Atlético Madrid are one of the most historic and respected clubs in Spanish football. Founded in 1903, the Madrid-based side have built their identity around resilience, defensive discipline, passionate supporters and a relentless fighting spirit.

Known worldwide as Atlético de Madrid, and nicknamed Los Colchoneros, the club have won 32 official trophies with their men's first team. Their honours include 11 La Liga titles, 10 Copa del Rey trophies, 2 Spanish Super Cups, 3 UEFA Europa League titles, 3 UEFA Super Cups, 1 European Cup Winners' Cup, 1 UEFA Intertoto Cup and 1 Intercontinental Cup.

The Birth of Atlético Madrid

Atlético Madrid were founded on 26 April 1903 by a group of young Basque students living in Madrid. The club initially operated as Athletic Club de Madrid before developing into the Atlético de Madrid identity known around the world today.

Throughout their history, Atlético have played at several famous grounds, including Retiro, O'Donnell and the Vicente Calderón. Their current home is the Riyadh Air Metropolitano, one of Europe's modern football stadiums.

The Metropolitano hosted the 2019 UEFA Champions League final and is scheduled to host another Champions League final in 2027.

Atlético Madrid's Total Trophy Count

Atlético Madrid have won 32 official men's first-team trophies.

Domestic trophies — 23

• La Liga: 11

• Copa del Rey: 10

• Spanish Super Cup: 2

International trophies — 9

• UEFA Europa League: 3

• UEFA Super Cup: 3

• European Cup Winners' Cup: 1

• UEFA Intertoto Cup: 1

• Intercontinental Cup: 1

That gives Atlético Madrid 23 domestic trophies and 9 international trophies, for a total of 32 official titles.

Atlético Madrid and La Liga History

Atlético Madrid have won the Spanish top-flight title 11 times, making them one of the most successful clubs in Spanish football. Their most recent La Liga championship came in the 2020-21 season.

Atlético Madrid's 11 La Liga titles

1. 1939-40

2. 1940-41

3. 1949-50

4. 1950-51

5. 1965-66

6. 1969-70

7. 1972-73

8. 1976-77

9. 1995-96

10. 2013-14

11. 2020-21

The 1995-96 season was particularly memorable because Atlético won both La Liga and the Copa del Rey, completing a historic domestic double.

The club then returned to the top of Spanish football in 2013-14 under Diego Simeone and won another La Liga title in 2020-21.

Copa del Rey History

Atlético Madrid have won the Copa del Rey 10 times.

Their Copa del Rey titles came in:

• 1960

• 1961

• 1965

• 1972

• 1976

• 1985

• 1991

• 1992

• 1996

• 2013

Atlético have reached 20 Copa del Rey finals and won 10 of them. Their most recent triumph came in 2013, when they defeated Real Madrid 2-1 at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Major Copa del Rey final victories

1960: Atlético 3-1 Real Madrid
1961: Atlético 3-2 Real Madrid
1965: Atlético 1-0 Real Zaragoza
1972: Atlético 2-1 Valencia
1976: Atlético 1-0 Real Zaragoza
1985: Atlético 2-1 Athletic Club
1991: Atlético 1-0 Mallorca
1992: Atlético 2-0 Real Madrid
1996: Atlético 1-0 Barcelona
2013: Atlético 2-1 Real Madrid

In the 2026 Copa del Rey final, Atlético drew 2-2 with Real Sociedad before losing 4-3 on penalties, meaning their total remains at 10 Copa del Rey titles.

Atlético Madrid in the Champions League

The biggest missing trophy in Atlético Madrid's cabinet is the UEFA Champions League.

Atlético have reached the European Cup/Champions League final three times—in 1974, 2014 and 2016—but have never won the competition. UEFA's official records list all three finals as Atlético defeats.

1974 European Cup Final

Atlético reached their first European Cup final in 1974 against Bayern Munich.

The first match ended 1-1, but Bayern won the replay 4-0.

Atlético nevertheless ended the year with an international trophy, winning the Intercontinental Cup.

2014 Champions League Final

Under Diego Simeone, Atlético reached the Champions League final in 2014.

Their opponents were city rivals Real Madrid.

Atlético led for much of the match, but Real Madrid equalised late and eventually won 4-1 after extra time.

2016 Champions League Final

Two years later, Atlético reached the Champions League final again, once more facing Real Madrid.

The match finished 1-1 after extra time. Real Madrid won the penalty shootout 5-3.

Therefore, Atlético have a Champions League record of:

Champions League titles: 0
Champions League final appearances: 3
Champions League runner-up finishes: 3

UEFA identifies the 2014 and 2016 finals as two of the defining chapters in the modern Atlético–Real Madrid rivalry.

Europa League Success

Atlético Madrid have been far more successful in the Europa League than in the Champions League.

They have won the competition three times:

• 2009-10

• 2011-12

• 2017-18

2010 Europa League

Atlético defeated Fulham 2-1 in the final, with Diego Forlán playing a decisive role.

2012 Europa League

Atlético defeated Athletic Club 3-0 in the final. Radamel Falcao scored twice and produced one of the great individual final performances in the club's European history.

2018 Europa League

Atlético defeated Marseille 3-0 in the final to claim their third Europa League title.

UEFA Super Cup

Atlético Madrid have won the UEFA Super Cup three times:

• 2010

• 2012

• 2018

Their Super Cup success has often followed their Europa League triumphs.

European Cup Winners' Cup

Atlético won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1962, defeating Fiorentina in the final replay after the first match ended in a draw.

It remains one of the club's most important early European achievements.

Intercontinental Cup: Atlético Become World Champions

Atlético's most notable international achievement outside UEFA competitions came in 1974.

After losing the European Cup final to Bayern Munich, Atlético went on to win the Intercontinental Cup, defeating Argentina's Independiente over two legs.

The triumph gave Atlético a place among the world's club champions of that era.

Complete Atlético Madrid Trophy List

These figures refer to Atlético Madrid's men's first team and match the club's official honours list and La Liga's 2026 overview.

The Diego Simeone Era

No discussion of modern Atlético Madrid history is complete without Diego Simeone.

Simeone transformed Atlético into one of Europe's most competitive teams. His philosophy combined defensive organisation, tactical discipline, intensity, counter-attacking football and an uncompromising mentality.

During the Simeone era, Atlético have won major domestic and European honours including:

• La Liga

• Copa del Rey

• Spanish Super Cup

• UEFA Europa League

• UEFA Super Cup

The 2013-14 La Liga title was particularly significant because Atlético broke the traditional dominance of Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Atlético Madrid Legends

Over more than a century, Atlético have produced and attracted some of football's most memorable players.

Luis Aragonés

One of the defining figures in Atlético history, both as a player and manager.

Adelardo

A legendary Atlético midfielder and one of the club's historic greats.

Fernando Torres

An academy product and one of Atlético's most beloved players, known worldwide as “El Niño.”

Diego Forlán

A key figure in Atlético's 2010 Europa League triumph.

Radamel Falcao

The Colombian striker produced a spectacular performance in the 2012 Europa League final.

Antoine Griezmann

One of the defining attacking players of the modern Atlético era.

Diego Godín

A defensive leader who became one of the most recognisable faces of the Simeone era.

Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid: The Madrid Derby

The biggest local rivalry in Atlético Madrid's history is their battle with Real Madrid.

Known as the Madrid Derby, the rivalry has produced some of the most dramatic matches in Spanish football.

The rivalry became even more significant in Europe when the two clubs met in the Champions League finals of 2014 and 2016, with Real Madrid winning both.

Atlético have also produced famous victories over Real Madrid in the Copa del Rey, particularly the 2013 final at the Santiago Bernabéu.

Why Atlético Madrid Are One of Spain's Greatest Clubs

Atlético Madrid may not have the enormous trophy collection of Real Madrid or Barcelona, but their place in Spanish and European football history is unquestionable.

With 11 La Liga titles, 10 Copa del Rey trophies, 3 Europa League titles, 3 UEFA Super Cups and an Intercontinental Cup, Atlético have established themselves as one of Spain's most successful clubs.

Their biggest unfinished chapter remains the Champions League.

Three finals.

Three defeats.

Yet that disappointment has become part of the club's identity—a story of resilience, heartbreak and the determination to keep fighting.

From 1903 to 2026, Atlético Madrid's history is more than a list of trophies. It is the story of a club that has repeatedly challenged Spain's biggest powers, conquered Europe on several occasions and built one of football's strongest identities around courage, passion and perseverance.