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| Koke and Gabi |
Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index.
Real Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia,
Atletico Madrid, Sevilla, Atletic Bilbao,
Deportivo La Coruna Real Sociedad,
Real Betis, Real Zaragoza, Espanyol
Atletico Madrid All-Time Team for Foreign Players
Spain with Real Madrid and Barcelona
This is my selection of a 25 member all-time team for Atletico Madrid's Spanish players. The number 25 was chosen because it is the official squad size for the Champions' League.
Atletico Madrid is the third best team in Spain after Real Madrid and Barcelona. They were runner-ups at the European Cup three times, won a singe Cup Winners' Cup and two Europa League. In 1995-1996, they also won the Double(La Liga and Copa del Rey).
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| Feliciano Rivilla and Isacio Calleja |
GK: Abel Resino
Abel Resino was nicknamed the "Cat". He came to Atletico Madrid in 1986 from lowly CD Ciempozuelos and stayed there until 1995. He won back-to-back Cops del rey in 1991 and 1992. He won the Zamora Trophy in 1990-1991 season. He spent a season playing for Rayo Vallecano at the end of his career. He earned two caps for Span in 1991.
GK: Jose Molina
Jose Molina joined Atletico Madrid in 1995, he helped the club win a Double (league and Copa del Rey) in his first year. However, after Atletico Madrid relegated after the 1999-2000 season, he moved to Deportivo La Coruna and lasted until 2006. He played one season with Levante. He made his national team debut in 1996 as an outfielder because the team had used up all the subs. He had 9 caps in total.
GK: Miguel Reina
Reina started with Cordoba in 1964, but better known for playing with Barcelona and Atlético Madrid (seven years apiece). He won the Ricardo Zamora Trophy for the 1972–73 season. With Atletico Madrid, he also reached the final of the 1974 European Cup against FC Bayern Munich at the Heysel Stadium in Belgium. At the international level, he was capped 5 times. He was a backup at the World Cup Finals in 1966. His son is Pepe Reina.
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| Miguel Reina |
Tomas joined Atletico Madrid in 1984 and stayed there until 1996. His last season was the year Atletico Madrid won the Double. He played two more years in the lower division before retiring. He was capped 19 times. He started most of the games at the 1986 World Cup Finals in Mexico and the 1988 European Championship in West Germany.
RB: Feliciano Rivilla
Feliciano Rivilla was an all-time great with Atletico Madrid. He started playing football with Real Ávila CF, moving to Real Murcia at the age of 17. In 1954, he joined Atletico Madrid, where he played until 1968. For Spain, he won the European Championship in 1964 with Spain as a starter, and was a part of two World Cup Finals in 1962 and 1966.
CB: Juan Carlos Arteche
Juan Carlos Arteche began playing professionally with Racing de Santander after starting in basketball, making his debut in the 1976–77 season. He joined Atletico Madrid the season after. He helped the club to reach the Final of Cup Winners' Cup in the 1985-1986 season. For Spain, he was capped 4 times scoring a goal between 1986 and 1987.
CB: Roberto Solozabal
Roberto Solozabal was a product of Atletico Madrid academy. He played there from 1989 to 1997. He was known for his solid partnership with Juan Manuel Lopez for the season their club won the Double. He went to Real Betis in 1997. For Spain, he won the Gold medal at the 1992 Olympics held in Barcelona. He also earned 12 senior caps.
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| Roberto Solozabal |
At the end of the Spanish Civil War in 1939, Alfonso Aparicio joined Atlético Madrid, then known as Atlético Aviación. He played 12 seasons there, winning 4 league titles (1939-1940, 1940-1941, 1949-1950, 1950-1951). In 1952, he joined Boavista FC in Portugal. At the international level, he played 8 times for Spain from 1945 to 1949.
CB: Juanma López
Juan Manuel López was better known as Juanma López. He was a one club man with Atletico Madrid, where he made his senior debut in 1991. During the 1995–96 campaign, López, often dubbed Super López, formed a solid centre-back partnership withRoberto Solozábal, as the team won an historic double. He was capped 11 times, winning the Gold Medal at the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona. He also went to the Euro 1996 in England.
LB: Isacio Calleja
Calleja is a long term member of Atletico Madrid. Safe for a very brief loan spell with CD Guadalajara in the third division, Calleja spent his entire 14-year professional career with Atlético Madrid. He won back-to-back Copa del rey from 1959 to 1961. In 1962, he won the Cup Winners' Cup. He had 13 caps for Spain. Calleja helped the national side win the 1964 European Nations' Cup on home soil.
LB: José Luis Capón
José Luis Capón played for Atlético Madrid between 1970 and 1980, winning the Spanish League in 1973 and 1977, the Spanish Cup in 1976, and the Intercontinental Cup in 1974. He played in the 1974 European Cup Final, which Atlético lost to Bayern Munich after the replay. He also played Burgos and Elche at the club level. From 1973 to 1977, he won 13 caps for Spain.
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| José Luis Capón |
Juan Vizcaíno started playing with hometown's Gimnàstic de Tarragona, not yet aged 17, with the club in the third division. In 1986, Vizcaíno moved to Real Zaragoza. From 1990 to 1998, he played for Atlético Madrid. He later played for Real Valladolid, Elche CF and his first club, Gimnàstic. From 1991 to 1992, he played 15 times for Spain.
CM: Adelardo Rodriguez
Adelardo spent 17 years with Atletico Madrid. He held the appearance record for the club. During his spell, the club won three La Liga titles (65–66, 69–70 and 72–73), five Copa del Reys (1960, 1961, 1965, 1972 and 1976), the 1962 European Cup Winners' Cup, the 1974 Intercontinental Cup. He earned 14 caps for Spain between 1962 and 1970. He went to the World Cup in 1962 and 1966.
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| Adelardo Rodriguez |
Koke spent most of his career with Atlético Madrid since making his debut with the first team in 2009, playing over 300 official games and winning five honours, including the 2014 national championship and the 2012 Europa League. He won the 2013 European Championship with the Spanish under-21 team. He also made his debut for the full side that year, and represented the country at the 2014 and 2018 World Cup and Euro 2016.
CM: Gabi
At the time of writing, Gabi is the captain of Atletico Madrid. He played for Atletico Madrid between 2004 and 2007 before moving to Zaragoza. In 2011, he returned to Atletico Madrid, coinciding with the rise of Simeone's team. He first took the Copa del Rey in 2013 and then, the league title in 2013-2014. He captained the side that reached the Champions' league Final twice.
AM/CM: Javier Irureta
Javier Irureta started with local Real Unión in 1965 before joining Atlético Madrid in 1967. During his time at the club he was part of a team that won two La Liga titles and a Copa del Rey, playing alongside the likes of Adelardo, Luis Aragonés and José Eulogio Gárate. They also reached the European Cup final in 1974. From 1975 to 1990, he played for Athletic Bilbao, where he reached the Final of the 1977 UEFA Cup. He played 6 times for Spain.
AM/CM: Jose Luis Caminero
Jose Luis Caminero was a product of Real Madrid, but started his career with Real Valladolid. In 1993, he moved to Atletico Madrid. Over there, he won the Double in 1995-1996 and the Spanish Player of the Year that same season. He returned to Real Valladolid. At the international level, he had 21 caps and played in the 1994 World Cuop Finals in the USA and the 1996 European Championship in England.
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| Jose Luis Caminero |
Born in Spain, but Jose Ufarte moved to Brazil as a child. He started with Flamengo and Corinthians in Brazil before he returned home and signed with Atletico Madrid. He played on the great Atletico Madrid side of the 1960's. He later played with Racing Santander. He earned 16 caps. Ufarte represented Spain at the 1966 World Cup in England.
RW/FW: José Juncosa
Juncosa began his professional career at CF Reus in the 1941/42 season. Then, he played for Espanyol before he joined Atlético de Madrid in 1944, a club in which he would remain eleven years.,
With Atlético de Madrid, he would be part of two of their best-known attack formations: "La llamada Delantera de Seda" and "La llamada Delantera de Cristal". At the international level, he was capped twice. One of the caps were played in the 1950 World Cup Finals.
LW/FW: Joaquin Peiro
Joaquin Peiro is a legend at Atletic Madrid. He starred as his hometown club won back-to-back Copa del Rey from 1959 to 1961 and the Cup Winners' Cup in 1962. In 1962, he moved to play for Torino in Italy. Then, in 1964, he joined Inter Milan and won the European Cup in 1965 as a member "la Grande Inter". He later played and captained Roma. He had 12 caps in a 10 year period.
FW: Luis Aragones
Luis Aragones is known as the coach of Spain's European Championship winning team in 2008. As a player, he started with Getafe in 1957 and then, Real Madrid a year later. But he never made a mark. He finally made a name with Real Betis and signed with Atletico Madrid in 1964, where he won three league titles. He is the club's all-time leading scorer. H was known for his freekick. He was capped 11 times between 1964 and 1972.
Luis Aragones is known as the coach of Spain's European Championship winning team in 2008. As a player, he started with Getafe in 1957 and then, Real Madrid a year later. But he never made a mark. He finally made a name with Real Betis and signed with Atletico Madrid in 1964, where he won three league titles. He is the club's all-time leading scorer. H was known for his freekick. He was capped 11 times between 1964 and 1972.
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| Luis Aragones |
LW/RW: Enrique Collar
Born in 1934, Enrique Collar spent most of his career with Atletico Madrid from 1952 to 1969. He played a single season with Valencia befoe he retired from playing. He was a part of the great Atletico Madrid side that won the Cup Winners' Cup in 1962. He earned 16 caps, scoring 4 goals for Spain. He also went to the World Cup Finals in 1962 as Spain's captain, but only made a single appearance at the Finals.
Escudero arrived at Atlético Madrid in late 1945, from local amateurs Club Deportivo Mediodía. He was the all-time leading goalscorer for Atlético Madrid with 170 goals, having appeared for the club in 13 La Liga seasons and played in more than 350 official games. At the international level, he was capped 3 times between 1952 and 1956.
ST: Fernando Torres
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| Fernando Torres |
Born in Argentina, Jose Eulogio Garate grew up in Eibar. He was a Basque, but was overlooked by Atletico Bilboa. He was a member of the legendary Atletico Madrid side that won three league titles in the 1970's. Atletico finished second at the 1974 European Cup, but won the Intercontinental Cup that year. He also won the Pichichi Trophy three straight times: 1969-1970, 1970-1971 and 1971-1972. He was capped 18 times between 1967 and 1975. He never played in a major tournament because Spain failed to qualify for any.
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| Jose Eulogio Garate |
Honorable Mention
Alfonso Silva, David De Gea, Kiko, Juanfranc, Juan Carlos Aguilera, Luis Garcia, Antonio "Toni" Munoz, German Gomez, Machin, Diego Costa, Marcelino, Raúl García, Paco Campos.Team Explanation
-- Fernando Torres, Tomas, Gabi, Jose Eulogio Garate, Enrique Collar, Abel Resino, Jose Molina, Feliciano Rivilla, Juan Carlos Arteche, Roberto Solozabal, Isacio Calleja, Adelardo Rodriguez Jose Luis Caminer, Jose Ufarte, Joaquin Peiro and Luis Aragones are on my All-Time Team for Atletico Madrid. I built my team with those players. So I only need to add 9 players to this group of players.
-- David De Gea might be a better goalkeeper than Miguel Reina, but Miguel Reina had a longer career here. He edged out David De Gea for the third keeper spot.
-- José Luis Capón edged out Toni for the left back position.
-- I need to find two centerback to replace the foreign players from the All-Time Team. I took Juanma López for one of the spots. Alfonso Aparicio edged out Santi and Miguel Ángel Ruiz for the last spot.
-- Both right backs are from the all-time team. Juanfran missed out.
-- Koke has earned a spot after playing so many years for Diego Simeone's Atletico Madrid.
-- Juan Vizcaíno was a fundamental player for Atletico Madrid winning the Double in the 1995/1996 season.
-- José Juncosa was chosen because he could operate as a right wing-forward.
-- The team under Diego Simeone deserved a lot of selections. They reached the Final of the Champions' League twice. However, only Fernando Torres, Koke and Gabi made the team.
-- Under manager Helenio Herrera , Atlético Madrid won La Liga in 1950 and 1951. It was a Golden period for the club. Joaquin Peiro, Adelardo Rodriguez, Isacio Calleja, Feliciano Rivilla and Jose Ufarte belonged to that generation.
-- Diego Costa is eligible for this team because he is cap-tied to Spain. Thus, he is considered to be a domestic player. However, he only made honorable mention.
-- Adrián Escudero edged out Diego Costa because he was more of a historical player. Diego Costa's peak was limited to a single season.
Formation
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