From BBC Sport · · 1m
How Spanish Clubs Get 'Real' Title
Spanish football clubs earn 'Real' royal designation through historical monarchy ties.
In brief
Spanish football clubs earn 'Real' royal designation through historical monarchy ties. Spanish clubs like Real Madrid receive 'Real' title from Spanish monarchs since 1909, granting royal patronage and prestige. Originally reported by BBC Sport.
What 'Real' Means
The term 'Real' translates to 'Royal' and signifies historic monarchy ties for Spanish football clubs.
Royal Designation History
The top two Spanish divisions feature 11 clubs with 'Real' in their names, including Real Madrid, Real Betis, and Real Sociedad.
King Alfonso XIII's Role
King Alfonso XIII granted the first club, Real Club Deportivo de A Coruna, the 'Real' title in 1909 through honorary presidency.
Real Madrid's Royal Title
Real Madrid received the 'Real' title from King Alfonso XIII in 1920 after being founded as Madrid Football Club in 1902.
How Clubs Apply
Clubs can apply for the 'Real' title through formal requests to the monarchy, as seen with Club Deportivo Gara in 2012.
The essence
Spanish clubs like Real Madrid receive 'Real' title from Spanish monarchs since 1909, granting royal patronage and prestige.
