The mattress makers' rebellion: Atlético under Simeone

A team that began as a branch

Atlético Madrid began in 1903 as the Madrid branch of Athletic Club (Bilbao). It was founded by Basque students living in Madrid, which is why the two names are so similar.

The red and white vertical stripes are the club's face. That's why they are called the Rojiblancos, and because the stripes looked just like old mattress fabric, they also became the Colchoneros, the mattress makers. After 50 years at the Vicente Calderón, they have played at the Metropolitano since 2017.

From a Double to the second division

In 1995–96, Atlético won both La Liga and the Copa del Rey. A midfielder in that team was the young Simeone.

The club's history includes painful decisions too. In 1992 president Jesús Gil closed the youth team to save money, and a boy with nowhere to go, Raúl, became a Real Madrid legend. When Fernando Torres made his first-team debut in 2001, the club was in the second division. El Niño, the talent of those hard days, later went to Liverpool, Chelsea and AC Milan before coming home to finish his career.

In the 2010 Europa League final, Forlán's two goals beat Fulham 2–1 after extra time, in the first season under that name. Agüero left for Man City the next year, but a new era was about to begin.

Simeone breaks the duopoly

Diego Simeone returned as manager at the end of 2011. In the 2012 UEFA Super Cup, Falcao's first-half hat-trick helped beat Champions League winners Chelsea 4–1. In the 2013 Copa del Rey final, Diego Costa and Miranda scored to beat Real Madrid 2–1 at the Bernabéu, lifting the cup at their rivals' home.

The peak came in 2013–14. Needing only a draw on the last day at the Camp Nou, Godín's equalising header made it 1–1 and broke the Barça and Real duopoly. Courtois, on loan from Chelsea, guarded the goal for three seasons before Slovenian keeper Oblak, signed from Benfica in 2014, took over.

They met Real twice in Champions League finals. They didn't lift the trophy, but they beat Bayern on away goals in the 2016 semi-final thanks to Griezmann's goal in Munich, and in 2020 Marcos Llorente's two extra-time goals and one from Morata won it 3–2 at Liverpool, knocking out the holders. In 2021 they won La Liga again.

Griezmann and the club's icons

Antoine Griezmann came from Real Sociedad in 2014. He scored twice and was man of the match in the 3–0 win over Marseille in the 2018 Europa League final. After a spell at Barcelona he returned, and in 2024 he passed Luis Aragonés to become the club's top scorer, breaking a record more than 50 years old.

Academy graduate Koke passed Adelardo to become the club's all-time appearance leader. Those who stayed and those who came back have built the club's story together.