The Stadium Guide - The Story of.... Real Madrid

After its foundation in 1902 the club moved in their first years between some minor grounds before moving to the 'Campo de O'Donnell' in 1912.

This ground remained their home ground for eleven years. After these years the club made a move again, this time to the 'Campo de Ciudad Lineal', a small ground with a capacity of 8,000 spectators. This time, it would only be a short stay, because after only twelve months the club moved again. This new ground would make a longer appearance.
The 'Estadio de Chamartin' was inaugurated on the 17th of May 1923 with a match of Real Madrid against Newcastle United. In this stadium, which hosted 22,500 spectators, Real Madrid celebrated their first Spanish league titles.

After those successes, the in 1943 elected president Don Santiago de Bernabeu decided that the Estadio de Chamartin wasn't big enough for the ambitions of the club. A new stadium had to be built, which was inaugurated on the 14th of December 1947. This was the 'Estadio Santiago Bernabeu' as we know it today, although it didn't acquire this name untill 1955.
The first match that was being played in the new stadium was between Real Madrid and OS Belenenses (3-1). Sabino Barinaga scored the first goal in the new stadium. The initial capacity was 75,300.

In 1953, a first extension to the stadium was realized with the addition of a third tier. This increased the capacity to a overwhelming 120,000.

At the same time a great team was formed in Madrid that would win many trophies in the next years. One of these trophies was won in their own Santiago Bernabeu; their second European Cup against Fiorentina (2-0). In the next years more European Cup finals would be played in the stadium (1969: AC Milan-Ajax & 1980: Nottingham Forest-HSV). The first official match of the Spanish national team in the Santiago Bernabeu was played in the year 1964 (Spain-USSR).

Due to the upcoming World Cup championships in 1982 the stadium had to be renovated again. This decreased the capacity to a mere 90,000.

The matches in poule B (Germany, Spain & England) and the final between Italy and Germany (3-1) were played in the Bernabeu stadium.

In 1992 the stadium was extended again to a capacity over 100,000 (106,500). At the same the exterior of the stadium was renovated, which resulted in the exterior as we know it today, including the remarkeble entrance towers at the corners.

This new increase in capacity led to a harsh competition with rival Barcelona about which stadium could host the most spectators. This battle was ultimately lost by Real Madrid in the season 1998/1999 when all standing places had to be converted into seats according to UEFA rules. This led to a capacity decrease to 74,300.

A new renovation has almost been finished at the moment. This renovation of the east stand has increased the capacity to 80,000 and has made the stadium totally covered.

After this renovation (2005) the stadium will receive a 5-star rating of the UEFA which will make the stadium suitable for any European Cup Final in the future.

Recently, the re-elected president of Real Madrid, Florentino Perez, has announced a proposal to construct a retractable roof on the stadium. In his words, this last redevolpment would make the Santiago Bernabeu stadium the best stadium in the world.