Editing Atlético Madrid (section)

==History==
===Foundation and first years (1903–1939)===
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[[File:Enrique Allende.jpg|thumb|left|[[Enrique Allende]], first President of the club after its establishment in 1903]]
[[File:Atletico madrid 1911.jpg|thumb|left|An Athletic Madrid lineup of 1910 in their new red and white kit]]
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The club was founded on 26 April 1903<ref name="autogenerated1">{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/club=31070/index.html |title=Classic club |publisher=[[FIFA]] |access-date=20 November 2010 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110906093039/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/club%3D31070/index.html |archive-date= 6 September 2011}}</ref> as ''Athletic Club Sucursal de Madrid'' by three [[Basques|Basque]] students living in [[Madrid]]. These founders saw the new club as a youth branch of their childhood team, [[Athletic Bilbao]]<ref name="autogenerated1" /> who they had just seen win the [[1903 Copa del Rey final|1903 Copa del Rey Final]] in the city. In 1904, they were joined by dissident members of [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.atleticomadrid.azplayers.com/history.html |title=Atletico Madrid History |publisher=Atleticomadrid.azplayers |access-date=20 November 2010 |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707202444/http://www.atleticomadrid.azplayers.com/history.html |archive-date=7 July 2011}}</ref> They began playing in blue and white halved shirts, the then colours of Athletic Bilbao, but by 1910, both the Bilbao and Madrid teams were playing in their current colours of red and white stripes. Some believe the change came about because red and white striped tops were the cheapest to make, as the same combination was used to make [[Ticking (textile)|ticking]] for [[mattress]]es, and the unused cloth was easily converted into football shirts. This contributed to the club's nickname, ''Los Colchoneros''.

However, another explanation is that both Athletic Bilbao and Athletic Madrid used to buy [[Blackburn Rovers F.C.|Blackburn Rovers]]' blue and white kits<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Blackburn_Rovers/Blackburn_Rovers.htm | title = Blackburn Rovers | website = Historical Football Kits | access-date = 10 October 2018 | archive-date = 18 May 2019 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190518105904/http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Blackburn_Rovers/Blackburn_Rovers.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> in England.<ref name="theoffside1">{{cite web|url=http://atletico.theoffside.com/tidbits/the-atletico-crest-and-its-meaning.html|title=The Atlético Crest and its Meaning – The Offside – Atlético Madrid Spanish La Liga Football Blog|publisher=Atletico.theoffside|access-date=20 November 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101103024251/http://atletico.theoffside.com/tidbits/the-atletico-crest-and-its-meaning.html |archive-date=3 November 2010|url-status = dead}}</ref> In late 1909, [[Juan Elorduy]], a former player and member of the board of Athletic Madrid, went to England to buy kits for both teams but failed to find Blackburn kits to purchase; he instead bought the red and white shirts of [[Southampton F.C.|Southampton]] (the club from the [[Southampton|port city]] which was his embarkation point back to Spain).<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Southampton/Southampton.htm | title = Southampton | website = Historical Football Kits | access-date = 10 October 2018 | archive-date = 11 October 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181011144226/http://www.historicalkits.co.uk/Southampton/Southampton.htm | url-status = live }}</ref> (Official position of both Southampton FC and Athletic Club). Athletic Madrid adopted the red and white shirt, leading to them being known as ''Los Rojiblancos'',<ref>{{cite web |url = https://www.abc.es/20120508/deportes-futbol/abci-historia-athletic-atletico-201205071903.html |title = Athletic-Atlético, historia de dos parientes |trans-title = Athletic-Atlético, history of two relatives |language = es |newspaper = [[ABC (newspaper)|ABC]] |date = 8 May 2012 |access-date = 10 October 2018 |archive-date = 31 March 2019 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20190331092614/https://www.abc.es/20120508/deportes-futbol/abci-historia-athletic-atletico-201205071903.html |url-status = live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last=Agiriano|first=Jon|url=https://athletic.elcorreo.com/noticias/2010-01-06/colores-siglo-20100106.html|title=Los Colores del Siglo|trans-title=The colours of the century|language=es|work=El Correo|access-date=15 October 2018|date=6 January 2010|archive-date=4 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211204073445/https://athletic.elcorreo.com/noticias/2010-01-06/colores-siglo-20100106.html|url-status=live}}</ref> but opted to keep their existing blue shorts whereas the Bilbao team switched to new black shorts.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://equiposdefutbol2.blogspot.com/2016/07/athletic-de-madrid-1910-11.html?m=1 | title = Athletic de Madrid 1910-11 | language = es | website = Equipos de Fútbol (Football Teams) | date = 13 July 2016 | access-date = 10 October 2018 | archive-date = 11 October 2018 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20181011053523/https://equiposdefutbol2.blogspot.com/2016/07/athletic-de-madrid-1910-11.html?m=1 | url-status = live }}</ref> Athletic Bilbao won the [[1911 Copa del Rey final|1911 Copa del Rey Final]] using several 'borrowed' players from Athletic Madrid, including {{Interlanguage link|Manolón|es|Manuel Garnica Serrano|vertical-align=sup}} who scored one of their goals.<ref>{{cite web | url = https://memoriasdelfutbolvasco.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/manuel-garnica/ | title = Manuel Garnica, the "Saint" who scored a goal with Athletic | trans-title = Manuel Garnica, el "Santo" que metió un gol con el Athletic | language = es | website = Memorias del Fútbol Vasco (Memories of Basque Football) | date = 30 March 2014 | access-date = 10 October 2018 | archive-date = 4 December 2021 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211204073424/https://memoriasdelfutbolvasco.wordpress.com/2014/03/30/manuel-garnica/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

Athletic's first ground, the Ronda de [[Vallecas]], was in the eponymous working-class area on the south side of the city. In 1919, the Compañía Urbanizadora Metropolitana—the company that ran the underground communication system in Madrid—acquired some land, near the [[Ciudad Universitaria, Mexico City|Ciudad Universitaria]]. In 1921, Athletic Madrid became independent of parent-club Athletic Bilbao and moved into a 35,800-seater stadium built by the company, the [[Estadio Metropolitano de Madrid]].<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.thisisanfield.com/blog/2010/04/26/talking-history-atletico-madrid-vs-liverpool/ | title = Talking History: Atlético Madrid – This Is Anfield (Liverpool FC) | publisher = Thisisanfield | access-date = 20 November 2010 | date = 26 April 2010 | archive-date = 5 August 2010 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100805003234/http://www.thisisanfield.com/blog/2010/04/26/talking-history-atletico-madrid-vs-liverpool/ | url-status = live }}</ref>

During the 1920s, Athletic won the ''[[Campeonato Regional Centro|Campeonato del Centro]]'' three times and were {{Lang|es|[[Copa del Rey]]|italic=no}} runners-up in 1921, where they faced parent club Athletic Bilbao, as they would again in 1926. Based on these successes, in 1928 they were invited to join the Primera División of the inaugural [[La Liga]] played the following year. During their debut La Liga campaign, the club was managed by [[Fred Pentland]], but after two seasons they were relegated to [[Segunda División]]. They briefly returned to La Liga in 1934 but were relegated again in 1936 after [[Josep Samitier]] took over in mid-season from Pentland. The [[Spanish Civil War]] gave ''Los Colchoneros'' a reprieve, as [[Real Oviedo]] was unable to play due to the destruction of their stadium during the bombings. Thus, both La Liga and Athletic's relegation were postponed, the latter by winning a playoff against [[CA Osasuna|Osasuna]], champion of the Segunda División tournament.

===Athletic Aviación de Madrid (1939–1947)===
By 1939, when La Liga had resumed, Athletic had merged with ''[[Club Aviación Nacional|Aviación Nacional]]'' of [[Zaragoza]] to become ''Athletic Aviación de Madrid''. Aviación Nacional had been founded in 1937 by three aviation officers of the [[Spanish Air and Space Force|Spanish Air Force]].<ref name="Aviación">{{Cite web |url=https://www.larazon.es/deportes/futbol/atletico-madrid/20210920/wse4sqr5xzehjddrwk4qyem7p4.html |title=La historia desconocida del Atlético Aviación: el club que nunca fue el origen del Atlético de Madrid |trans-title=The unknown history of Atlético Aviación: the club that was never the origin of Atlético de Madrid |language=es |website=www.larazon.es |date=20 September 2021 |access-date=7 October 2022 |archive-date=7 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221007235935/https://www.larazon.es/deportes/futbol/atletico-madrid/20210920/wse4sqr5xzehjddrwk4qyem7p4.html |url-status=live }}</ref> They had been promised a place in the Primera División for the 1939–40 season, only to be denied by the [[Royal Spanish Football Federation|RFEF]], and since they did not want to go through the whole divisional climb up, this club merged with Athletic, whose squad had lost eight players during the Civil War, including the team's star, [[Monchín Triana]], who was shot dead. At that time, [[Real Oviedo]] also had its field destroyed by the war, so it was decided to give up its place to another team, and that finals spot was contested by Aviación and [[CA Osasuna|Osasuna]], in a match in [[Valencia]] on 26 November 1939, which Aviación won 3–1.<ref name="Aviación" /> With the legendary [[Ricardo Zamora]] as manager, the club subsequently won their first La Liga title that season and retained the titles in [[1940–41 La Liga|1941]]. The most influential and charismatic player of these years was the captain [[Germán Gómez]], who was signed from [[Racing de Santander|Racing Santander]] in 1939. He played eight consecutive seasons for the ''Rojiblancos'' until the [[1947–48 La Liga|1947–48 campaign]]. From his central midfield position, he formed a legendary midfield alongside Machín and [[Ramón Gabilondo]].

In mid-1940, [[Language policies of Francoist Spain|a decree issued by Francisco Franco]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.oleole.com/la-liga/history/ehiah.html |title=La Liga History – Football League |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120306110834/http://www.oleole.com/la-liga/history/ehiah.html |archive-date=6 March 2012 |work=Ole Ole |date=6 April 2009 |access-date=20 November 2010}}</ref> banned teams from using foreign names and the club became ''Atlético Aviación de Madrid''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://as.com/futbol/2016/12/20/mas_futbol/1482219211_088536.html |title=A decree Spanishizes the names (1940) |trans-title=Un decreto españoliza los nombres (1940) |website=as.com |date=20 December 2016 |accessdate=9 October 2022 |archive-date=9 October 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221009104216/https://as.com/futbol/2016/12/20/mas_futbol/1482219211_088536.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In September 1940, Atlético Aviación won the first [[Super cup]] in Spanish football after beating RCD Español, the [[1940 Copa del Generalísimo]] winners, in a two-legged game that ended in a 10–4 aggregate victory, including a 7–1 trashing in the second leg at [[Campo de Fútbol de Vallecas]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/tabless/spansupcuphist.html#1940 |title=Copa de Campeones |website=[[RSSSF]] |date=20 January 2022 |accessdate=9 October 2022 |archive-date=21 May 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160521050006/http://www.rsssf.com/tabless/spansupcuphist.html#1940 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 14 December 1946, the club decided to drop the military association from its name, and shortly after, on 6 January, it settled on its current name of ''Club Atlético de Madrid''. Also in 1947, Atlético beat [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]] 5–0 at the ''Metropolitano'', their biggest win over their cross-town rivals to date.<ref>[http://www.realatletico.com/ Real Madrid Vs. Atletico Madrid] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181114033056/http://realatletico.com/ |date=14 November 2018 }}. Realatletico.com. Retrieved 20 November 2010.</ref>

===Golden age (1947–1965)===
[[File:Helenio Herrera Elgrafico.jpeg|thumb|upright|[[Helenio Herrera]] won two league titles as Atlético manager.]]
Under [[Helenio Herrera]] and with the help of [[Larbi Benbarek]], Atlético won La Liga again in [[1949–50 La Liga|1950]] and [[1950–51 La Liga|1951]]. With the departure of Herrera in 1953, the club began to slip behind Real Madrid and [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] and for the remainder of the 1950s were left to battle it out with Athletic Bilbao for the title of third team in Spain.

However, during the 1960s and 1970s, Atlético Madrid seriously challenged Barcelona for the position of second team. The [[1957–58 La Liga|1957–58 season]] saw [[Ferdinand Daučík]] take charge of Atlético, where he led them to second place in La Liga. This resulted in Atlético qualifying for the [[1958–59 European Cup]] since the winners, Real Madrid, were the reigning European champions. Inspired by Brazilian centre-forward [[Vavá]] and [[Enrique Collar]], Atlético reached the semi-finals after beating [[Drumcondra F.C.|Drumcondra]], [[PFC CSKA Sofia|CSKA Sofia]] and [[FC Schalke 04|Schalke 04]].<ref>[http://www.europeancuphistory.com/euro58.html European Cup & Champions League History 1955–2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930145736/http://www.europeancuphistory.com/euro58.html |date=30 September 2017 }}. Europeancuphistory.com. Retrieved 20 November 2010.</ref> In the semi-finals, they met Real Madrid, who won the first leg 2–1 at the [[Santiago Bernabéu Stadium|Santiago Bernabéu]] while Atlético won 1–0 at the ''Metropolitano''.<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec195859.html European Competitions 1958–59] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112171048/http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec195859.html |date=12 January 2016 }}. rsssf.org. Retrieved 20 November 2010.</ref> The tie went to a replay and Real won 2–1 in Zaragoza.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/season=1958/index.html |title=1958/59: Di Stéfano keeps Madrid rolling on |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501044830/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/season%3D1958/index.html |archive-date=1 May 2013 |work=[[Uefa.com]] |date=3 June 1959 |access-date=20 November 2010 |publisher=[[UEFA Champions League]]}}</ref>

Atlético, however, gained their revenge when, led by former Real coach [[José Villalonga]], they defeated Real in two successive Copa del Rey finals in [[1960 Copa del Generalísimo final|1960]] and [[1961 Copa del Generalísimo final|1961]]. In 1962, they won the [[1961–62 European Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]], beating [[ACF Fiorentina|Fiorentina]] 3–0 after a replay.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/history/season=1961/intro.html |work=[[Uefa.com]] |title=UEFA Cup Winners' Cup |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150904090138/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/history/season%3D1961/intro.html |archive-date=4 September 2015 |date=1 June 1962 |access-date=20 November 2010}}</ref> This achievement was significant for the club, as the Cup Winners' Cup was the only major European trophy that Real Madrid never won. The following year, the club reached the [[1962–63 European Cup Winners' Cup|1963]] finals, but lost to [[Football League First Division|English]] side [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] 5–1.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/history/season=1962/intro.html |work=[[Uefa.com]] |title=UEFA Cup Winners' Cup |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160112171124/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/history/season%3D1962/intro.html |archive-date=12 January 2016 |access-date=20 November 2010 |date=1 June 1963}}</ref> Enrique Collar, who continued to be an influential player during this era, was now joined by the likes of midfielder [[Miguel Jones]] and midfield playmaker [[Adelardo Rodríguez|Adelardo]].<ref>[http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/j/j5413.html Adelardo, Adelardo Rodríguez Sánchez] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401081046/http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/j/j5413.html |date=1 April 2018 }}. BDFutbol (26 September 1939). Retrieved 20 November 2010.</ref>

Atlético's best years coincided with dominant Real Madrid teams. Between 1961 and 1980, Real Madrid dominated La Liga, winning the competition 14 times. During this era, only Atlético offered Real any serious challenge, winning La Liga titles in [[1965–66 La Liga|1966]], [[1969–70 La Liga|1970]], [[1972–73 La Liga|1973]] and [[1976–77 La Liga|1977]] and finishing runners-up in [[1960–61 La Liga|1961]], [[1962–63 La Liga|1963]] and [[1964–65 La Liga|1965]]. The club had further success winning the Copa del Rey on three occasions in [[1965 Copa del Generalísimo final|1965]], [[1972 Copa del Generalísimo final|1972]] and [[1976 Copa del Generalísimo final|1976]]. In 1965, when they finished as [[1964-65 La Liga|La Liga]] runners-up to Real after an intense battle for the titles, Atlético became the first team to beat Real at the Bernabéu in eight years.

===European Cup finalists (1965–1974)===
[[File:Club Atlético de Madrid league performance 1929-present.svg|thumb|300x300px|Chart of Atleti's finishing positions in the [[Spanish football league system]]]]
[[File:José Eulogio Gárate and Javier Irureta 1973.jpg|thumb|[[José Eulogio Gárate]] and [[Javier Irureta]] proved important attacking pieces of the squad that took Atlético to the [[1974 European Cup final]]]]
In 1966, Atlético left the [[Estadio Metropolitano de Madrid]] (which was demolished and was replaced with university buildings and an office block belonging to the company ENUSA) and moved to a new home in the [[Manzanares (river)|Manzanares river]] waterfront, the [[Vicente Calderón Stadium]], which was inaugurated on 2 October 1966 with a fixture against Valencia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://cadenaser.com/programa/2016/10/01/el_larguero/1475316344_544178.html|website=[[Cadena SER]]|title=Así fue el primer partido del Calderón|date=3 October 2016|first=Eric|last=Santos|access-date=1 June 2022|archive-date=1 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601164354/https://cadenaser.com/programa/2016/10/01/el_larguero/1475316344_544178.html|url-status=live}}</ref>
Significant players from this era included the now-veteran Adelardo and regular goalscorers [[Luis Aragonés]], [[Javier Irureta]] and [[José Eulogio Gárate]], the latter winning the ''[[Pichichi Trophy|Pichichi]]'' three times in 1969, 1970 and 1971. In the 1970s, Atlético also recruited several [[Argentina|Argentine]] players, signing [[Rubén Ayala]], [[Rubén Oswaldo Díaz|Panadero Díaz]] and [[Ramón Heredia|Ramón "Cacho" Heredia]] as well as coach [[Juan Carlos Lorenzo]]. Lorenzo believed in discipline, caution and disrupting the opponents' game, and although controversial, his methods proved successful—after winning La Liga in [[1972–73 La Liga|1973]], the club reached the [[1974 European Cup final|1974 European Cup Final]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1973/overview/index.html#197374+muller+ends+bayern+wait |title=1973/74: Müller ends Bayern wait – |publisher=[[UEFA]] |date=15 May 1974 |access-date=8 March 2013 |archive-date=24 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170724074303/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/season=1973/overview/index.html#197374+muller+ends+bayern+wait |url-status=dead }}</ref> On the way to the Final, Atlético knocked out [[Galatasaray S.K. (football)|Galatasaray]], [[FC Dinamo București|Dinamo București]], [[Red Star Belgrade]] and [[Celtic F.C.|Celtic]].<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec197374.html European Competitions 1973–74] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091006070450/http://www.rsssf.com/ec/ec197374.html |date=6 October 2009 }}. rsssf.org. Retrieved 20 November 2010.</ref> In the away leg of the semi-finals against Celtic, Atlético had Ayala, Díaz and substitute Quique all sent off during a hard-fought encounter in what was reported as one of the worst cases of cynical fouling the tournament has seen. Because of this approach, they managed a 0–0 draw, followed by a 2–0 victory in the return leg with goals from Gárate and Adelardo.<ref>[http://www.europeancuphistory.com/euro74.html European Cup & Champions League History 1955–2010] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226074256/http://www.europeancuphistory.com/euro74.html |date=26 February 2014 }}. Europeancuphistory.com. Retrieved 20 November 2010.</ref> The finals at [[King Baudouin Stadium|Heysel Stadium]], however, was a loss for Atlético. Against a [[FC Bayern Munich|Bayern Munich]] team that included [[Franz Beckenbauer]], [[Sepp Maier]], [[Paul Breitner]], [[Uli Hoeneß]] and [[Gerd Müller]], Atlético played above themselves. Despite missing Ayala, Díaz and Quique through suspension, they went ahead in extra-time with only seven minutes left. Aragonés scored with a superb, curling free-kick that looked like the winner, but in the last minute of the game, Bayern defender [[Hans-Georg Schwarzenbeck|Georg Schwarzenbeck]] equalized with a stunning 25-yarder that left Atlético goalkeeper [[Miguel Reina]] motionless.<ref name="autogenerated1973">{{cite web |url=http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/season=1973/index.html |title=1973/74: Müller ends Bayern wait on |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101011155417/http://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/history/season=1973/index.html |archive-date=11 October 2010 |work=[[Uefa.com]] |date=15 May 1974 |access-date=20 November 2010 |publisher=[[UEFA Champions League]]}}</ref> In a replay back at Heysel two days later, Bayern won convincingly 4–0, with two goals each from Hoeneß and Müller.<ref name="autogenerated1973" />

===The Aragonés years (1974–1987)===
[[File:Luis Aragones.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Luis Aragonés]], Atlético's most successful manager]]
Shortly after the defeat in the [[1974 European Cup final|1974 European Cup Final]], Atlético appointed their veteran player Luis Aragonés as coach. Aragonés subsequently was coach on four separate occasions, from 1974 to 1980, from 1982 to 1987, once again from 1991 until 1993 and finally from 2002 to 2003. His first success came quickly as Bayern Munich had refused to participate in the [[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]] because of fixture congestion,<ref name="autogenerated2">{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/matchreport/newsid=510737.html |title=Intercontinental Cup 1974 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091204133633/http://www.fifa.com/classicfootball/clubs/matchreport/newsid%3D510737.html |archive-date=4 December 2009 |work=[[FIFA.com]] |access-date=20 November 2010}}</ref> and as European Cup runners-up, Atlético were invited instead. Their opponents were [[Club Atlético Independiente|Independiente]]<ref name="autogenerated2" /> of Argentina and, after losing the away leg 1–0, they won the return leg 2–0 with goals from [[Javier Irureta]] and [[Rubén Ayala]].<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/intconclub74.html Intercontinental Club Cup 1974] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221127044939/https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/intconclub74.html |date=27 November 2022 }}. rsssf.org. Retrieved 20 November 2010.</ref> Aragonés subsequently led the club to further successes in the Copa del Rey in [[1976 Copa del Generalísimo final|1976]] and La Liga in [[1976–77 La Liga|1977]].

During his second spell in charge, Aragonés led the club to a runners-up finish in [[1984–85 La Liga|La Liga]] and a winner's medal in the [[1985 Copa del Rey final|Copa del Rey]], both in 1985. He received considerable help from [[Hugo Sánchez]], who scored 19 league goals and won the ''[[Pichichi Trophy|Pichichi]]''. Sánchez also scored twice in the cup finals as Atlético beat Athletic Bilbao 2–1. Sánchez, however, only remained at the club for one season before his move across the city to Real Madrid. Despite the loss of Sánchez, Aragonés went on to lead the club to success in the [[Supercopa de España]] in [[1985 Supercopa de España|1985]] and then guided them to the [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup|European Cup Winners' Cup]] final in [[1986 European Cup Winners' Cup final|1986]]. Atlético, however, lost their third successive European finals, this time 3–0 to [[FC Dynamo Kyiv|Dynamo Kyiv]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/history/season=1985/intro.html |work=[[Uefa.com]] |title=UEFA Cup Winners' Cup |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100821192010/http://en.archive.uefa.com/competitions/ecwc/history/season%3D1985/intro.html |archive-date=21 August 2010 |date=1 June 1986 |access-date=20 November 2010}}</ref><ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec198586.html European Competitions 1985–86] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230314190113/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec198586.html |date=14 March 2023 }}. rsssf.org. Retrieved 20 November 2010.</ref>

===The Transition years (1987–2005)===
[[File:Radomir Antić.jpg|thumb|upright|[[Radomir Antić]] managed Atlético in three stints during the ownership of [[Jesús Gil]], winning a league and cup double in 1996.]]
In 1987, controversial politician and businessman [[Jesús Gil]] became club president, running the club (and committing a fraud of misappropriation by seizing 95% of the shares while failing to effectively pay a single [[Spanish peseta|Peseta]] during the Atlético's forced conversion from fan-owned club to [[Sociedad Anónima Deportiva]] in 1992)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.eleconomista.es/deporte-negocio/noticias/9243924/06/18/Historia-de-un-delito-prescrito-asi-perdio-su-equipo-la-aficion-del-Atletico-de-Madrid.html|website=El Economista|date=30 June 2018|first=Sergio de la|last=Cruz|title=Historia de un delito prescrito: así perdió su equipo la afición del Atlético de Madrid|access-date=1 June 2022|archive-date=23 May 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220523150024/https://www.eleconomista.es/deporte-negocio/noticias/9243924/06/18/Historia-de-un-delito-prescrito-asi-perdio-su-equipo-la-aficion-del-Atletico-de-Madrid.html|url-status=live}}</ref> until his resignation in May 2003.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/3716251.stm | work=BBC News | title=Atletico owner Gil dies | date=14 May 2004 | access-date=5 July 2012 | archive-date=16 February 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210216100156/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/3716251.stm | url-status=live }}</ref>

Atlético had not won La Liga for ten years and were desperate for league success. Right away, Gil spent heavily, bringing in a number of expensive signings, most notably Portuguese winger [[Paulo Futre]], who had just won the [[1987 European Cup final|European Cup]] with [[FC Porto|Porto]].<ref>[http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/j/j2197.html Futre, Paulo Jorge Dos Santos Futre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421052930/http://www.bdfutbol.com/en/j/j2197.html |date=21 April 2020 }}. BDFutbol (28 February 1966). Retrieved 20 November 2010.</ref> All the spending, however, only brought in two consecutive Copa del Rey trophies in [[1991 Copa del Rey final|1991]] and [[1992 Copa del Rey final|1992]] as the league titles proved elusive. The closest Atlético came to the La Liga trophy was the [[1990–91 La Liga|1990–91 season]] when they finished runners-up by 10 points to [[Johan Cruyff]]'s [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]. In the process, Gil developed a ruthless reputation due to the manner in which he ran the club. In pursuit of league success, he hired and fired a number of high-profile head coaches, including [[César Luis Menotti]], [[Ron Atkinson]], [[Javier Clemente]], [[Tomislav Ivić]], [[Francisco Maturana]] and [[Alfio Basile]], as well as club legend Luis Aragonés. Gil also closed down Atlético's youth academy in 1992,<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2009/nov/03/atletico-madrid-worst-run-club-europe | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=Are 'madhouse' Atlético Madrid the worst run club in Europe? | first=Sid | last=Lowe | date=3 November 2009 | access-date=11 December 2016 | archive-date=5 March 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305002750/https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2009/nov/03/atletico-madrid-worst-run-club-europe | url-status=live }}</ref> a move that would prove significant due to 15-year-old academy member [[Raúl (footballer)|Raúl]] who, as a result, went across town to later achieve worldwide fame with rivals Real Madrid.<ref>[http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/celebrities/raul-gonzalez.htm Raúl González] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425133503/http://www.spanish-fiestas.com/celebrities/raul-gonzalez.htm |date=25 April 2012 }}, spanish-fiestas.com</ref> The move came as part of the overall Gil-initiated business restructuring of the club; Atlético became a Sociedad Anónima Deportiva, a corporate structure benefiting from a then-recently introduced special legal status under Spanish corporate law, allowing individuals to purchase and trade club shares.

In the [[1994–95 La Liga|1994–95 league]] campaign, Atlético only avoided relegation via a draw on the last day of the season. This prompted another managerial change along with a wholesale squad clearance during the summer 1995 transfer window. Somewhat unexpectedly, in the following 1995–96 season, newly arrived head coach [[Radomir Antić]], with a squad including holdovers [[Toni Muñoz (footballer, born 1968)|Toni]], [[Roberto Solozábal]], [[Delfí Geli]], [[Juan Vizcaíno]], [[José Luis Caminero]], [[Diego Simeone]] and [[Kiko (footballer, born 1972)|Kiko]], as well as new acquisitions [[Milinko Pantić]], [[Lyuboslav Penev]], [[Santi Denia]] and [[José Francisco Molina]] finally delivered the much sought-after league titles as Atlético won the [[1995–96 La Liga|La Liga]]/[[1996 Copa del Rey final|Copa del Rey]] double.<ref name="autogenerated1" /> The next season, 1996–97, saw the club take part in the [[1996–97 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]] for the first time. With expectations and ambitions raised, the most notable summer transfer signings were striker [[Juan Esnáider]] from Real Madrid and [[Radek Bejbl]], who was coming off a great showing for [[Czech Republic national football team|Czech Republic]] at [[UEFA Euro 1996|Euro 1996]]. Playing on two fronts, Atlético fell out of the league title contention early while, in the Champions League, they were eliminated by [[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] in extra-time in the quarter-finals. Before the 1997–98 season, the heavy spending continued with the signings of [[Christian Vieri]] and [[Juninho Paulista|Juninho]]. All of the success, however, produced little change in the overall Gil strategy, and although Antić survived three consecutive seasons in charge, he was replaced during the summer of 1998 with [[Arrigo Sacchi]], who himself only remained in the managerial hot seat for less than six months. Antić then returned briefly in early 1999 only to be replaced with [[Claudio Ranieri]] at the end of the season. 
[[File:Loko-AM2018 (7).jpg|thumb|252x252px|[[Fernando Torres]], who began his career at Atlético, achieved notable success with the [[Spain national football team|Spain national team]]]]
The [[1999–2000 Atlético Madrid season|1999–2000 season]] proved disastrous for Atlético. In December 1999, Gil and his board were suspended pending an investigation into the misuse of club funds, with government-appointed administrator José Manuel Rubí running Atlético's day-to-day operations. With the removal of club President Jesús Gil and his board, the players performed poorly and the club floundered. Ranieri handed in his resignation with the club sitting 17th out of 20 in the league table and heading towards relegation. Antić, returning for his third coaching stint, was unable to prevent the inevitable. Despite reaching the [[2000 Copa del Rey final|Copa del Rey]] final in 2000, Atlético were relegated for the second time in 66 years.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/apr/18/atletico-madrid-liverpool-europa-league | location=London | work=The Guardian | title=Atlético Madrid can put end to glory of suffering in Liverpool semi | first=Sid | last=Lowe | date=18 April 2010 | access-date=11 December 2016 | archive-date=5 March 2017 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170305003301/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2010/apr/18/atletico-madrid-liverpool-europa-league | url-status=live }}</ref> The club spent two seasons in the Segunda División, narrowly missing out on promotion in [[2000–01 Atlético Madrid season|2000–01 season]] before winning the Segunda División championship in 2002. It was again Aragonés, in his fourth and last spell as manager of Atlético, who brought them back to the Primera División.<ref>[http://www.insidefutbol.com/2009/12/01/atletico-madrid-season-needs-flores-formula/13605/ Atletico Madrid Season Needs Flores Formula] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206113438/http://www.insidefutbol.com/2009/12/01/atletico-madrid-season-needs-flores-formula/13605/ |date=6 February 2021 }}. Insidefutbol.com (1 December 2009). Retrieved 20 November 2010.</ref>

Aragonés also coached the team during the next season, and gave [[Fernando Torres]] his La Liga debut.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://torres.soccer-profiles.com/career.php |title=Fernando Torres Career |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110109022759/http://torres.soccer-profiles.com/career.php |archive-date=9 January 2011 |work=Torres Soccer Profiles |access-date=20 November 2010}}</ref> Torres came through the academy of the club and was a hot prospect in Spain; in his first season in the league, [[2002–03 Atlético Madrid season|2002–03]], he scored 13 goals in 29 appearances.<ref name="Primer equipo">{{cite web |title=Primer equipo |url=http://www.fernando9torres.com/index.php?s=biografia&ss=primerequipo |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130501152102/http://fernando9torres.com/index.php?s=biografia |archive-date=1 May 2013 |access-date=17 November 2008 |publisher=Fernando Torres |language=es}}</ref><ref name="Torres">{{cite web |title=Torres |url=http://www.footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=555&b=true&pn=Fernando_Jos%C3%A9_Torres_Sanz |archive-url=https://archive.today/20090215042343/http://www.footballdatabase.com/index.php?page=player&Id=555&b=true&pn=Fernando_Jos%C3%A9_Torres_Sanz |archive-date=15 February 2009 |access-date=8 June 2008 |website=FootballDatabase}}</ref> In July 2003, soon after his takeover of the club, [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] owner [[Roman Abramovich]] offered £28&nbsp;million for Torres, which was rejected by Atlético.<ref name="Chelsea sign Bridge">{{cite news |date=21 July 2003 |title=Chelsea sign Bridge |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2408099/Chelsea-sign-Bridge.html |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/2408099/Chelsea-sign-Bridge.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |access-date=30 January 2013 |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |location=London}}{{cbignore}}</ref> In the [[2003–04 Atlético Madrid season|2003–04 season]], Torres continued his success as he scored 19 league goals in 35 appearances,<ref name="Torres" /> making him the joint third-highest scorer in the league.<ref name="Statistics: top scorers: 2003/2004">{{cite web |title=Statistics: top scorers: 2003/2004 |url=http://www.espnfc.com/spanish-primera-division/15/statistics/scorers?season=2003 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200421045024/http://www.espnfc.com/spanish-primera-division/15/statistics/scorers?season=2003 |archive-date=21 April 2020 |access-date=5 August 2014 |website=ESPN FC}}</ref> Torres had been at Atlético since the age of 11 and his precocious talent led to him becoming the club's youngest ever captain at the age of just 19.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2007-07-04 |title=Liverpool complete Torres signing |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/6239286.stm |access-date=2024-10-03 |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name="Will Torres be Kop's new God or just another Fernando?">{{cite news |last=Lowe |first=Sid |date=4 July 2007 |title=Will Torres be Kop's new God or just another Fernando? |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/jul/04/newsstory.sport8 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220214234623/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2007/jul/04/newsstory.sport8 |archive-date=14 February 2022 |access-date=5 August 2014 |newspaper=The Guardian |location=London}}</ref>

=== Torres sale and eventual European success (2006–2011) ===
[[File:Torcida do Atlético de Madrid (402234679).jpg|thumb|Atlético fans during a [[Madrid derby]] in February 2007 played at the [[Vicente Calderón Stadium]].|left]]
In 2006, Atlético signed [[Portugal national football team|Portuguese]] midfielders [[Costinha]] and [[Maniche]], as well as [[Argentina national football team|Argentine]] forward [[Sergio Agüero]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=UEFA.com|date=2006-08-10|title=Costinha aims high with Atlético|url=https://www.uefa.com/news/01b8-0e6d9a1109de-f961c5e03bea-1000--costinha-aims-high-with-atletico/|access-date=2022-01-06|website=[[UEFA]]|language=en|archive-date=6 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106160110/https://www.uefa.com/news/01b8-0e6d9a1109de-f961c5e03bea-1000--costinha-aims-high-with-atletico/|url-status=live}}</ref> In July 2007, Torres left the club for [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] for €38 million,<ref name="espn">[http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=443005&cc=5901 Torres cuts short holiday, set to join Liverpool] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023172535/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=443005&cc=5901 |date=23 October 2012 }} Soccernet.espn.go.com (3 July 2007). Retrieved 20 November 2010.</ref> while [[Luis García (footballer, born 1978)|Luis García]] signed for the club at the same time in an unrelated transfer.<ref name="espn" /> The club also bought [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] international and former [[European Golden Shoe|European Golden Boot]] and [[Pichichi Trophy|''Pichichi'']] winners [[Diego Forlán]] for roughly €21 million from [[Villarreal CF|Villarreal]].<ref>{{cite news | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7682197.stm | work=BBC News | title=New and improved Forlan to test Liverpool | date=22 October 2008 | first=Simon | last=Austin | access-date=20 July 2010 | archive-date=6 February 2021 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206113446/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/7682197.stm | url-status=live }}</ref> Other additions included Portuguese winger [[Simão Sabrosa]] from [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] for €20 million and winger [[José Antonio Reyes]] from [[Arsenal F.C.|Arsenal]] for €12 million.<ref>[http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/atletico/es/desarrollo/1021661.html Reyes goes to Atleti] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090113170203/http://www.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/1a_division/atletico/es/desarrollo/1021661.html |date=13 January 2009 }}, ''Marca'' 29 July 2007 {{in lang|es}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en-india/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=367912|title=Reyes passes Atletico Madrid medical|work=Goal|date=30 July 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930200128/http://www.goal.com/en-india/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=367912|archive-date=30 September 2007}}</ref>

In July 2007, the Atlético board reached an agreement with the [[Madrid|City of Madrid]] to sell the land where their stadium was located and move the club to the City-owned [[Metropolitano Stadium|Olympic Stadium]]. The stadium changed hands in 2016 and was bought by the club for €30.4 million.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2017-03-13|title=El Atlético compra el estadio de La Peineta por 30 millones|url=https://as.com/futbol/2017/03/13/primera/1489405983_221380.html|access-date=2022-01-06|website=AS.com|language=es|archive-date=7 September 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210907221653/https://as.com/futbol/2017/03/13/primera/1489405983_221380.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Madrid had applied to host the [[2016 Summer Olympics|2016 Olympic Games]], losing out to [[Rio de Janeiro]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://football.guardian.co.uk:80/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-6815033,00.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071117151759/http://football.guardian.co.uk:80/breakingnews/feedstory/0,,-6815033,00.html |archive-date=17 November 2007 |title=Atletico Madrid to move to city's Olympic stadium |date=30 July 2007 |work=[[The Guardian]] |access-date=6 February 2023}}</ref> The [[2007–08 Atlético Madrid season|2007–08 season]] proved to be the most successful season for the club in the past decade. The team reached the round of 32 in the [[UEFA Europa League|UEFA Cup]], where they were defeated by [[Bolton Wanderers F.C.|Bolton Wanderers]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=UEFA.com|date=2008-02-14|title=Bolton joy as Diouf downs Atlético|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01ca-0e6eff54a4c3-1d1d486b065d-1000--bolton-joy-as-diouf-downs-atletico/|access-date=2022-01-10|website=[[UEFA]]|language=en|archive-date=10 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220110183724/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01ca-0e6eff54a4c3-1d1d486b065d-1000--bolton-joy-as-diouf-downs-atletico/|url-status=live}}</ref> They also reached the quarter-finals round of the [[2007–08 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]], where they were beaten by eventual champions [[Valencia CF|Valencia]]. More significantly, the team finished the [[2007–08 La Liga|league season]] in fourth place, qualifying for the [[2008–09 UEFA Champions League|UEFA Champions League]] for the first time since the [[1996–97 UEFA Champions League|1996–97 season]].<ref>[https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec199697.html European Competitions 1996–97] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230221054818/https://www.rsssf.org/ec/ec199697.html |date=21 February 2023 }}. rsssf.org. Retrieved 20 November 2010.</ref>

On 3 February 2009, [[Javier Aguirre]] was dismissed from his post as manager after a poor start to the season, going without a win in six games. He later claimed that this was not accurate, and that he had left by mutual termination rather than through sacking.<ref>[http://theoriginalwinger.com/2009-02-03-javier-aguirre-walks-away-from-atletico Javier Aguirre Walks Away From Atletico] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111004005648/http://theoriginalwinger.com/2009-02-03-javier-aguirre-walks-away-from-atletico |date=4 October 2011 }}. TheOriginalWinger.com (3 February 2009). Retrieved 20 November 2010.</ref> There was public outrage after his dismissal, many believing he was not the cause of Atlético's problems, namely player Diego Forlán. He backed his former manager and said that, "Dismissing Javier was the easy way out, but he was not the cause of our problems. The players are to blame because we have not been playing well and we have been committing a lot of errors." This led to the appointment of [[Abel Resino]] as Atlético's new manager.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.tribalfootball.com/abel-resino-atletico-madrid-job-dream-come-true-226006 |title=Abel Resino: Atletico Madrid job dream come true |author=Spanish Football News |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090207052639/http://www.tribalfootball.com/abel-resino-atletico-madrid-job-dream-come-true-226006 |archive-date=7 February 2009 |work=Tribal Football |access-date=20 November 2010 |date=4 February 2009}}</ref> Atlético's success continued in the latter half of the season when they placed fourth once again in the league table, securing a position in the playoff round of the UEFA Champions League. Striker Diego Forlán was crowned with the ''Pichichi'' and also won the European Golden Shoe after scoring 32 goals for Atlético that season.<ref>{{Cite web|date=14 September 2009|title=Diego Forlán reveals folly of defying Sir Alex Ferguson's footwear advice|url=http://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/14/diego-forlan-alex-ferguson-studs|access-date=22 April 2021|website=The Guardian|language=en|archive-date=9 March 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210309064657/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/sep/14/diego-forlan-alex-ferguson-studs|url-status=live}}</ref> Atlético saw this domestic success as an opportunity to reinforce their squad for the upcoming [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League|Champions League]] season. They replaced veteran goalkeeper [[Leo Franco]] with [[David de Gea]] from the youth ranks and signed promising youngster [[Sergio Asenjo]] from [[Real Valladolid]]. Atlético also acquired [[Real Betis]] defender and Spanish international [[Juanito (footballer, born 1976)|Juanito]] on a free transfer.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Official: Atletico Madrid Sign Juanito From Real Betis {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spanish-football/2009/07/01/1357494/official-atletico-madrid-sign-juanito-from-real-betis|access-date=2022-01-06|website=www.goal.com|archive-date=6 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106160108/https://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spanish-football/2009/07/01/1357494/official-atletico-madrid-sign-juanito-from-real-betis|url-status=live}}</ref> Despite pressure from big clubs to sell star players Agüero and Forlán, Atlético remained committed to keeping their strong attacking base in the hopes for a successful new season.[[File:Sergio Aguero, Diego Forlan.jpg|left|thumb|Atlético's striker partnership during this era: [[Sergio Agüero]] (left) and [[Diego Forlán]] (right). Forlán won the [[European Golden Shoe]] in 2009.|250x250px]]

The [[2009–10 La Liga|2009–10 season]], however, began poorly with many defeats and goals conceded. On 21 October, Atletico were hammered 4–0 by [[Premier League|English]] club [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] in the Champions League group stage.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8316478.stm|title=Chelsea 4–0 Atletico Madrid|date=21 October 2009|work=BBC Sport|first=Paul|last=Fletcher|access-date=13 May 2010|archive-date=1 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501165226/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8316478.stm|url-status=live}}</ref> This defeat led Atletico's management to announce that manager Abel Resino had to leave.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8322014.stm|title=Atletico Madrid sack coach Resino |date=23 October 2009|work=BBC Sport|access-date=24 October 2009| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20091026110251/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8322014.stm| archive-date= 26 October 2009 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = live}}</ref> After failing to sign Danish former footballer [[Michael Laudrup]], Atlético Madrid announced that the new manager for the rest of the season would be [[Quique Sánchez Flores]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.laligaweekly.com/2009/10/quique-to-atletico-madrid.html |title=Quique to Atletico Madrid |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091030114611/http://www.laligaweekly.com/2009/10/quique-to-atletico-madrid.html |archive-date=30 October 2009 |work=La Liga Weekly |date=23 October 2009 |access-date=20 November 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_23622.shtml |title=Quique Sánchez Flores to be manager at Atlético de Madrid |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120301184542/http://www.typicallyspanish.com/news/publish/article_23622.shtml |archive-date=1 March 2012 |work=Typically Spanish |date=24 October 2009 |access-date=20 November 2010}}</ref> With the arrival of Sánchez Flores as coach in October 2009, Atlético improved in many of their competition. Atlético continued to lag somewhat in La Liga during the 2009–10 season, finishing in ninth position, but managed to finish third in their [[2009–10 UEFA Champions League]] group stage and subsequently entered the [[2009–10 UEFA Europa League|Europa League]] in the round of 32. Atlético went on to win the Europa League, beating English teams Liverpool<ref>{{Cite web|last=UEFA.com|date=2010-04-29|title=Forlán puts Atlético on the highway to Hamburg|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01e4-0e74713ffe42-bc3ae871bec3-1000--forlan-puts-atletico-on-the-highway-to-hamburg/|access-date=2022-01-06|website=[[UEFA]]|language=en|archive-date=6 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106204137/https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/news/01e4-0e74713ffe42-bc3ae871bec3-1000--forlan-puts-atletico-on-the-highway-to-hamburg/|url-status=live}}</ref> in the semi-finals and eventually [[Fulham F.C.|Fulham]]<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/uefacup/7719190/Atletico-Madrid-coach-Quique-Sanchez-Flores-hails-players-resolve-against-Fulham.html | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100522052228/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/european/uefacup/7719190/Atletico-Madrid-coach-Quique-Sanchez-Flores-hails-players-resolve-against-Fulham.html | url-status=dead | archive-date=22 May 2010 | location=London | work=[[The Daily Telegraph]] | title=Atletico Madrid coach Quique Sanchez Flores hails players' resolve against Fulham | date=13 May 2010}}</ref> in the [[2010 UEFA Europa League final|finals]] held at [[Volksparkstadion|HSH Nordbank Arena]] in [[Hamburg]] on 12 May 2010.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8649664.stm|title=Liverpool 2 – 1 Atletico Madrid (agg 2 – 2)|date=29 April 2010|work=[[BBC Sport]]|first=David|last=Ornstein|access-date=13 May 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100512132933/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/europe/8649664.stm| archive-date= 12 May 2010 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=292076&cc=5739|title=Late winner breaks Fulham hearts|date=12 May 2010|publisher=[[ESPNsoccernet]]|access-date=13 May 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100518145808/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=292076&cc=5739| archive-date= 18 May 2010 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = dead}}</ref> Diego Forlán scored twice, the second being an extra-time winner in the 116th minute, as Atlético won 2–1.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/fulham/7715512/Fulham-Atletico-Madrid.html|title=Fulham 1 Atlético Madrid 2 aet: match report|date=12 May 2010|work=The Daily Telegraph |first=Henry|last=Winter|author-link=Henry Winter|location=[[HSH Nordbank Arena]], Hamburg|access-date=12 May 2010| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20100515122819/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/leagues/premierleague/fulham/7715512/Fulham-Atletico-Madrid.html| archive-date= 15 May 2010 <!--DASHBot-->|url-status = dead}}</ref> It was the first time since the [[1961–62 European Cup Winners' Cup]] that Atlético had claimed a European titles. They also reached the [[2010 Copa del Rey final|Copa del Rey finals]] on 19 May 2010, where they faced [[Sevilla FC|Sevilla]], but lost 2–0 at the [[Camp Nou]] in [[Barcelona]].<ref>[http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=292636&cc=5901 Report: Atlético Madrid v Sevilla FC – Spanish Copa del Rey – ESPN Soccernet] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121023172549/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=292636&cc=5901 |date=23 October 2012 }}. Soccernet.espn.go.com (20 May 2010). Retrieved 20 November 2010.</ref> By winning the Europa League, they qualified for the [[2010 UEFA Super Cup]] against [[Inter Milan]], winner of the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League. The match was played at the [[Stade Louis II]], [[Monaco]] on 27 August 2010. Atlético won 2–0 with goals from José Antonio Reyes and Agüero, making it the club's first win in the [[UEFA Super Cup]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=UEFA.com|date=2011-06-06|title=2010 Super Cup: Atlético win on Super Cup debut|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/news/0250-0c50f52fbe1e-3de7a454dd6b-1000--2010-super-cup-atletico-win-on-super-cup-debut/|access-date=2022-01-06|website=[[UEFA]]|language=en|archive-date=6 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220106204140/https://www.uefa.com/uefasupercup/news/0250-0c50f52fbe1e-3de7a454dd6b-1000--2010-super-cup-atletico-win-on-super-cup-debut/|url-status=live}}</ref>

Atlético had a comparatively disappointing 2010–11 season, finishing only seventh in the League and being eliminated in the quarter-finals of the [[2010–11 Copa del Rey|Copa del Rey]] and the group stage of the [[2010–11 UEFA Europa League|Europa League]]. This ultimately led to the departure of manager Sánchez Flores before the conclusion of the season,<ref>{{Cite web|author1=App|date=2011-05-14|title=Sanchez Flores to leave Atletico Madrid|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/news/sanchez-flores-leave-atletico-madrid|access-date=2022-01-04|website=fourfourtwo.com|language=en|archive-date=4 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104162813/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/news/sanchez-flores-leave-atletico-madrid|url-status=live}}</ref> who was replaced with ex-Sevilla manager [[Gregorio Manzano]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Official: Atletico Madrid appoint Gregorio Manzano as coach on one-year terms {{!}} Goal.com|url=https://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spanish-football/2011/06/08/2523734/official-atletico-madrid-appoint-gregorio-manzano-as-new|access-date=2022-01-04|website=www.goal.com|archive-date=4 January 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104162812/https://www.goal.com/en/news/12/spanish-football/2011/06/08/2523734/official-atletico-madrid-appoint-gregorio-manzano-as-new|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Simeone revolution and revival of Atlético success (2011–present) ===
[[File:Diego Simeone - 01.jpg|thumb|255x255px|[[Diego Simeone]] has led the club to two [[UEFA Champions League]] finals]]
On 23 December 2011, Atlético appointed their former Argentine player, [[Diego Simeone]], as manager in place of Manzano.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-12-24 |title=Diego Simeone appointed Atletico boss |url=https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/atletico-madrid/news/diego-simeone-appointed-atletico-boss_11405.html |access-date=2024-10-02 |website=Sports Mole |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":0">{{Cite news |date=2021-12-23 |title=Diego Simeone: 'He's totally transformed Atletico Madrid' - but is he suffering an identity crisis? |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/59742905 |access-date=2024-10-02 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-12-22 |title=Atletico Madrid sack boss Gregorio Manzano |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/news/story/_/id/1000318/atletico-madrid-sack-manager-gregorio-manzano |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104162815/https://www.espn.com/soccer/news/story/_/id/1000318/atletico-madrid-sack-manager-gregorio-manzano |archive-date=4 January 2022 |access-date=2022-01-04 |website=ESPN.com |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author1=App |date=2011-12-23 |title=Simeone replaces Manzano at Atletico |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/news/simeone-replaces-manzano-atletico |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220104162815/https://www.fourfourtwo.com/us/news/simeone-replaces-manzano-atletico |archive-date=4 January 2022 |access-date=2022-01-04 |website=fourfourtwo.com |language=en}}</ref> The club were in a period of uncertainty, having appointed five managers in less than three years and allowing young talents, namely Agüero and de Gea, to leave for the [[Premier League]].<ref name=":0" /> The team was sitting 10th in La Liga at the time of Simeone's appointment, after losing four of their last five games.<ref name=":0" /> The appointment of Simeone was seen as a risk, who was relatively inexperienced and previously only had European managerial experience with Italian underdogs [[Catania FC|Catania]].<ref name=":0" /> However, he swiftly transformed Atlético into a formidable force. As a player, Simeone was known as a fierce, all-action midfielder; he brought the same relentless, win-at-all-costs mentality to Atlético as manager.<ref name=":0" /> His focus was on building a strong defence, anchored by teenage [[Chelsea F.C.|Chelsea]] loanee goalkeeper [[Thibaut Courtois]] and Uruguayan centre-back [[Diego Godín]]. The results were immediate, as Simeone's first six games in charge featured six clean sheets. According to Spanish football writer Andy West, Atlético fans came to quickly to embrace Simeone, especially in light of his role as a pivotal player in their 1995-96 league and cup double.<ref name=":0" />

Simeone led Atlético to their second [[2011–12 UEFA Europa League|Europa League]] win in the three years since its creation; Atlético beat [[Athletic Bilbao]] 3–0 in the final on 9 May 2012 at [[Arena Națională|National Arena]] in [[Bucharest]] with two goals from [[Radamel Falcao]] and one from [[Diego (footballer, born 1985)|Diego]].<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/may/09/atletico-madrid-athletic-bilbao-europa-league | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Jonathan | last=Wilson | title=Atlético Madrid 3–0 Athletic Bilbao | date=9 May 2012 | access-date=11 December 2016 | archive-date=25 April 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180425123125/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2012/may/09/atletico-madrid-athletic-bilbao-europa-league | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.goal.com/en-us/match/79438/atletico-madrid-vs-athletic-bilbao/report |title=Atl. Madrid 3–0 Athletic Bilbao: EL champs |publisher=Goal.com |date=9 May 2012 |access-date=8 March 2013 |archive-date=17 June 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190617081021/https://www.goal.com/en-us/match/79438/atletico-madrid-vs-athletic-bilbao/report |url-status=live }}</ref> By winning the Europa League again, Atlético qualified for the [[2012 UEFA Super Cup]] against Chelsea, winners of the [[2011–12 UEFA Champions League|previous season's Champions League]]. The game was played at the Stade Louis II, Monaco on 31 August 2012; Atlético won 4–1, including a [[hat-trick]] by Falcao in the first half. On 17 May 2013, Atlético beat Real Madrid 2–1 in the [[2013 Copa del Rey final|Copa del Rey final]] in a tense match where both teams finished with ten men. This ended a 14-year and 25-match winless streak in the [[Madrid derby]]. The [[2012–13 Atlético Madrid season|2012–13 season]] saw the club finish with three trophies in a little over a year.<ref>{{cite news | url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/europe/2013/05/17/atletico-real-madrid-copa-del-rey-soccer-cristiano-ronaldo-jose-mourinho-miranda/2216441/ | agency=Associated Press | title=Atletico Madrid upsets Real Madrid to win Copa del Rey | date=17 May 2013 | access-date=4 December 2017 | archive-date=16 April 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180416075832/https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/europe/2013/05/17/atletico-real-madrid-copa-del-rey-soccer-cristiano-ronaldo-jose-mourinho-miranda/2216441/ | url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/football-atletico-stun-10-man-real-madri/679092.html |title=Football: Atletico stun 10-man Real Madrid to win Spanish Cup |date=17 May 2013 |location=Singapore |work=Channel News Asia |url-status = dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130607135754/http://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/football-atletico-stun-10-man-real-madri/679092.html |archive-date= 7 June 2013}}</ref> On 17 May 2014, a 1–1 draw at the [[Camp Nou]] against [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] secured the La Liga title for Atlético, their first since 1996, and the first titles since [[2003–04 La Liga|2003–04]] not won by Barcelona or Real Madrid.<ref>{{cite news|last=Martin|first=Richard|title=Barcelona 1 Atletico Madrid 1, La Liga: match report|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/la-liga/10838338/Barcelona-v-Atletico-Madrid-La-Liga-live.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/competitions/la-liga/10838338/Barcelona-v-Atletico-Madrid-La-Liga-live.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=17 May 2014|newspaper=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|date=17 May 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref> One week later, Atlético faced city rivals Real Madrid in their first [[2014 UEFA Champions League final|Champions League final]] since 1974, and the first played between two sides from the same city. They took a first-half lead through Godín and led until the third minute of injury time, when [[Sergio Ramos]] headed in an equaliser from a corner; the match went to extra time, and Real ultimately won 4–1.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Real Madrid 4-1 Atletico Madrid|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/27383593|access-date=2022-01-04|archive-date=27 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190427170021/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/27383593|url-status=live}}</ref> 
[[File:El Atlético ofrece su doble triunfo a Madrid 03 (cropped).jpg|left|thumb|205x205px|[[Antoine Griezmann]], Atlético's all-time top scorer, with the [[UEFA Europa League]] title in 2018]]
[[Antoine Griezmann]], who had a standout season in La Liga and featured at the [[2014 FIFA World Cup]], joined Atlético from [[Real Sociedad]] on 28 July 2014.<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Wire |first=S. I. |date=2014-07-28 |title=Atlético Madrid to sign forward Antoine Griezmann |url=https://www.si.com/soccer/2014/07/28/atletico-madrid-sign-forward-antoine-griezmann |access-date=2024-10-02 |magazine=Sports Illustrated |language=en-us}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2019-07-12 |title=Antoine Griezmann: Barcelona sign Atletico Madrid forward |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/48967047 |access-date=2024-10-02 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref> During his first stint with the club, Griezmann was Atlético's top scorer for five consecutive seasons.<ref name=":1" /> He established himself as a world-class player at Atlético, also shining on the international stage as he finished as the top scorer at [[UEFA Euro 2016]] and earned the tournament's best player award.<ref name=":1" /> That [[2016 Ballon d'Or|same year]], he placed third in the [[Ballon d'Or]] rankings, behind [[Lionel Messi]] and [[Cristiano Ronaldo]].<ref name=":1" /> Atlético reached a second Champions League final in three seasons in [[2015–16 UEFA Champions League|2015–16]], again facing Real Madrid, and lost on penalties after a 1–1 draw.<ref name="bbcsum">{{cite news|title=Real Madrid beat Atlético Madrid on penalties|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/35947318|access-date=28 May 2016|work=[[BBC Sport]]|archive-date=8 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201108101718/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/live/football/35947318|url-status=live}}</ref> The club played their last home game at the [[Vicente Calderón Stadium]] on 21 May 2017,<ref name="lavanguardia">{{Cite web|url=https://www.lavanguardia.com/deportes/futbol/20200706/482165275262/vicente-calderon-historia-obras-derribado-atletico-de-madrid.html|website=[[La Vanguardia]]|date=6 July 2020|title=El Vicente Calderón ya es historia|access-date=1 June 2022|archive-date=1 June 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601163834/https://www.lavanguardia.com/deportes/futbol/20200706/482165275262/vicente-calderon-historia-obras-derribado-atletico-de-madrid.html|url-status=live}}</ref> thereby moving to a new home, the refurbished [[Metropolitano Stadium|Wanda Metropolitano]] in eastern Madrid.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The story of Atletico Madrid's new Wanda Metropolitano Stadium |url=https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11838/11031865/the-story-of-atletico-madrids-new-wanda-metropolitano-stadium |access-date=2023-05-09 |website=Sky Sports |language=en |archive-date=9 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230509024917/https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11838/11031865/the-story-of-atletico-madrids-new-wanda-metropolitano-stadium |url-status=live }}</ref> In 2018, they won their third [[2017–18 UEFA Europa League|Europa League]] title in nine years by beating [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] 3–0 in the [[2018 UEFA Europa League final|finals]] at the [[Parc Olympique Lyonnais|Stade de Lyon]] in [[Metropolis of Lyon|Lyon]], courtesy of a brace from Griezmann and a goal from club captain [[Gabi (footballer, born 1983)|Gabi]] in what would be his last match for the club.<ref>{{Cite news|title=Atletico beat Marseille to win Europa League|language=en-GB|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44113764|access-date=2022-01-04|archive-date=16 May 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516065107/https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/44113764|url-status=live}}</ref> Atlético also won another [[2018 UEFA Super Cup|UEFA Super Cup]] after beating Real Madrid 4–2 at the outset of the following season at the [[Lilleküla Stadium|Lilleküla Arena]] in [[Tallinn]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=sport|first=Guardian|date=2018-08-15|title=Diego Costa double helps Atlético beat Real Madrid 4-2 in Uefa Super Cup|url=http://www.theguardian.com/global/2018/aug/15/real-madrid-atletico-madrid-european-super-cup-match-report|access-date=2022-01-04|website=the Guardian|language=en|archive-date=28 April 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190428003902/https://www.theguardian.com/global/2018/aug/15/real-madrid-atletico-madrid-european-super-cup-match-report|url-status=live}}</ref>  [[File:Almeida dedica la victoria del Atlético de Madrid a los aficionados que “estos 15 meses de pandemia han empujado desde el cielo”.jpg|thumb|Simeone celebrating the [[La Liga]] title win in 2021]]On 25 September 2020, Atlético signed [[Luis Suárez]] from Barcelona.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-09-25 |title=Atletico Madrid: Luis Suarez signs from Barcelona on two-year deal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/54300421 |access-date=2024-10-02 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite news |last=Corrigan |first=Dermot |title=Luis Suarez's last hurrah at Atletico Madrid |url=https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/3174204/2022/03/11/luis-suarezs-last-hurrah-at-atletico-madrid/ |access-date=2024-10-02 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> One of the world's best strikers, Suárez made a dramatic impact at the club, as he played a pivotal role in their unexpected La Liga title triumph, seven years after the 2013–14 win.<ref name=":3" /> He scored 17 goals in his first 19 La Liga matches, helping Atlético establish a 10-point lead by January. Although the team wavered later in the season, Suárez's relentless competitive drive proved decisive, as he netted crucial goals in the final two games to secure the title.<ref name=":2" /> The final game of the title-winning season was on 22 May 2021, a 2–1 win at the [[Estadio José Zorrilla|José Zorrilla Stadium]] against [[Real Valladolid|Valladolid]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite news|title=Atletico edge Real to La Liga title|work=BBC Sport|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57214133|access-date=23 May 2021|archive-date=23 May 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523022205/https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/57214133|url-status=live}}</ref> On April 16, 2024, the team qualified to the [[2025 FIFA Club World Cup]] for first time in club's history, despite being eliminated in the [[2023–24 UEFA Champions League|2023–24 Champions League]], as Barcelona were also eliminated, and Atlético were the higher ranked Spanish club in the UEFA four-year ranking.