# How Spanish Clubs Get 'Real' Title

> Spanish football clubs earn 'Real' royal designation through historical monarchy ties.
- Title: How Spanish Clubs Get 'Real' Title · BBC Sport | Shortify
- Summary: Spanish football clubs earn 'Real' royal designation through historical monarchy ties. Spanish clubs like Real Madrid receive 'Real' title from Spanish…
- Keywords: real madrid, real sociedad, real betis, spanish football, royal designation, la ligas, spanish monarchy, sports, Spanish, Clubs, Get, 'Real'
- Source: BBC Sport — https://bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cwdd865ym7n7o
- Published: 2026-10-09T08:41:18.724+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: real madrid, real sociedad, real betis, spanish football, royal designation, la ligas, spanish monarchy, sports
## 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.
## Key takeaway

Spanish clubs like Real Madrid receive 'Real' title from Spanish monarchs since 1909, granting royal patronage and prestige.