suárez, were in charge of
organising the festivities.
Di Stéfano draws attention at
Millonarios
Millonarios Bogotá won the football
trophy in the celebration after playing against Swedish side Norrkoping and
Real Madrid. Alfredo di Stéfano showcased his great quality and speed in both
clashes at Chamartín Stadium.
Saporta, Bernabéu's great signing
General Querejeta, President of the
Spanish Basketball Association advised Bernabéu to sign Raimundo Saporta. The
latter joined the Club after he brilliantly organised the basketball
championship that took place during the 50th Anniversary celebration. From then
on, he became increasingly important for Bernabéu thanks to his excellent
management and diplomacy skills. Saporta expanded the Club's reach and became
its "brain."
The soap opera that was Di Stéfano's
signing
Alfredo Di Stéfano met Santiago
Bernabéu in March 1952 during the anniversary celebrations and his signing for
the Club resembled a soap opera in which Santiago Bernabéu, Raimundo Saporta,
Enrique Martí, Barcelona President and Technical Secretary José Samitier,
Millonarios President Alfonso Senior, River Plate President Enrique Pardo and
Spanish FA Board Member Armando Muñoz Calero played leading roles. Bernabéu's
strategy and Martí's mistakes made Di Stéfano sign for Real Madrid.
Di Stéfano's hectic debut
On 23 September 1953, Alfredo Di
Stéfano, his wife and daughters arrived in Madrid from Barcelona at 10:30 am.
As soon as he entered Madrid's Atocha Railway Station, the player went to the
Club, passed his medical exam, had lunch, left his family at the Emperatriz
Hotel, met his new teammates in the dressing room and played his first game at
3:30 pm. It was a friendly game against Nancy won by the Whites 4-2. Di Stéfano
scored his first goal as a Real Madrid player on the 67-minute mark.
Joaquín Navarro, first Spanish
player to be in an All-European FIFA team
Real Madrid's Joaquín Navarro
-outstanding defender also known as "The Fireman"- was the first
Spanish player to play in an All-European FIFA team in Wembley as part of the
90th Anniversary celebrations of the English FA.
Third League title, 23 years later
The first consequence of Alfredo di
Stéfano's signing was winning the 1953/54 League. The Club hadn't won the title
since the 1932/33 season and euphoria spread throughout Madridismo. Twenty-one
years later, fans could sing the victory chant again thanks to coach Enrique
Fernández.
Chamartín Stadium is renamed as
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
In the 4 January 1955 General
Assembly, Messrs. Zapater and Caso proposed changing the name of the stadium to
Santiago Bernabéu. The proposal was approved and the President reluctantly
accepted this honour as it was the will of the Club's voting members.
Driving force behind the creation of
the European Cup
Santiago Bernabéu was one of the
people to enthusiastically embrace the proposal of Gabriel Hanot -Chief Editor
of L'Equipe- of creating a European tournament to determine which was the best
team in the continent. On 2 April 1955, representatives of the most prestigious
football clubs in Europe heeded the call of L'Equipe Director Jacques Goddet
and met at the Ambassador Hotel in Paris. Bernabéu's leadership skills amazed
everyone at the meeting.
The European legend starts in Geneva
Real Madrid made their European Cup
debut in the competition's first edition on 8 September 1955 in Geneva against
Servette. They won 2-0 thanks to goals by Muñoz and Rial. The Madrid expedition
was greeted the day prior to the match in Lausanne by Queen Victoria Eugenia,
Don Juan and Don Juan Carlos -currently Juan Carlos I, King of Spain.
First European champions
After eliminating Servette and complicated
sides like Partizan Belgrade and Milan, Real Madrid defeated Stade Reims in the
Paris final 4-3, coming back from a 2-0 score in favour of the French side. The
trophy was a 23.2 kg, 66 cm tall amphora. The 13 June 1956 victors were: Juan
Alonso; Atienza, Marquitos, Lesmes; Muñoz, Zárraga; Joseíto, Marsal, Di
Stéfano, Rial and Gento.
The most powerful lighting system in
the world
On 18 March 1957, the Club used the
new artificial lighting system at the Bernabéu for the first time in a clash
with Brazilian side Recife. 480 lights gave 1,500 lux, much more power than
other European stadiums, such as Parc des Princes in Paris -130 lux- old
Wembley -140 lux- and Barcelona's Las Corts -350 lux. 70,000 people saw how
Real Madrid defeated Recife 5-3 in new light.
Two-time European Champion at the
Bernabéu
On 30 May 1957, 125,000 fans
witnessed how Real Madrid were crowned European champions for the second time
running at the Santiago Bernabéu after defeating Fiorentina. The Italian side's
catenaccio was responsible for the 0-0 score at the end of the first half. The
draw was kept on the score until the 70-minute mark, when Di Stéfano scored
from a penalty that came from a tackle on Mateos. Six minutes later, Gento
netted a spectacular lob that went over keeper Sarti and Real Madrid eventually
won the match 2-0. Real Madrid's starting line-up was as follows: Juan Alonso;
Torres, Marquitos, Lesmes; Muñoz, Zárraga; Kopa, Mateos, Di Stéfano, Rial and
Gento.
Di Stéfano is awarded his first
Ballon d'Or
Alfredo Di Stéfano received his
first Ballon d'Or from Jacques Ferrán, Director of France Football, on 23
January 1958. The ceremony was held at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium before the
Real Madrid-Sevilla European match scheduled for the day. Di Stéfano scored
four of the eight strikes Real Madrid tallied against the Andalusian side. Di
Stéfano was awarded the Ballon d'Or again in 1959.
Three-time European Champion
Real Madrid became European
champions for the third time at Heysel Stadium in Brussels after defeating
Milan in overtime 3-2. The extraordinary match saw both teams showcasing
professional pride. Gento's goal in overtime crowned the Whites as champions.
European kings again
Madridismo triumphed again in the
fourth European Cup final. The match was held in Stuttgart and Real Madrid
faced an old foe: Stade Reims. The Whites earned a 2-0 victory thanks to goals
by Mateos and Di Stéfano and kept their European crown. Real Madrid were
already considered as the best team in Europe.
Five-time champions
On 18 May 1960, Real Madrid won
their fifth consecutive European title in Glasgow, a feat that as of today
stands unrivalled. Hampden Park saw how the Whites defeated Eintracht Francfort
7-3, thanks to four goals by the unforgettable Puskas and three by Di Stéfano.
First Intercontinental Cup champions
Libertadores Cup champions Peñarol
Montevideo played against European champions Real Madrid in the first
Intercontinental Cup. The first leg was held in the Uruguayan capital and ended
with a 0-0 draw. The second leg took place at the Bernabéu on 4 September 1960
and Real Madrid won 5-1. The starting line-up was as follows: Domínguez;
Marquitos, Santamaría, Pachín; Vidal, Zárraga; Herrera, Del Sol, Di Stéfano,
Puskas and Gento.
Source : http://www.realmadrid.com
