Never Mind Liverpool, Real Madrid's Superiority Was Even Unstoppable By World War II

Real Madrid players pose with the Champions Cup, after their 1-0 win over Liverpool in the UEFA Champions League final at the Stade de France, Paris on Saturday 28 May 2022. (Real Madrid)

JAKARTA – Real Madrid managed to beat Liverpool 1-0 in the UEFA Champions League final at the Stade de France, Paris on Saturday night, May 28, 2022. Real's triumph made the football club from the Spanish capital the most successful in Europe, with 14 wins. UEFA Champions League.

A goal from Brazilian player Vinicius Junior in the 59th minute following Federico Valverde's pass was enough for Real to win and become champions. The title also complements the success of the club nicknamed Los Blancos, the Whites won the 2021-2022 Spanish League. The domestic league title they won for the 35th time!

“A fantastic result. We just had a tough game. I don't know what else to say," Carlo Ancelotti, Real coach, said in an interview with BT Sport after the game.

¡VESTUARIO DE #CHAMP14NS! pic.twitter.com/FBECMsy2lJ

— Real Madrid CF (@realmadrid) May 29, 2022

As special as the club he manages, Ancelotti is also not the first time to feel the pleasure of being the champion of the European club's highest caste tournament. The Italian coach has four times felt the pride of lifting the Champions League Trophy. Ancelotti won with AC Milan in 2002-2003 and 2006-2007, as well as Real Madrid in 2013-2014 and 2021-2022.

"I do hold the record as a coach who won the Champions League the most times. But behind that success, I was equipped with a strong, disciplined, dedicated, and mentally strong team as a champion. It's all a mental problem," said Ancelotti again.

Influenced by English Football Culture

Real was born due to the influence of English football culture. The way the club was founded on March 6, 1902 is very British, because it was formed by a group of scholars and educated circles in Madrid under the name Madrid Football Club. The founders had studied in England, and returned home not only to bring a degree but also the culture of football.

Real's first coach was imported from England, Arthur Johnson, who managed to bring the team to win the Copa del Rey or King's Cup of Spain four seasons in a row from 1905-1908. Real's initial uniform is said to have been inspired by a small English club from the City of Kent, Corinthian FC, with a white color with blue stripes.

“The only person who knew what to do then was Johnson the Englishman. He is a soft-spoken man, but views football as a serious game. Johnson was married in Madrid on Saturday, but by Sunday morning he had already appeared on the pitch to play. I don't know what was going through his wife's mind at that time," said Julian Palacios, the first president of Real Madrid, as written in Phil Ball's book White Storm: 100 Years of Real Madrid.

Carlo Ancelotti is the most successful coach in the UEFA Champions League, having won the club four times, two with AC Milan and two with Real Madrid. (Real Madrid)

As a club native to Spain and originating from the capital, Real received special attention from King Alfonso XIII. In 1920, the King of the club was given the addition of Real, which means "royal", complete with the crown crest on it. Changed the name of Madrid FC to Real Madrid, as an ambassador for the Kingdom of Spain.

Obviously there is a privilege with a city club that was formed a year after Real, namely Atletico Madrid. While Real was formed by a group of Spanish students, Atlético was founded by a group of Basque students living in Madrid. So if you want to see a truly Spanish club, that's Real Madrid. That's the view of King Alfonso.

Role in the Time of Pandemic and War

Real Madrid is a representation of the resilience and tenacity of Spain as a state and nation entity. When the Spanish League competition was first launched in 1929, Real only finished runners-up behind Barcelona. But in the following season, Real was the ruler.

During the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918, Real was at the forefront by donating medicine and medical equipment. Real had lost their crown when King Alfonso XIII was overthrown by a group of Republican politicians, who founded the Second Spanish Republic in 1931. Real Madrid's name was reverted to Madrid FC.

The club became a propaganda tool for anyone in power in Spain. During the Spanish Civil War 1936-1939, the competition stopped. Real was vacuum because many of its players fled. But once the war was over, Real again became a propaganda tool. This time it was the Nationalists led by the dictator General Francisco Franco who overthrew the Republicans from the power of the Second Spanish Republic. Real is General Franco's favorite team.

Real Madrid's home design, the soon to be renovated Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. (Real Madrid)

When World War II raged in 1939-1945, Real won two Spanish League seasons and won the Copa del Rey seven times. Although devastated by the war, Real was able to rise under the leadership of the pro-Nationalist Santiago Bernabeu Yeste as club president. The Bernabeu was chosen by General Franco to fix Real.

Bernabeu then get support to build a new stadium and recruit reliable players. Bernabéu's visionary thinking, which was far ahead, made Real, who had been swayed by the ravages of war, got back up again. He got a loan from Banco Mercantil e Industrial to develop Real.

Bernabeu built the largest stadium owned by a European club, Estadio Real Madrid Club de Futbol in 1944-1947. He was criticized for building a stadium that was deemed too big for a club just emerging from war. But the Bernabeu's vision of the future is spot on, as the stadium he built is always packed with Real fans. The stadium was eventually renamed the Santiago Bernabeu, in memory of the president's service in raising the club from the ruins of war.

Some of the trophies that Real Madrid won during their 120 years as a football club. (Real Madrid)

The Bernabeu also brought in top European players to lift their achievements again. Alfredo di Stefano (Argentina), Ferenc Puskas (Hungary), and Francisco Gento (Spain) are some of the names of the world's top footballers who managed to lift Real back from adversity.

As Ancelotti said that his success in bringing Real Madrid to the 2021-2022 UEFA Champions League was due to the players' relentless mentality, it is true. Tenacity and not giving up is the key for Real Madrid to become the most successful club in Europe, even the world.