Retro Real Madrid Shirts – The Whites of the Bernabéu

Real Madrid was founded in 1902 by a group of academics and football enthusiasts inspired by Cambridge graduates who had brought the game to the Spanish capital. The 'Real' (Royal) prefix was granted by King Alfonso XIII in 1920, cementing the club's regal identity. Under the visionary presidency of Santiago Bernabéu, who took charge in 1943, Madrid built a new stadium and assembled the most fearsome side football had ever witnessed. Between 1956 and 1960 they won five consecutive European Cups – an unprecedented feat – with Alfredo Di Stéfano, Ferenc Puskás, Francisco Gento and Raymond Kopa orchestrating performances of breathtaking quality. Domestically, Madrid have dominated La Liga more than any other club, accumulating a staggering haul of league titles. The 1970s and 80s brought La Quinta del Buitre – Butragueño, Míchel, Martín Vázquez, Sanchís and Pardeza – winning five consecutive Ligas. The 21st century opened with the Galácticos era under Florentino Pérez: Zidane, Figo, Ronaldo, Beckham and Roberto Carlos all wore the white. Then came the European renaissance under Zinédine Zidane as manager, with three consecutive Champions League trophies between 2016 and 2018, an achievement once thought impossible in the modern era. Their rivalry with Barcelona – El Clásico – remains the most-watched fixture in world football, while battles with Atlético Madrid for city bragging rights provide the derby drama. The remontadas against PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City in recent seasons proved the Madrid mystique remains alive at the rebuilt Bernabéu.

The roll call of Real Madrid legends reads like a footballing hall of fame. Alfredo Di Stéfano, the Argentine-Spanish maestro, was arguably the most complete footballer of his generation and the architect of the five-in-a-row European dynasty alongside the explosive Ferenc Puskás and the lightning-fast winger Francisco Gento, the only man to win six European Cups. The 1980s belonged to Emilio Butragueño and the Quinta del Buitre, supported by Mexican goal machine Hugo Sánchez whose acrobatic finishes lit up the Bernabéu. Raúl González became the eternal captain, his celebration kissing his wedding ring iconic to a generation. Iker Casillas, San Iker, kept goal through Madrid's modern triumphs and lifted the World Cup with Spain. The Galácticos era brought Brazilian Ronaldo's smile, Zidane's volley in Glasgow, Figo's controversial arrival from Barcelona and David Beckham's right foot. Then came Cristiano Ronaldo, the club's all-time top scorer with 450 goals, partnered by Karim Benzema, Sergio Ramos's last-minute headers and Luka Modrić's midfield artistry. On the touchline, coaches like Miguel Muñoz, Vicente del Bosque, Fabio Capello, José Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti and the returning Zinédine Zidane have all left indelible marks on the white shirt's story.

The all-white kit is one of the most recognisable strips in world sport, inspired by Corinthian FC of London at the turn of the 20th century. The early shirts featured a simple buttoned collar and the embroidered crown crest, designs that collectors prize today for their historical purity. The 1980s brought the iconic Hummel-style chevrons and the legendary Zanussi sponsorship worn during the UEFA Cup triumphs of 1985 and 1986. Adidas took over in 1998 and produced some genuinely beautiful shirts – the 2001-02 centenary shirt with its golden trim, worn during the Hampden Park European Cup final, remains a holy grail for collectors. The Teka and Parmalat shirts of the 90s have a cult following, while the Siemens Mobile and BenQ Siemens shirts of the early Galácticos era evoke memories of Zidane, Figo and Ronaldo. Purple and black away strips have become sought-after rarities, particularly the 2011-12 Mourinho-era purple shirts and the salmon pink third kits. Anything bearing the names Raúl, Zidane, Beckham or Cristiano Ronaldo on the back commands a premium.