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Galácticos (Spanish for galactics, referring to superstars) are expensive, world-famous football players recruited during the "galácticos" policy pursued by Florentino Pérez during his presidency at Real Madrid, where in his first tenure between 2000 and 2006, he purchased at least one galáctico in the summer of every year.
Jul 16, 2024 · What is a Galactico? The term Galactico comes from the Spanish word for 'galactic'. It is a definition of a player who is at the peak of stardom, a household name across the globe, who is sublime at football and was typically the subject of headline-grabbing and extravagant transfers to Real Madrid.
- Editor
- What Is A Galactico?
- First Galactico Era
- Second Galactico Era
Galacticois the Spanish word for 'galactic' and it is used to describe footballers who are deemed to be superstars or boast ability levels that are 'out of this world'. As well as being supremely talented, a Galactico tends to be famous the world over and usually commands a hefty transfer fee. The term was popularised during the 2000s during Floren...
For much of the 1990s, Real Madrid were forced to play second best to Barcelona in La Liga, with Cruyff's Barca 'Dream Team' and later Louis van Gaal's side dominating the domestic landscape. Los Blancos did end a three-decade-long European Cup drought during that period by winning the Champions League in 1998, repeating the feat in 2000, but the c...
The second Galactico - and current - era arose out of a similar context as the first, with Perez returning to the role of Real Madrid president in 2009 amid a period of relative decline at the Bernabeu. Pep Guardiola had delivered a treble for Barcelona during the 2008-09 season and the Catalan giants were practising an exciting brand of football t...
- Luis Figo. One of the greatest players of his generation, Luis Figo became the first Galactico when signed for Madrid from arch-rivals Barcelona in 2000.
- Steve McManaman. Although another English player is more famous for playing at the capital club, Steve Mcmanaman had a successful time at Real Madrid since he joined them in 1999 from Liverpool.
- Raul. Raul Gonzalez is a Madridista through and through and signed his first professional contract with Real Madrid at the young age of 17 in 1994. He kicked on from then to play for 16 seasons including captaining the side from 2003 to 2010.
- Iker Casillas. Casillas graduated from the Madrid youth system and was considered a Galactico as he was a part of the team at that time. However, his achievements since then have ensured that he will be remembered as one.
- Joe Brewin
- Iker Casillas. His second European title was secured after he nearly single-handedly denied Bayer Leverkusen with his cat-like reflexes in the 2002 final.
- Roberto Carlos. The defender’s penchant for the spectacular ensured he never looked out of place when the Galacticos era rolled in. A wing-back who spent his time in the opposition’s half as much as his own, Carlos was an indisputable pioneer of the role that has become an indispensable part of modern football.
- Zinedine Zidane. The Galacticos may have had some of the best players in the world at their disposal early in the new millennium, but Zidane was the crown jewel.
- Luis Figo. The La Liga title and Champions League victory he went on to inspire further alienated him among the Camp Nou faithful. Before Jose Mourinho and Pep Guardiola; before Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi – no individual epitomised the Real Madrid-Barcelona rivalry like Luis Figo.
Jul 24, 2017 · On this day in 2000, Luis Figo left Barcelona to become Real Madrid's first 'galáctico', thus kick-starting a footballing revolution like no other. It was, recalls Ronaldo, "a term we never chose...
Nov 27, 2017 · Real Madrid's Galacticos. They were the Team of All Talents: a Real Madrid side stuffed with more famous names than a Hollywood charity gala. They brought goals, glamour and glitz to the game,...
