5 Real Madrid Nicknames That You Didn’t Know
Founded in 1902, Real Madrid are arguably the biggest and most successful football club on the planet. They’ve won a record 14 Champions League trophies and 35 La Liga titles. Most of the world refers to them as ‘Real Madrid’, but did you know that there are five nicknames that they also go by.
In this Elastico article, we’re going to discuss Real Madrid’s nicknames and how they originated.
Table of Contents
How Many Nicknames Does Real Madrid Have?
Real Madrid has five different nicknames – Los Galácticos, Los Blancos, Los Merengues, Los Vikingos and La Casa Blanca.
Los Galácticos
Real Madrid are often called Los Galácticos which is Spanish for ‘Galactics’ and means ‘superstars’. The reason the Spanish club were given this nickname is because of the “galácticos” transfer policy used by Florentino Pérez’s during his presidency at Real Madrid.
During 2000 and 2006 Pérez would sign at least one superstar during the summer transfer window. He even signed both Cristiano Ronaldo and Kaká during one window, which certainly helped endorse the Galácticos nickname.
Los Blancos
The nickname Los Blancos means ‘The Whites’ and this simply refers to the football kit that Real Madrid wear. They play in an all-white uniform, which includes a white football shirt, white shorts and white socks.
Los Merengues
Los Merengues is arguably the most interesting nickname for Real Madrid. But why exactly are Real Madrid nicknamed after a dessert? There are a few theories as to where this nickname originated:
- Some claim that Spanish journalist Matis Prats Cañete made the nickname popular during his radio commentaries.
- Another theory is that a gastronomist thought there was a resemblance between the French dessert and Real Madrid’s all white uniform. From this comparison, the nickname stuck.
Los Vikingos
There are also a couple of theories as to why Real Madrid have the nickname ‘Los Vikingos’:
- The main theory behind this Real Madrid nickname is that The Times newspaper were the first to use it. Following Madrid’s European Cup win during the 1959/60 season, The Times reported that “Real Madrid roam Europe as the Vikings did years ago, flattening everything in their path“. They beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 in the final of the competition.
- Others claim that Madrid were given the nickname because of the significant number of German and Danish players that signed for the team during the 1970s. Both of these countries are associated with Vikings, which explains the nickname. These players signed following the lift of a transfer ban on the club.
La Casa Blanca
Real Madrid’s nickname La Casa Blanca is Spanish for ‘The White House’. This nickname isn’t directly relevant for the team. Instead, it is more of a reference to the management or the President of the club.
Frequently Asked Questions
What Are Real Madrid Fans Called?
Fans of Real Madrid go by the names of either ‘Madridistas’ or the White Army.
What Is Real Madrid’s Full Name?
Real Madrid’s full name is Real Madrid Club de Fútbol.
