Greatest Real Madrid XI and Subs.

Real Madrid are arguably the biggest club in world football. They have had a wide range of talent players, some of whom have flopped at the club under the pressure and surrounded by other stars. Others have reached their zenith with the Spaniards.

This article looks in my own view, the greatest XI and subs that Real have ever had.

It was hard to put this together and there was a lot of competition.

GK — Ricardo Zamora

1930–1936

118 appearances/0 goals.

Other clubs — Espanyol, Barcelona, Espanyol, Nice

Honours — La Liga 1932, 1933. Copa de Espana 1934, 1936

Goalkeeper was the hardest position to pick but Ricardo Zamora just about wins. The award for most clean sheets in La Liga is called the Zamora Trophy. Nicknamed El Divinio, Zamora wore a cloth cap and turtle neck jumper on the field. Zamora smoked three packs of cigarettes a day and tried to smuggle home Havana Cigars after the 1920 Olympic Games. Known for fine saves and physical goalkeeping, Zamora was one who made the controversial switch from Barcelona to Real Madrid. Zamora was used as nationalist propaganda during the Spanish civil war after reports he was killed by the Republicans, who later arrested him. He later played benefit games for the Nationalists. He died in 1978, aged 77.

RB — Sergio Ramos

2005-present

521 appearances/68 goals

Other clubs — Sevilla

Honours — La Liga 2007, 2008, 2012, 2017. Copa del Rey 2011, 2014. Champions League 2014, 2016, 2017. Supercopa de Espana 2008, 2012. UEFA Super Cup 2014, 2016. FIFA World Club Cup 2014, 2016.

Now, 31, Ramos is currently Real captain. The only Spanish player signed during Florentino Perez’s first stint as the club’s president. Ramos has matured from a promising youngster to a seasoned professional. He is also capable of silky ball play as well as crunching tackles. Has a knack for scoring late goals and against Atletico Madrid in Champions League finals. Having played almost exclusively at centre-back for a while, Ramos played right back fairly often in his first few seasons for the club.

CB — Fernando Hierro

1989–2003

601 appearances/127 goals.

Other clubs — Real Valladolid, Al-Rayyan, Bolton Wanderrers

Honours — La Liga 1990, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003. Copa del Rey 1993. Supercopa de Espana 1990, 1993, 1997, 2001. Champions League 1998, 2000, 2002. Intercontinental Cup 1998, 2002. UEFA Super Cup 2002.

A classy defender who was capable of scoring a truckload of goals. Hierro, who captained the club from 2001–2003, was for a time Spain’s top goalscorer and scored 21 league goals during the 1991–92 season. A fine defender, Hierro spent 14 years at the Bernabeu, before joining Al-Rayyan in Qatar before being part of Sam Allardyce’s 1990s dream team at Bolton re-assembled in the mid 2000s.

CB — Miguel Munoz

1948–1958

271 appearances/24 goals.

Other clubs — Logrones, Racing Santandar, Celta Vigo.

Honours — European Cup 1956, 1957, 1958. La Liga 1954, 1955, 1957. 1958. Copa Latina 1955, 1957.

The captain for the first three of Los Blanco’s five consecutive European Cups. Munoz is probably the best defender in the side’s history. He would win two more European Cups and a host of La Liga’s after he returned as managed in 1959 following a year with the B team. A fine defender, Munoz’s leadership was paramount to domestic and European success in the 1950s. Died in 1990, aged 68.

LB — Roberto Carlos

1996–2007

512 appearances/67 goals.

Other clubs — Palmerias, Inter Milan, Fenerbahce, Corinthians, Anzhi Makhackhala, Delhi Dynamos.

Honours — La Liga 1997, 2001, 2003, 2007. Supercopa de Espana 1997, 2001, 2003. Champions League 1998, 2000, 2002. Intercontinental Cup 1998, 2002. UEFA Super Cup 2002.

Probably the best LB in the history of the game, Carlos bombed down the left flank well into his thirties. Having developed powerful leg muscles from working on farms in Brazil, Roberto Carlos was capable of scoring absolute screamers shown by an impossible goal from the tightest angle at Tenerife and a smashing free-kick at Barcelona.

RM-Cristiano Ronaldo

2009-present

394 appearances/406 goals

Other clubs — Sporting Clube de Portugal, Manchester United

Honours — La Liga 2012, 2017. Copa del Rey 2011, 2014. Champions League 2014, 2016, 2017. Supercopa de Espana 2012. UEFA Super Cup 2014. FIFA World Club Cup 2014, 2016.

Ronaldo is perhaps Real’s greatest player. Already the club’s highest goalscorer in history, having averaged more than a goal per game. Ronaldo has delivered for Real on the biggest stage, scoring the goal that won them the 2011 Copa del Rey and scoring the goal that killed of Barcelona’s title challenge in 2012, also scored in the win at Malaga to secure the league in 2017 and has scored three times in the three Champions League finals he has played.

CM-Guti

1995–2010

542 appearances/77 goals.

Other clubs — Besiktas.

Honours — La Liga 1997, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008. Supercopa de Espana 1997, 2001, 2003, 2008. Champions League 1998, 2000, 2002. UEFA Super Cup 2002. Intercontinental Cup 1998, 2002.

One of the two most underrated players in history. Guti was a fantastic player, a great passer in the ball with fantastic vision and commitment, also played as an emergency striker and scored some important goals. This helped him win over supporters of Los Merengues. Despite, the signings of Xabi Alonso and Kaka, Guti was a regular even in his last season for the club, before the arrival of Sami Khedira and Mesut Ozil. Joined Turkish club Besiktas, having a successful first season winning the Turkish Cup and being named captain before off-the-field issues meant his contract was terminated. Linked to moves to River Plate and West Ham, Guti then did media work before becoming a coach in Real’s academy.

CM-Zinedine Zidane

2001–2006

225 appearances/49 goals

Other clubs — Cannes, Bordeaux, Juventus.

Honours — La Liga 2003. Supercopa de Espana 2001, 2003. Champions League 2002. UEFA Super Cup 2002. Intercontinental Cup 2002.

The biggest success story of the first Galacticos era. Zidane’s trophy cabinet, though extensive did not match his ability. A player who could controlled the ball with ease, oozed class and made it all look so easy. He was strong, too, rare for a playmaker. Famously, scored the winner in the 2002 Champions League Final with a breathtaking volley. Arguably, the greatest European player of all time alongside Ronaldo and Cruyff. Currently enjoying his stint as Real boss, already winning two Champions Leagues and a La Liga.

LM-Gento

1953–1971

606 appearances/178 goals

Other clubs — Racing Santander

Honours — La Liga 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969. Copa del Rey 1962, 1970. European Cup 1956, 1957, 19958, 1959, 1960, 1966. Intercontinental Cup 1960. Copa Latina 1955, 1957.

Holds the record for most European Cup and La Liga wins. A young player in the side that stormed Europe in the 1950s, Gento added valuable pace and goals. He was then the captain of the next Ye-Ye generation of the 1960s, showing clear leadership ability and was invaluable to the success of both legendary sides.

ST- Alfredo di Stefano

1953–1964

396 appearances/307 goals

Other clubs — River Plate, Huracan (loan), Millonarios, Espanyol

Honours — Intercontinental Cup 1960, European Cup 1956, 1957, 1958, 1959, 1960. La Liga 1954, 1955, 1957, 1958, 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964. Copa del Rey 1962.

Scored in all five of Real’s European Cup final wins between 1956–1960. A fine exciting forward with bags of skills and eye for goal. Di Stefano was a real flair player. Had brief stints as manager in the 1980s and 1990s. The club’s reserve stadium is named after him. Passed away in July 2014, aged 88.

ST- Ferenc Puskas

1958–1966

262 appearances/242 goals

Other clubs — Budapest Honved

Honours — La Liga 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965. Copa del Rey 1962. European Cup 1959, 1960, 1966. Intercontinental Cup 1960.

If Di Stefano was the unstoppable force, Puskas was the immovable object. Having made his name with the Might Magyars, the Hungarian national side of the early 1950s. Puskas defected for Hungary and left Honved, and was suspended for nearly two years. That didn’t stop him from blitzing Spanish and European football, banging in goals left, right and centre. Having a national stadium named after you is no mean feat. Passed away in 2006, aged 79 from pneumonia.

SUB- Iker Casillas

1999–2015

725 appearances/0 goals.

Honours — La Liga 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008, 2012. Copa del Rey 2011, 2014. Champions League 2000, 2002, 2014. Supercopa de Espana 2001, 2003, 2008, 2012. UEFA Super Cup 2002, 2014. FIFA Club World Cup 2014. Intercontinental Cup 2002.

Real’s captain from 2010–2015, Casillas made his debut in 1999, before going on to a play a key role in the club’s 2000 Champions League win aged just 19. He would also come on as a substitute two years later and make a string of key saves as Bayer Leverkusen were defeated 2–1. A vocal leader with excellent organisation skills, Casillas would later be dropped by Mourinho. Casillas, stands at 6ft1. Short for a ‘keeper, he also isn’t physically large, either. As such, he relied on his pace to make up for it, as he got older, he wasn’t fast and this caused him to make high profile errors. However, Iker joined Porto, leaving in tears but is enjoying a resurgence at the Portuguese giants.

SUB- Manuel Sanchis Jr.

1983–2001

711 appearances/43 goals.

Other clubs — None.

Honours — La Liga 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1995, 1997, 2001. Copa del Rey 1989, 1993. Copa de la Liga 1985. Supercopa de Espana 1988, 1989, 1990, 1993, 1997. Champions League 1998, 2000. UEFA Cup 1985, 1986. Intercontinental Cup 1998.

The son of another bonafide Real legend, Sanchis was a defender who went about his job expertly. Winning a plethora of titles over nearly two decades in the first team. A host of managers also saw him as a first choice. Captained the side to their first European trophy in 32 years. A member of Real’s physical fast tempo gritty side of the 1980s, he was the only member of La Quinta el Buitre to stay at the club at his whole career.

SUB- Fernando Redondo

1994–2000

225 appearances/5 goals.

Other clubs — Argentinos Juniors, Tenerife, AC Milan.

Honours — La Liga 1995, 1997. Supercopa de Espana 1997. Champions League 1998, 2000. Intercontinental Cup 1998.

The other of the two most underrated players in history. Nicknamed The Prince — the Argentine was a fine defensive midfielder, equally capable in both defence and attack. He had skill, passing, tackling and excellent man marking abilities, marking players out of the game. Was the the best player in the Champions League in 2000 as the club won their eight title, a particularly highlight came in a quarter final away leg at Manchester United (video above). Sold in controversial circumstances to AC Milan (Redondo did not wish to leave and fans protested outside the stadium). A knee injury in training meant it took two and a half years for him to make his Milan debut, though he suspended his wages and tried to return the home and car the club gave him.

SUB- Pirri

1964–1980

561 appearances/172 goals.

Other clubs — Granada, Puebla.

Honours — European Cup 1966. La Liga 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1980. Copa del Rey 1970, 1974, 1975, 1980.

Born in Cueta, a Spanish city in North Africa, Pirri was a fine goal scoring midfielder who could also play as a makeshift sweeper and spent 16 years at the club, transitioning like Gento from promising young player to a seasoned leader before moving to Mexico.

SUB- Luka Modric

2012-present

214 appearances/11 goals.

Other clubs — Dinamo Zagreb, Zrinjski Mostar (loan), Inter Zapresic (loan), Tottenham Hotspur.

Honours — La Liga 2017. Copa del Rey 2014. Supercopa de Espana 2012. Champions League 2014, 2016, 2017. UEFA Super Cup 2014, 2016. FIFA Club World Cup 2014, 2016.

The Croatian has been a key player in the side’s recent success. After initially struggling following his transfer from Tottenham Hotspur, Modric scored a winner at Man Utd in the Champions League second round, which re-ignited his career. A true visionary, with a fine range of passing and capable of storng powerful runs, his presence is sorely missed when he is out injured.

SUB- Raymond Kopa

1956–1959

101 appearances/30 goals.

Other clubs — Angers, Reims, Reims.

Homours — La Liga 1957, 1958. European Cup 1957, 1958, 1959. Copa Latina 1957.

The 1958 Balon d’Or winner. Kopa, a Frenchman of Polish descent was powerful and creative, the perfect foil for Puskas and Di Stefano and a key part of success in the side. Sadly, the trio were only in the side together for the 1958–1959 season as Kopa returned to Reims, who he had left three years later. Kopa passed away in March 2017 at the age of 85.

SUB- Raul

1995–2010

741 appearances/323 goals.

Other clubs- Schalke, Al-Sadd, New York Cosmos.

Honours — La Liga 1995, 1997, 2001, 2003, 2007, 2008. Supercopa de Espana 1997, 2001, 2003, 2008. Champions League 1998, 2000, 2002. UEFA Super Cup 2002. Intercontinental Cup 1998, 2002.

Real’s leading appearance marker, Raul signed for La Fabrica, the club’s youth academy after Atletico collapsed theirs’. For a while Real and the Champions League's leading goalscorer, Raul was a complete forward — capable of playing as a lone striker, as part of a front two, out wide or just behind the front man. Capable of poaching goals, scoring headers, despite his height and the occasional worldly, Raul will always be a popular figure in Madrid, he was quite a modest guy which makes his shush celebration at the Camp Nou even cooler. Left in 2010, at the age of 33 following the influx of new Galacticos such as Karim Benzema, Ronaldo, Gonzalo Higuain and others reducing his game time.