Legendary Teams: Florentino Perez ushers in Galactico era as Real Madrid dominates the start of the new millenium
MEN'S
Gregory Caltabanis
3 Yrs Ago
Few presidents have come to define their teams over the years as much as Florentino Pérez has with Real Madrid.
When the Spaniard was elected in 2000, Pérez put in place a Galacticos policy, ensuring a global star arrived every summer in Madrid. Pérez immediately kicked off his presidency with a marquee signing, convincing Luís Figo to join from their arch-rivals Barcelona.
Prior to Pérez’s arrival, Los Blancos were coming off a disappointing season finishing runner up to Barcelona in La Liga and failing to retain their Champions League title in 1999. Real Madrid possessed an experienced core despite their struggles, including the likes of Fernando Hierro, Fernando Redondo, and Roberto Carlos.
Real Madrid took to the transfer window to rejuvenate its aging side, signing Spain’s best young stars. With Iker Casillas, Fernando Morientes and Guti introduced into the fold, Los Blancos marched to the 2000 Champions League final, defeating Manchester United and Bayern Munich along the way. An all-Spanish affair against Valencia awaited them in the final with Real Madrid emerging comfortable 3-0 winners. In many ways, it was just the beginning of an era.
Pérez was elected as the club’s president shortly thereafter and wasted no time making an impact in the nation’s capital, targeting football’s very best. Figo and Claude Makélélé became linchpins in Vicente Del Bosque’s setup, leading Real Madrid to their first La Liga title in three years in 2001.
Pérez signed yet another Galactico following their La Liga triumph, spending $66 million on Juventus star Zinedine Zidane. The French maestro adapted wonderfully to Del Bosque’s diamond setup, orchestrating play behind Raul and Morientes. His compatriot, Makélélé, was tasked with breaking up play and quickly emerged as one of football’s elite midfield destroyers.
Figo and Santiago Solari ran rampant on the wings with the Frenchmen dominating the proceedings in the middle of the park, forming a creative and versatile midfield unit. Del Bosque’s Real Madrid was equally capable of opening the opposition up with a patient buildup as they were hitting them on the counter. Beyond their star-studded lineup, Del Bosque’s men had an uncanny ability to step up when it mattered.
Down a goal returning home in the second leg of the Champions League quarterfinals against Bayern Munich, Real Madrid dug deep and notched two late goals to overcome the Bavarians. The win set up a mouth-watering El Clasico in the semifinals.
Real Madrid made no mistakes at the Camp Nou, dispatching their fierce rivals with ease thanks to goals by Zidane and Steve McManaman. Only Bayer Leverkusen stood in the way of their ninth Champions League title in Glasgow in 2002.
Raúl opened the scoring inside 10 minutes, but the Germans promptly responded through Brazilian defender Lucio. With the score tied 1-1 going into halftime, Zidane did exactly what you would expect from a Galactico. Zizou fired Real Madrid ahead with a wonderfully struck volley on his weaker foot, smashing it past a helpless Hans-Jörg Butt. The Frenchman’s goal is widely regarded as one of the best goals in a Champions League final of all time, handing Real Madrid La Novena.
It proved to be Real Madrid’s last European success for over a decade until Pérez introduced his latest round of Galacticos, including the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Gareth Bale, and Karim Benzema. Much like it was the case in the early 2000s, Los Blancos dominated the European stage winning four Champions League titles in five seasons and have since come to define yet another era of European football.
Twenty years on from gaining the Real Madrid presidency and Pérez’s campaign promise has since become the club's identity. The Real Madrid president is now ready to usher in a new era in the nation’s capital. With a former Galactico in Zidane at the helm, Real Madrid is primed for success.