Whilst in franchised sports teams can change cities or even countries, depending on who has the money, clubs in Spain are normally majority owned by the fans or "socios", as their shareholders are called. With most clubs now celebrating their centenaries, some clubs have become as famous as they cities they represent!
Read more about Soccer in Spain or Where to Watch Football in Barcelona.
Spain's Major Soccer Teams
If you can get to see a game including any of these teams, you're in for an exceptional night of soccer.
- Barcelona League champions these last two seasons (04/05 & 05/06) they also added the European championship to their trophy cabinet in 2006. Playing in the heart of Barcelona in Europe's largest football stadium, the 120,000 capacity Nou Camp, they feature soccer stars such as the Brazilian Ronaldinho & Spain's sometimes captain Puyol among their roster.
- Real Madrid FIFA, soccer's world governing body, recently named Real Madrid as the most successful soccer club of the 20th century, having won more European championships than any other team from the continent (nine). Real Madrid are both loved and hated for the "galactico" (stars) system by which they buy the best (or most lucrative) players in the world each year.
Madrid and Barcelona are the protagonists in Spanish soccer's most famous rivalry, known as 'el Clasico'. Read more about Madrid v Barcelona in Soccer - Athletic de Bilbao - The purists of Spanish soccer. Many Spaniards have a soft spot for this club due to its policy of only ever including Spanish players on its roster. In the 60's & 70's a real force in Spanish soccer but the last few seasons have seen the club battling to keep up with other clubs employing stars from around the world.
- Sevilla The south of Spain is famed for its passion and latino love for life. This extends to the football club of Andalusia's capital which although not as successful as the big two (Real Madrid & Barcelona) still sees a 55,000 people party and partisan atmosphere for every game. The 2006 UEFA cup winners (Europe's second most important competition), Sevilla, are challenging the big two in 2007.
Read more about Soccer in Spain.
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