Real Madrid Greatest all-time team
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2016 Champion's league
This is my selection of a 25 member all-time team for Real Madrid. The number 25 was chosen because it is the official squad size for the Champions' League.
Real Madrid is the most successful club in soccer's history. They have won more titles in Europe than any other clubs. Led by President Santiago Bernabeu, the club began to dominate European football during the 1950's. They won five straight European Cup between 1956 and 1960. The team that beat Eintracht Frankfurt in 1960 was widely considered to be greatest club in history. At the time of writing, they won a record of 12 European Cups/Champions' league titles. They won a record 6 European Cups, and after the European Champions League became the Champions' League, they won 5 more, also a record for the competition.
2001 Champions' League
The Team
GK: Ricardo Zamora (Spain)
The first ever star goalkeeper in history. He is also remembered for a spectacular last minute save he made in the 1936 Copa de España final while playing for Real Madrid against FC Barcelona. The award for the best goalkeeper in La Liga, the Ricardo Zamora Trophy, is named in his honour and he was voted one of the greatest players of the 20th century by World Soccer magazine. He was also Spain's most capped player for 45 years.
GK: Iker Casillas (Spain)
Iker Casillas is Spain's most decorated goalkeeper and widely considered to be one of the greatest ever goalkeepers. He spent 16 seasons with Real Madrid and won three Champions' League with Real Madrid. For Spain, he captained Spain into winning the World Cup in 2010 and two European Championships in 2008 and 2012. He is capped over 150 times between 2000 and 2016, appearing in every major tournaments in that period. He also played for Porto at the end of his career.
Casillas and the 2015 Champions' League
GK: Franisco Buyo (Spain)
Franisco Buyo at the time of his retirement was the third highest keeper in La Liga appearance record. He spent over a decade with Real Madrid (1986-1997), winning 13 titles with them. Before Real Madrid, he played for Mallorca, Deportive La Coruna and Seville. He earned 7 caps for Spain between 1983 and 1992. He went to the European Championship of 1984 and 1988 as a backup.
CB/RB: Sergio Ramos (Spain)
Sergio Ramos is a part of the all-conquering Spanish team that won the 2010 World Cup and two European Championships in 2008 and 2012. He is the youngest player ever to receive his 100th caps. He joined Real Madrid as a teenager from Sevilla. He scored the tying goal as Real Madrid won their 10th European Cup in 2014. He also won his second Champions' League title by scoring a goal in the 2016 Final. In 2018, he won his fourth Champions League Cup with Real Madrid..
Sergio Ramos
RB: Chendo (Spain)
Chendo was a product of Real Madrid academy. He played his entire career with Real Madrid. He won 17 major trophies with the club. He was a part of the team that won back-to-back UEFA Cup titles in the mid-1980's. He retired after the 1998 European Champions' League Final. He had 26 caps for Spain. He represented them at both World Cup Finals in 1986 and 1990.
CB: Jose Santamaria (Uruguay)
Jose Santamaria was a member of Real Madrid's all-conquering team of the late 1950's. He spent his 18-year career with Nacional and Real Madrid, winning 17 major titles the two teams combined, including four European Cups with the latter. He was considered one of the best ever center-backs. He played for Uruguay at the 1954 World Cup Finals, but played for Spain 4 years later in 1958.
CB/CM: Fernando Hierro (Spain)
Fernando Hierro is considered to be Spain's greatest defenders. At one point, he was Spain's all-time leading scorer even through he played as a defensive player. He was capped 90 times for Spain, whilst appearing in four World Cups: 1990, 1994, 1998 and 2002 and two European Championships: 1996 and 2000. For Real Madrid, he won three Champions' League titles and 5 La Liga titles. He also played for Real Valladolid, Bolton Wanderers and Al-Rayyan SC.
Fernando Hierro
CB: Manuel Sanchis Hontiyuelo (Spain)
Manuel Sanchis Hontiyuelo is the son of Manuel Sanchez Martinez, another all-time great with Real Madrid. He was was a member of the legendary Quinta del Buitre of Real Madrid. He spent his entire career with Real Madrid and played over 700 matches. He won back-to-back UEFA in the mid-1980's, and then, two Champions' league title at the end of his career. For Spain, he was capped 48 times.
CB: Jacinto Quincoces (Spain)
Jacinto Quincoces was one of the greatest defenders of the pre-war era. He played for Deportivo Alavés from 1920 to 1931. From 1931 to 1942, he played for Real Madrid. He won the first ever title for Real Madrid in 1930. He was widely considered one of the first soccer idols in Spain. He played 25 times for Spain between 1928 and 1936. He made his international debut in 1928 against Mexico. He went to the World Cup Finals in 1934.
Jacintio Quincoces
LB: Jose Antonio Camacho (Spain)
Jose Camacho is widely considered to be Spain's greatest leftback. He earned 81 caps for Spain. He played at the 1982 and 1986 FIFA World Cups, as well as the Euro 1984 and 1988. Spain reached the Euro Final in 1984. He spent 15 seasons with Real Madrid. He played with the great Real Madrid side of the 1980's. He won 19 titles with Real Madrid, including two back-to-back UEFA Cups: 1984–85, 1985–86.
LB: Roberto Carlos (Brazil)
Roberto Carlos was regarded one of the best leftbacks in history. He had 125 caps for Brazil playing in three World Cup Finals. He won 3 Champions League titles with Real Madrid and one World Cup title with Brazil in 2002. In 1997, he was runner-up in the World Player of the Year. He is especially famous for a free kick from 35m out against France in the Tournoi de France 1997. The goal is considered one of the greatest goals ever scored.
Roberto Carlos
CM: Fernando Redondo (Argentina)
Fernando Redondo played his first game in the Primera División at only 16 for Argentinos Juniors, and remained five years with the team before moving abroad to CD Tenerife in Spain. He joined Real Madrid in 1994, where he would become one of the best central midfielders in Real Madrid's history. He won two Champions' League with them. For the national team, he only picked up 29 caps because he had issues with various managers.
Fernando Redondo
CM: Miguel Munoz (Spain)
Miguel Munoz was the captain of Real Madrid's first two European Cup winning sides in 1956 and 1957. He became the coach of the side in 1959. He won two more European Cup as Real Madrid's coach. He played for CD Logroñés, Racing de Santander and Celta de Vigo before joining Real Madrid in 1948. He was capped 7 times by Spain.
DM: Jose Pirri (Spain)
Jose Pirri is regarded as one of Spain's greatest player. He had 41 caps in a career that lasted 12 years. He played in two World Cup Finals: 1966 and 1978. He played for Real Madrid for 15 years, between 1964 and 1979, winning ten Spanish league titles, four Spanish cups, and the 1966 European Cup. He was a member of the Real Madrid team that was known as the Yé-Yé team. He also played for Granada.
Jose Pirri
RW/FW: Amancio Amaro (Spain)
Nicknamed "El Brujo", Amancio Amaro played outside right for Deportivo de La Coruña before joining Real Madrid in 1962. He was considered the star of the team in the 1960's. He scored one of the most beautiful goal in European Cup history when Real Madrid lifted the title in 1966. He was capped 42 times. He won the 1964 European Football Championship.
AM/RW: Raymond Kopa (France)
Kopa was considered to be "Les Bleus"'s greatest player before the emerge of Michel Platini. In 1970, he became the first football player to receive the Légion d'honneur. He helped France to finish third at the WC Finals in 1958. He won the the European Footballer of the Year in 1958 and won three European Cups with Real Madrid in the 1950's. He also played with Stade de Reims before joining the legendary Real Madrid team of the 1950's. He won the 1953 Latin Cup with Reims.
LW: Francisco Gento (Spain)
Francisco Gento is regarded as one of the greatest left wings in history. Gento began his career at Racing Santander in 1952 and moved to Real Madrid the following season. He appeared in a joint record eight European Cup finals, winning a record six, as well as winning 12 La Liga titles. In a 14-year international career, Gento earned 43 caps for Spain, playing at the World Cup in 1962 and 1966.
AM: Zinedine Zidane (France)
Zinedine Zidane was named the best European footballer of the past 50 years in the UEFA Golden Jubilee Poll, and has been described as one of the greatest players in the history of the game. He won the FIFA World Player of the Year award three times. He led France to victory at the World Cup in 1998 and the European Championship in 2000. With Real Madrid, he also won the Champions League in 2002, where he scored one of the greatest goals in history at the Final.
Zinedine Zidane
CM: Luka Modric (Croatia)
Modric is one of the greatest playmakers of his generation. He earned more 90 caps for Croatia. He currently plays for Real Madrid and won the Champions' League for the 2013-2014, 2015-2016, 2016-2017 and 2017-2018 seasons. He also played with Dinamo Zagreb and Tottenham Hotspurs. He played in the World Cup Finals of 2006 and 2014, as well as the European Championship of 2008, 2012 and 2016.
ST: Emilio Butragueño (Spain)
Nicknamed El Buitre (The Vulture), Emilio Butragueño was a member of the legendary Quinta del Buitre of Real Madrid, along with Manolo Sanchís, Rafael Martín Vázquez, Míchel and Miguel Pardeza. That team won 5 straight La Liga and back-to-back UEFA Cups from 1985 to 1990. He went to the World Cup Finals in 1986 and 1990. He scored 4 goals against the great Danish side in 1986 quarter-final. He also played in the 1990 World Cup Finals.
Emilio Butragueño
CM/AM/FW: Alfredo Di Stefano (Argentina)
Alfredo Di Stefano is the best player in the world before the emerge of Pele and Diego Maradona. He was one of the younger members of the great River Plate in the 1940's. In 1949, he moved to play in Colombia before moving to Europe in 1953. He won 5 straight European Cups with Real Madrid. He was credited in turning Real Madrid into a legendary club. His international career was limited to the fact that Argentina did not select overseas players. He also played for Argentina, Colombia and Spain. He went to the 1962 World Cup Finals, but was injured.
Alfredo Di Stefano
ST/FW: Ferenc Puskas (Hungary)
Ferenc Puskas was one of the greatest footballers in history. He scored 84 goals in 85 international matches for Hungary, a team known as Mighty Magyars. He became Olympic champion in 1952 and led his nation to the final of the 1954 World Cup where he was named the tournament's best player. He played with Honved at home and went to Real Madrid in 1958 after the Soviet invasion. With Alfredo Di Stefano, Raymond Kapo, etc, Real Maadrid became the greatest club team in history.
Di Stefano and Puskas
ST: Raul (Spain)
Raul was probably the best Spanish player in the late 1990's. He made his debut with Real Madrid as a 17 years old. He won 3 Champions' League trophies with Real Madrid in 1998, 2000 and 2002. He moved to Germany in 2010 and played with Schalke 04 He is the fourth highest goal scorer in the history of La Liga with 228 goals. For Spain, he scored a then-record 44 goals in 102 appearances, appearing in three FIFA World Cups and two European championships. He was their captaincy between 2002 and 2006.
Raul
ST: Hugo Sanchez (Mexico)
Hugo Sanchez was considered to be the best Mexican player of all-time. He is remembered for his career in Spain where he played for both Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid. He won 5 straight Pichichi title in Spain. With Real Madrid, he won five consecutive league titles (from 1985-86 to 1989-90), the Copa del Rey in 1989, and the UEFA Cup in 1986. The team was the dominant team in Spain during the 1980's.
FW/LW: Cristano Ronaldo (Portugal)
Ronaldo is one of the greatest forward of his generation. He is the most expensive players in history from 2009-2013 when he moved from Manchester United to Real Madrid. At the time of writing, he won the Ballon d'Or winner three times and won Champions' League titles with both Manchester United and Real Madrid. In 2016, he helped Portugal to win the European Championship, a month after winning the Champions' League with Real Madrid. In 2018, he joined Juventus after playing the 2018 World Cup Finals.
Cristano Ronaldo
Honorable Mention
Juan Alonso (Spain), Luis Molowny (Spain), Marquitos (Spain), Michel Salgado (Spain), Pepe (Brazil/Portugal), Rafael Gordillo (Spain), Manuel Velázquez (Spain), Xabi Alonso (Spain), Manuel Sanchis Martinez (Spain), Gunter Netzer (Germany), Ronaldo (Brazil), Rafael Gordillo (Spain), Ramón Grosso (Spain), Paul Breitner (Germany), Pahino (Spain), Rene Petit (France), Jose Maria Zarraga (Spain), Ignacio Zoco (Spain), Josep Samitier (Spain), Ricardo Gallego (Spain), Karim Benzema (France), Guti (Spain), Michel (Spain), Vicente del Bosque (Spain), Michael Laudrup (Denmark), Luis Figo (Portugal) , Juanito (Brazil), Marcelo (Brazil), Ivan Zamorano (Chile), Carlos Santillana (Spain), Dani Carvajal(Spain) Toni Kroos (Germany), Gregorio "Goyo" Benito (Spain)
Squad Explanation
-- Most players selected won an European Cup/Champions' League. Hugo Sanchez, Emilio Butragueño and Camacho won back-to-back UEFA Cups in the 1980's. Jacinto Quincoces and Ricardo Zamora played before the birth of European club football. Franisco Buyo is the only player here who did not win anything in Europe.
-- Ricardo Zamora and Iker Casillas are considered among the greatest keepers ever played in history. The battle was between Juan Alonso and Franisco Buyo for the third spot. I took Buyo because he had a longer career although Juan Alonso had won more important titles.
-- At the time of writing, Marcelo is entering his 12th season, the longest for a foreign player in the club's history. He has won four Champions' League as a key player. He deserves to be on the team. However, I still keep the two old-timers, Roberto Carlos and Jose Camacho. Both players are considered to be the best ever in their position. It is difficult for Marcelo to beat out the two legends. Rafael Gordillo and Manuel Sanchís Martínez were also considered.
-- Miguel Munoz and Manuel Sanchis Jr were chosen because of their importance and services to the club. Munoz was the captain for the first ever European Cup.
-- Manuel Sanchis Jr is of Royal blond. He is a home grown player who played his entire career with the club. He is also a connection between La Quinta del Buitre and Raul's Real Madrid. He is the ultimate "Madridista".
-- Sergio Ramos has scored plenty of important goals for the club. He can play two different positions. I prefer to select him as a centerback, but spaces are limited in that position. I took him as a rightback. Chendo, Marquitos and Michel Salgado were only rightback of note. I rated Dani Carvajal very high, but he is still young at the time of writing. He has already won three Champions' League titles as a key player. He is also from Castilla. He would become a part of the team in the future.
-- Pepe does not appear in many Real Madrid all-time list, but his performance in the last few seasons and his long service to club earned him a place in the honorable mention. However, it will be hard for him to break into the all-time team. Jacinto Quincoces, Manuel Sanchis Jr, Fernando Hierro and Jose Santamaria were legendary players for the club.
-- Amancio Amaro's goal won the 1966 European Cup. He was the hero of 1966. I took him ahead of Luis Figo, Michael Laudrup and Michel. He is a representative of that era.
-- Josep Samiter played most of his career for Barcelona FC. Luis Figo, at least, spent more time here. Thus, Figo made the honourable mention.
-- Ronaldo (Brazil) did not win much here. He had one good season here. I only gave him a spot on the honourable mention. Hugo Sanchez scored more goals for the club. He also won more trophies. Carlos Santillana is ahead of Ronaldo in my all-time team. Cristano Ronaldo, Emilio Butragueño, Raul and Fenec Puskas are all ahead of him.
-- Didi was not successful with the club and he was never considered.
-- Gunter Netzer played in a period, relatively quiet for Real Madrid. The team actually dominated Cruyff's Barcelona, but he did not win any European trophies.
-- I have a feeling that Luka Modric deserved a spot over Raymond Kopa. Modric has won more European Cups than Kopa. He also spent a longer career here than Kopa. His role is probably greater than Kopa on the 1950's team. Kopa is more famous because he was a Ballon d'or winner in 1958 and Di Stefano's team had a legendary status in the world of football. In the end, I dropped Carlos Santillana for Modric. Unfortunately for Santillana, Real Madrid has plenty of strikers on this team. This team only had two offensive midfielders, Raymond Kopa and Zinedine Zidane.
-- Zinedine Zidane won the 2002 Champions' League, scoring a beautiful goal in the Final. However, I do not think that his career was that glorious here. Nevertheless, I still selected him.
-- Luis Figo achieved as much as Zidane in terms of trophies. And I do not have a natural right wing on the team. Taking him would be the logic choice, but Raymond Kopa played on the right with Real Madrid. Amancio Amaro was also on the right side. So I kept Figo on honorable mention.
-- It is difficult to drop Carlos Santillana. He is getting to be a forgotten man. He won back-to-back UEFA Cups in the 1980's, but he was not a member of La Quinta del Buitre, which was often credited to the successes of the club in the 1980's. He at one point held the club's highest appearance record. He is also the 4th all-time leading scorer behind Cristano Ronaldo, Raul and Alfred Di Stefano.
-- Toni Kroos and Karim Benzema also deserved an honourable mention. At the moment, Benzema is the fifth all-time leading scorer.
Formation
-- Sergio Ramos is a better centerback than rightback, but he won't start ahead of Hierro or Santamaria. So I put him at rightback.
-- Raul is not a centre forward so I put on the right side as a secondary striker or forward. This is the only way where I can play both Raul and Cristano Ronaldo.