Why is Real Madrid called the ‘club of the regime’?

The club was involved with the Franco regime in the mid-twentieth century.

Why is Real Madrid called the ‘club of the regime’?

Real Madrid is arguably the greatest club of all time. Established in 1902, the Los Blancos have won everything there is to win. They currently hold the record for the most Champions League titles winning 14 in their history. They also hold the record for the most La Liga titles with 35, nine more than their arch-rivals FC Barcelona. However, their success also comes with its own twisted tales of controversies.

One of the club’s controversies involved being in close association with the Franco regime in Spain during the mid-twentieth century. This led to the Madrid-based outfit being tagged with the name ‘the club of the regime’.

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The Franco regime was a dictatorship that lasted from 1939 to 1975 in Spain, under the leadership of General Francisco Franco. It had a profound impact on Spanish politics, society, and culture and was characterized by authoritarianism, repression, and censorship.

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Real Madrid’s initial involvement with the Franco regime

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Francisco Franco. Image credits: Instagram

Real Madrid and the Franco regime have been associated since the early days of the dictatorship. In 1943, General Franco appointed Santiago Bernabeu as the president of the club. Bernabeu was a player for the Los Blancos in the early 1900s and saw the club as a tool for promoting the philosophy and principles of the regime.

Real Madrid rose to prominence as one of the most prosperous football clubs in Europe under Bernabeu’s direction. From 1956 through 1960, the team won five consecutive European Cup/Champions Leagues. This period of dominance coincided with the rise of the Franco regime, which led to the public seeing the club’s glory as a reflection of the regime’s power.

Real Madrid’s controversy with the regime

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Santiago Bernabeu. Image credits: Twitter

Real Madrid’s close ties to the Franco regime were not without controversy. The system was alleged to have given the club preferential treatment, including favorable refereeing and access to resources that other clubs were not given.

Real Madrid’s accomplishments were also perceived as a means of deflecting attention from the regime’s economic woes and violations of human rights. Despite these criticisms, Real Madrid continued to thrive under the Franco regime.

Real Madrid post Franco regime

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Francisco Franco. Image credits: Twitter

The regime began to crumble in the 1970s. In the wake of this, Real Madrid’s ties to it started to unfold.

After Franco died in 1975, Spain became a democracy, and the new club administration made an effort to dissociate itself from the legacy of the previous one. Real Madrid was compelled to go through a phase of reform and modernization since it served as a symbol of the Franco era. The club’s ties to the dictatorship were gradually minimized or forgotten as it became more democratic and open.

Today, Real Madrid is considered to be a football powerhouse. Even though the fans may want to dissociate from the controversy involving the regime, the club would probably not have risen to such great heights without its foundation under Santiago Bernabeu.

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