Real Madrid Femenino

Real Madrid Femenino is a Spanish professional women's football club in Madrid. Founded as the independent Club Deportivo TACÓN in 2014, the club later underwent a merger and acquisition process with Real Madrid beginning in 2019 and was officially rebranded as Real Madrid's women's football section in 2020.

Real Madrid Femenino
Full nameReal Madrid Club de Fútbol Femenino
Nickname(s)Las Blancas (The Whites)[1]
FoundedCD TACÓN: 12 September 2014 (2014-09-12)
Real Madrid Femenino: 1 July 2020 (2020-07-01)
GroundAlfredo Di Stéfano
Madrid, Spain
Capacity6,000
ChairmanFlorentino Pérez
ManagerAlberto Toril
LeaguePrimera División
2022–23Primera División, 2nd
WebsiteClub website

The club currently plays in the Primera División.

History

2014–2019: Club Deportivo TACÓN

TACÓN players in 2018 with mayor Manuela Carmena and club president Ana Rossell.

CD TACÓN was founded on 12 September 2014 and began playing at senior level in 2016. The name TACÓN (Heel) is an acronym of Trabajo (work) Atrevimiento (dare/bravery) Conocimiento (knowledge) Organización (organisation) Notoriedad (visibility/renown).[2] In their first competitive season, 2015–16, the club only registered an under-14 team. In June 2016, TACÓN announced a merger with CD Canillas for incorporating their women's senior and under-19 teams.[3]

In their first season at senior level, in the 2016–17 Segunda División, TACÓN finished second in their regional group, below Madrid CFF, who won promotion to the Primera División.

Because both Madrid CFF and TACÓN were clubs open to a potential takeover by Real Madrid, a rivalry developed between them.[4] Madrid CFF was founded in 2010[5] by businessman Alfredo Ulloa, a Real Madrid socio (member)[5] like TACÓN's founder, Ana Rossell. She described the clubs' relations as "cordial" in 2019.[6]

Rossell had petitioned successive Real Madrid presidents, Lorenzo Sanz, Florentino Pérez and Ramón Calderón, to create a women's football section since 1997, but received no official response.[7] According to Rossell, her requests were denied, with club executives citing that a women's section wasn't economically sustainable. In those years, she was a player for Atlético Feminas and CD Canillas.[7] In 2016, Rossell called publicly for Real Madrid to create a women's football section.[8]

In June 2017 Real Madrid's president, Florentino Pérez, claimed that the club would make its own women's team from scratch, and not buy an existing club.[9] Rossell had claimed in 2013 that Pérez was first starting to consider women's football at the club.[10] Real was thus doing so several years or decades later than many other clubs in Europe and in the city of Madrid itself.[11]

On El Larguero in 2017, Pérez said “We will definitely have a women’s team,” he said. “We’re working on it, but it will be from the position of a newly formed club, not a team in which we bring the best player from Germany, Brazil… That is not what Madridismo is all about.”

As late as September 2018, Pérez still ruled out having a women's team, as El Confidencial reported: "Florentino did not want to spend on a section that did not guarantee trophies and his agents lied to him about the expenses necessary for him to create it".[12] Women's football was not mentioned at all by Pérez at the club's annual assembly on 23 September 2018,[13] and Oscar Sanz of El País wrote, "Real Madrid has the dubious honor of being, together with Getafe, the only First Division club that has neither had nor has a women's team."[13]

2019: Takeover by Real Madrid

After three seasons in the Segunda División, on 19 May 2019, TACÓN achieved promotion to the Primera División.[14]

On 25 June 2019, the Real Madrid CF board of directors announced a proposal of integrating TACÓN as their women's football section to be presented to their socios (members).[15] As part of the agreement, TACÓN would play their 2019–20 season matches at Ciudad Real Madrid during the transition, with the merger being officially completed on 1 July 2020.[16] On 15 September 2019, The Extraordinary General Assembly of Real Madrid approved the absorption of the club.[17] Florentino Perez, speaking at the General Assembly after the vote to absorb was passed, cited that TACÓN's youth system was the reason why it was chosen as the base for the women's team, thus striving to stay true to Real Madrid's philosophy of developing Spanish talent.[17]

2019–2020: Transition year

Having been promoted, the club went on to lose a large majority of its playing squad in the summer of 2019. Argentine midfielder Ruth Bravo moved to Rayo Vallecano, while others like Lixy, Marbel Okoye and Yamilla Badell did not have their contracts renewed. In order to strengthen for the coming season, the club saw the arrival of Swedish duo Kosovare Asllani and Sofia Jakobsson; French midfielder Aurélie Kaci from Atlético Madrid, Ainoa Campo from Madrid CFF, English forward Chioma Ubogagu, goalkeeper Ana Valles, Nigerian defender Osinachi Ohale, as well as the Brazilian pair Daiane and Thaisa Moreno, who was nominated for best midfielder in her lone year at A.C. Milan Women. The last signing of the summer was versatile defender Babett Peter from VFL Wolfsburg.[18]

Despite the wealth of talent and experience at their disposal, CD TACÓN's start to the season was nothing short of abysmal, with a heavy loss against Barcelona (9–1) in its debut match,[19] and EDF Logroño particularly standing out. After a poor run with just one win in nine games, the team started to gain a sense of stability in November 2019, going on a five match unbeaten run. TACÓN finished the shortened 2019–20 season in 10th place, with many fans unhappy with how the team had thrown away a 3–0 lead with ten minutes to go and ended up losing 4–3 on home soil in the last match before the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Real Madrid Women were also the subject of a documentary series in 2020.[20]

2020–present: Real Madrid Femenino

On 1 July 2020, Real Madrid CF released an official communication confirming the completion of the merger, thereby signalling the complete absorption of CD TACÓN, which would then operate as 'Real Madrid' from that date onwards.[21]

The new structure of the section includes a senior team, reserve side similar to Castilla, known as 'Real Madrid Femenino B', an Under-19 team, 'Juvenil' and a 'Cadete' for under-15s and below. The structure already existed under CD TACÓN and has been integrated into Real Madrid's famous La Fábrica.[22] The remaining TACÓN Juvenil and Cadete teams that couldn't be absorbed right away have since been rebranded as 'Fenix Football Club', which in turn merged with CD Masriver in 2021.[23]

Home ground

During the transition season, TACÓN played their home fixtures at Field 11 in Ciudad Real Madrid. The matches were not open to the general public, with only club members, selected away fans and those possessing a membership card, allowed to attend.[24] Following the completion of the merger, and given that the senior men's team was using the Estadio Alfredo di Stéfano, Real Madrid Femenino continued to play their home matches at Field 11. At the start of the 2021–22 season, the women's team have alternated between Field 11 and the Alfredo di Stéfano stadium, initially with a reduced capacity for fan attendance.

Season to season

As CD TACÓN

Season Division Place Copa de la Reina
2016–17 2nd
2017–18 1st
2018–19 1st
2019–20 10th Quarter-finals

As Real Madrid Femenino

Season Division Place Copa de la Reina
2020–21 2nd Quarter-finals
2021–22 3rd Semi-finals
2022–23 2nd Runners-up

Record in UEFA Women's Champions League

All results (home, away and aggregate) list Real Madrid's goal tally first.

Season Round Club Home Away Aggregate
2021–22 QR2 England Manchester City 1–1 1–0 2–1
Group stage Ukraine Zhytlobud Kharkiv 3–0 1–0 2nd
Iceland Breiðablik 5–0 3–0
France Paris Saint-Germain 0–2 0–4
Quarter-finals Spain Barcelona 1–3 2–5 3–8
2022–23 QR1 Austria Sturm Graz 6–0
England Manchester City 1–0
QR2 Norway Rosenborg 3–0 2–1 5–1
Group stage France Paris Saint-Germain 0–0 1–2 3rd
England Chelsea 1–1 0–2
Albania Vllaznia Shkodër 5–1 2–0
2023–24 QR2 Norway Vålerenga Fotball 2–1 3–0 5–1
Group stage England Chelsea 15 Nov 24 Jan TBD
Sweden BK Häcken 23 Nov 30 Jan
France Paris FC 14 Dec 20 Dec

Players

Current squad

As of 9 July 2023[25]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK Spain ESP Misa Rodríguez
2 DF Mexico MEX Kenti Robles
3 MF Spain ESP Teresa Abelleira
4 DF Spain ESP Rocío Gálvez
5 DF Spain ESP Ivana Andrés (captain)
6 MF France FRA Sandie Toletti
7 DF Spain ESP Olga Carmona
8 MF Spain ESP Maite Oroz
9 FW Denmark DEN Signe Bruun
10 MF Scotland SCO Caroline Weir
11 DF Spain ESP Oihane Hernández
No. Pos. Nation Player
13 GK France FRA Mylène Chavas
14 DF Brazil BRA Kathellen
15 FW Australia AUS Hayley Raso
16 FW Denmark DEN Caroline Møller
17 FW Spain ESP Carla Camacho
18 FW Colombia COL Linda Caicedo
20 FW France FRA Naomie Feller
21 MF Spain ESP Claudia Zornoza
22 FW Spain ESP Athenea del Castillo
23 DF Denmark DEN Sofie Svava
24 MF Sweden SWE Freja Olofsson

FIFA World Cup participants

List of players that were called up for a FIFA Women's World Cup while playing for Real Madrid. In brackets, the tournament played:

Coaches

CD TACÓN

Real Madrid

Current coaching staff

Position Staff
Head coachSpain Alberto Toril
Assistant coachSpain Irene Ferreras
Goalkeeping coachSpain Óscar Gaspar
Fitness coachSpain Marcos Chena

References

  1. Houwen, Jess (23 July 2019). "A Brief Intro To Las Blancas". Managing Madrid. Retrieved 26 July 2019.
  2. "Club: Historia del CD TACON" (in Spanish). CD TACÓN. Archived from the original on 8 June 2019. Retrieved 26 June 2019.
  3. "René Ramos entrará en la directiva del CD TACON femenino" [René Ramos will enter the board of the Women's CD TACON] (in Spanish). Diario AS. 24 June 2016.
  4. Garrido, Jesus (30 August 2017). "Guerra abierta entre los dos aspirantes a ser el Real Madrid femenino [Open war between the two applicants to be the female Real Madrid]". El Confidencial. Archived from the original on 30 August 2017.
  5. Alexander, María (24 March 2018). "No es el Real Madrid, es el Madrid CFF [It's not Real Madrid, it's Madrid CFF]". El País. Archived from the original on 24 March 2018.
  6. "La lucha de Ana Rosell, la gran gestora del futuro Real Madrid femenino" (in Spanish). El Confidencial. 22 June 2019.
  7. Roldan, Isabel (15 October 2013). ""Nadie entiende que el Madrid no tenga equipo femenino" ["Nobody understands that Madrid does not have a women's team"]". AS.com. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  8. "Historia por Hacer" (in Spanish). Primavera Blanca. 10 May 2016.
  9. "El Real Madrid creará un femenino de base y descarta el fútbol sala [Real Madrid will create women's grassroots team and discard futsal]". Palco23.com. 20 June 2017. Archived from the original on 28 November 2021.
  10. "Ana Rossell fights for Women's Real Madrid" (in Spanish). VAVEL. 16 October 2013.
  11. Menayo, David (22 March 2018). "¿Un Real Madrid femenino? Sí, pero no [A female Real Madrid? Yes but no]". AS.com. Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. Retrieved 28 November 2021.
  12. de la Calle, Fermín (9 September 2018). "Por qué Florentino Pérez descartó un Real Madrid femenino [Why Florentino Pérez ruled out a female Real Madrid]". El Confidencial. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018.
  13. Sanz, Oscar (30 September 2018). "El inexistente Real Madrid femenino [The non-existent female Real Madrid]". El País. Archived from the original on 30 September 2018.
  14. "El CD TACON, nuevo equipo de la Liga Iberdrola" [CD TACON, new team of Liga Iberdrola] (in Spanish). La Liga. 19 May 2019.
  15. "Comunicado Oficial" [Official Communication] (in Spanish). Real Madrid CF. 25 March 2019. Retrieved 25 March 2019.
  16. "Real Madrid to have women's team after buying Deportivo TACON". BBC Sport. 25 June 2019.
  17. "The Extraordinary General Assembly approves the absorption of Club Deportivo TACON". Real Madrid CF. 15 September 2019.
  18. "Real Madrid [Women] - Transfers 2019/2020". worldfootball.net. 14 February 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  19. Train, Rob (7 September 2019). "Barça show TACON a clean pair of heels in nine-goal rout". Diario AS. Retrieved 14 December 2019.
  20. de la Fuente, Anna Marie. "Exile Content, Newtral Co. Producing Docuseries on Real Madrid's Female Soccer Team (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety.com. PMC. Retrieved 12 February 2020.
  21. "Comunicado Oficial". Real Madrid.com (in Spanish). 1 July 2020.
  22. "El Real Madrid Femenino tendrá tres equipos de cantera". adnblanco.com (in Spanish). 2 August 2020.
  23. "La Federación Madrileña ya ha hecho efectiva la fusión entre Real Madrid y CD Tacón". adnblanco.com (in Spanish). 2 August 2020.
  24. "Quejas al TACON por no vender entradas a público en general" (in Spanish). Diario AS. 5 November 2019.
  25. "Plantilla de Jugadoras del Real Madrid". Real Madrid CF (in Spanish). Retrieved 1 July 2022.
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