Atletico Madrid are the second team of the Spanish capital and alongside Real Madrid, Los Rojiblancos are one of Spain’s biggest clubs. While Real Madrid and Barcelona have often traded titles in La Liga, Atletico Madrid have upset the duopoly on occasions. In 2020-21, Atletico Madrid lifted the La Liga title with an incredible season. 

Now, Los Rojiblancos are aiming to lift further league championships and a first-ever Champions League trophy. Atletico Madrid are typically one of the big spenders in La Liga and will once again have one of the division’s top squads. 

About Atletico Madrid

Atletico Madrid are one of Spain’s biggest clubs, yet they have continually been overshadowed by Real Madrid and Barcelona. Since the turn of the millennium, Atletico Madrid have become one of the most well-supported teams in Spain. Their profile around the world rose thanks to playing against Real Madrid in Champions League Final in 2013-14 and 2015-16. The club’s rise in popularity has also been achieved thanks to two La Liga titles won under Diego Simeone in 2013-14 and 2020-21.

Atletico Madrid were founded in 1903 as Athletic Club de Madrid. The club were created by three Basque students residing in Madrid. The initial club were considered a youth branch of Athletic Club de Bilbao. Atletico Madrid’s original shirts were inspired by Blackburn Rovers and were blue and white. In 1911, Atletico Madrid adopted shirts inspired by Southampton and began wearing red and white tops along with blue shorts.

The 1950s began well for Atletico Madrid. The club won two La Liga titles under manager Helenio Herrera. After the Argentine’s departure, Atletico Madrid went from being the top side in Spain to being the league’s third team behind Real Madrid and Barcelona. 

Although the occasional piece of silverware came along in the 1960s and 1970s, the two decades were barren of success. Atletico Madrid are the club supported by the working class of Madrid and the club’s reputation as a working-class team continues today. 

Atletico Madrid’s greatest successes of the modern era have come under current manager Diego Simeone. He has won two La Liga titles and reached the Champions League Final on two occasions, losing to Real Madrid both times. 

Bet on Atletico Madrid

Leading sportsbooks offer betting markets on Atletico Madrid every matchday of the football season. The long football campaign provides bettors the opportunity to wager on the Spanish capital club in a variety of ways. Bettors can wager on Los Rojiblancos as the outright winner of the La Liga, the Champions League, or the Copa del Rey competitions before they kick off each tournament.

There is the opportunity to bet on one-off matches, players, correct scores, goals, and more. Special offers on big games in the league or European cup competitions are also available with major bookies. Of course, football bettors love to wager on the Madrid Derby between Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid.

Bettors have the chance to select bets on Atletico Madrid in the transfer market and which player(s) will arrive at the club each transfer window. Bettors can even wager on who will be the next Atletico Madrid manager, if Diego Simeone ever leaves. 

Atletico Madrid Players

Atletico Madrid’s title success in 2020-21 came thanks to the signing of ex-Liverpool and former Barcelona forward Luis Suarez. Los Rojiblancos had toyed around with fighting for the title over the last few years, but not until Suarez arrived did the club have a player to send them to it. In Suarez’s first season at the club, he scored 21 league goals and tallied three assists in 32 matches. 

Suarez is backed by some exciting players including Joao Felix, who Atletico Madrid paid Benfica £114 million to for the forward. Although Felix hasn’t hit the heights expected of him, the forward is just 21-years-old. Atletico Madrid are also the home of Spain’s Koke, Saul Niguez, and Marcos Llorente. 

Atletico Madrid Honours

La Liga

Winners (11): 1939–40, 1940–41, 1949–50, 1950–51, 1965–66, 1969–70, 1972–73, 1976–77, 1995–96, 2013–14, 2020–21

Copa del Rey

Winners (10): 1959–60, 1960–61, 1964–65, 1971–72, 1975–76, 1984–85, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1995–96, 2012–13

Supercopa de Espana

Winners (2): 1985, 2014

Copa de los Campeones de Espana

Winners (1): 1940–41

Copa Presidente FEF

Winners (1): 1947

Copa Eva Duarte

Winners (1): 1951

European Cup/UEFA Champions League

Runners-up (3): 1973–74, 2013–14, 2015–16

European Cup Winners' Cup

Winners (1): 1961–62

UEFA Europa League

Winners (3): 2009–10, 2011–12, 2017–18

UEFA Super Cup

Winners (3): 2010, 2012, 2018

Intercontinental Cup

Winners (1): 1974

Atletico Madrid All-Time Top Goalscorers

1. Luis Aragones – 173 goals
2. Adrian Escudero – 169 goals
3. Paco Campos – 144 goals
4. Antoine Griezmann – 133 goals
5. Joaqucin Peiro – 125 goals 

Atletico Madrid Legends

Atletico Madrid have had some of the world’s best players wear the famous white and red shirt. Luis Aragones and Adrian Escudero were both greats from the past. In more recent years, the likes of Diego Forlan, Fernando Torres, and Sergio Aguero all played for the club before finding success elsewhere. In Forlan’s case, his time at Atletico Madrid was the best of his career. World-class goalkeepers such as David De Gea and Thibaut Courtois achieved success at Atletico Madrid before they also found more success away from the capital club.  

Below is a list of the best players to play for Atletico Madrid:

• Luis Aragones
• Adrian Escudero
• Fernando Torres
• Diego Godin
• Joaquin Peiro
• Hugo Sanchez
• Jose Eulogio Garate
• Carlos Aguilera
• Francisco Campos Salamanca
• Adelardo Rodriguez
• Diego Forlan
• Diego Simeone
• Sergio Aguero
• Kiko
• Gabi
• Isacio Calleja
• Juanfran
• Paulo Futre
• Antonie Greizmann
• Jan Oblak
• David Villa
• Diego Costa

Atletico Madrid Managers 

Helenio Herrera was one of the most successful early managers for Atletico Madrid. The Argentine won two La Liga titles and the Supercopa de Espana between 1949 and 1953. Jose Villalonga led the club to their first European trophy by winning the UEFA Cup Winners’ Cup in 1960-61.

Luis Aragones was not only a great player at Atletico Madrid, but he also won trophies as a manager. He won seven trophies in four spells at the club. Atletico Madrid have not been afraid to sack managers over the years, but since appointing Diego Simeone in 2011, Los Rojiblancos stability has been achieved.