Champions League Domination: When Real Madrid conquered Europe by winning five consecutive European Cups

Champions League Domination: When Real Madrid conquered Europe by winning five consecutive European Cups

Real Madrid, with 13 European Champion Clubs’ Cup victories, is the continent’s most decorated team, but they had a five-title head start from the world’s best team from 1956 to 1960.

1955-60 Real Madrid is without a doubt the most successful, having won the European Cup five times in a row since its foundation. Real Madrid then-President Santiago Bernabeu, Bedrignan, and Gusztav Sebes created a tournament for the champion teams around Europe, by invitation, that would eventually become the UEFA Champions League.

The European Cup was first held during the 1955–56 season, with a prestigious field consisting of clubs that had won their own country’s league championship. Interestingly, Madrid scored 112 goals in five consecutive European Cup-winning campaigns, scoring 20, 20, 25, 16, and 31 goals with Di Stéfano scoring in all five of the team’s final victories, but the span was overseen by three different coaches.

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Coaches: Jose Villalonga (1955-57), Luis Carniglia (1957-59) & Miguel Munoz (1959 & 1960)

Trophies: 5 European Cups (1955 to 1960), 2 La Liga titles (1956–57, 1957–58) 1 Intercontinental Cup (1960)

Star Players: Di Stefano, Puskas, Kopa, Gento, Santamaria, Del Sol

1955-56 European Cup Final: Real Madrid (Spain) vs Stade de Reims (France)

Full-time score: 4-3 to Real Madrid

During the 1955–56 season, the European Cup was held for the first time. Sixteen teams (some by invitation) competed: Milan (Italy), AGF Aarhus (Denmark), Anderlecht (Belgium), Djurgården (Sweden), Gwardia Warszawa (Poland), Hibernian (Scotland), Partizan (Yugoslavia), PSV Eindhoven (Netherlands), Rapid Wien (Austria), Real Madrid (Spain), Rot-Weiss Essen (West Germany), Saarbrücken (Saar), Servette (Switzerland), Sporting CP (Portugal), Stade de Reims (France), and Vörös Lobogó (Hungary).

On June 13, 1956, the first final took place at the Parc des Princes between Stade de Reims and Real Madrid. With goals from Alfredo Di Stéfano and Marquitos, as well as two goals from Héctor Rial, the Spanish team fought back from behind to win 4–3.

1956-57 European Cup Final: Real Madrid (Spain) vs Fiorentina (Italy)

Full-time score: 2-0 to Real Madrid

The following season, Real Madrid successfully defended the trophy against Fiorentina at their home stadium, the Santiago Bernabéu. Real Madrid overcame the Italians with two goals in six minutes from Alfredo Di Stéfano and Francisco Gento after a scoreless first half.

1957-58 European Cup Final: Real Madrid (Spain) vs AC Milan (Italy)

Extra-time score: 3-2 to Real Madrid

Milan failed to capitalize in 1958 after going ahead twice on the scoreboard just to have Real Madrid equalize. The final, which was contested at Heysel Stadium, went to extra time, with Francisco Gento scoring the game-winning goal to ensure Real Madrid’s third consecutive victory.

1958-59 European Cup Final: Real Madrid (Spain) vs Stade de Reims (France)

Full-time score: 2-0 to Real Madrid

Real Madrid defeated Stade Reims 2–0 in the 1959 final at the Neckarstadion in front of 80,000 people with goals scored by Enrique Mateos and Alfredo Di Stéfano, in a repetition of the 1955-56 final.

Paco Gento is regarded as one of Real Madrid’s biggest legend

1959-60 European Cup Final: Real Madrid (Spain) vs Eintracht Frankfurt (West Germany)

Full-time score: 7-3 to Real Madrid

Eintracht Frankfurt of West Germany became the first non-Latin team to reach the European Cup final. The 7-3 win over Eintracht on May 18, 1960, in front of 127,621 fans in Scotland, may have been the absolute pinnacle. Ferenc Puskás scored four goals and Di Stéfano had a hat trick.

Rogelio Domnguez; Marquitos, José Santamara, Pachn; Vidal, Zárraga; Canario, Luis del Sol, Di Stéfano, Puskás, Francisco Gento were the starting XI named by liza Miguel Munoz, who became the first person to win the European Cup as both a player and a manager.

Who broke Real Madrid’s European Cup dominance?

Real Madrid’s rule came to an end in the first round of the 1960–61 season when bitter rivals Barcelona dethroned them. Barcelona, on the other hand, would lose 3–2 in the final to Benfica of Portugal at Wankdorf Stadium.

Also Read: 5 great players who rejected Real Madrid