Atletico de MadridThe Mattress Makers
The Atletico de Madrid StoryThe fact that Atletico de Madrid are nicknamed 'Los Colchoneros' – The Mattress Makers – adds to their image as Madrid's working-class underdogs but - as they're also Spain's all-time third most successful club - things are not as clear-cut as they might at first seem.Basque OriginsClub Atletico de Madrid was founded in 1903 by three Basque students who were studying in Madrid as a satellite of Athletic Club de Bilbao – their original name was Athletic Club de Madrid and they played in blue and white the same colours as their Basque homonym.But Atlético didn't really get going until they were joined by some dissident members of Madrid FC a year later.
The practical madrileños, however, claim that because red and white stripes was the colour of the material used to make mattresses it was cheap and it's for that reason it was used to make the shirts – whatever the reason, the nickname 'Los Colchoneros' has stuck. A Madrid TeamIn 1921, the club became independent of Athletic de Bilbao and moved to the impressive 36,000-capacity Estadio Metropolitano in 1923.Perhaps because of the Basque origins or because their first ground was located in the working-class Ronda de Vallecas district, Athletic were Madrid's second team right from the start. During the twenties, they won the Campeonato del Centro three times and were twice runners up in the Copa del Rey and In 1928, Atletico were one of the ten teams invited to participate in the first Liga. The Colchoneros were relegated in 1930, came back up and - had the Spanish Civil War not broken out - would have been relegated again in 1936. Immediately after the Civil War the theory that Real Madrid were the Regime's favourite and Atlético the underdogs briefly falls apart.
Military ConnectionsIn 1939, Aviación Nacional de Zaragoza - the Air Force team - were denied a place in the first post-war Liga.The Regime's solution was to merge the club with second division Athletic de Madrid - which became Athletic Aviación de Madrid - and take the place in the First Division of Oviedo, whose ground had been badly bombed during the war.
The Capital's UnderdogsIn 1950 and 1951, two more Ligas came to the now definitively-named Club Atletico de Madrid but it was from 1953 - when Real Madrid's hegemony over Spanish and European football began - that Atlético started to develop an image as the capital's underdogs.This they may have been true but Atletico were definitely Spain's second team throughout the sixties and seventies. With a European Cup Winners' Cup in 1962 and as Liga champions in 1966, 1970, 1973 and 1973, Atlético suffered far less than Athletic de Bilbao or FC Barcelona under the dictatorship. The problem for Atlético was that their Golden Era coincided with one of the greatest periods of Real Madrid. In 1974, they reached the European Cup Final losing to a great Bayern Munich side and then won the Intercontinental Cup the following year as Bayern were unwilling to take part. However, Atlético were beginning to establish a reputation as being 'Los Pupas' – The Cry Babies – and this reputation has lasted since the return of democracy in 1977. The Jesús Gil YearsVarious factors have contributed to the image that Atlético like to give of themselves. It's very difficult to exist in the same city under the shadow of the mighty Real Madrid.Despite being a first-class stadium, the location of the Vicente Calderón - on the grubby banks of the River Manzanares - contrasts sharply with the Santiago Bernabéu's uptown address on Paseo de la Castellana.
It was a real rollercoaster ride and Atletico de Madrid went down to Segunda for two seasons in 2000. Nearly a decade on, Atlético have only just recovered from the period. Atlético in the 21st CenturyThere's something eminently likeable about Atlético de Madrid and the fact that in recent years they've always almost made it but never quite got there means that many football fans in Spain are right behind them - particularly, when they play against Real Madrid.Despite the traumatic loss of Fernando Torres in 2007, Atlético are now coached by Abel Resino and with talents like Kun Agüero, Diego Forlán and Simao Sabrosa in the squad, they're capable of some great football. Having qualified for the Champions League in 2008-09, Atletico start 2009-10 full of optimism.
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