Have Real Madrid hit rock bottom? Well, by this time next year, were things to continue as they have been, they might just do. For the first time since 2006, los Blancos have endured back-to-back trophyless seasons, finishing second in La Liga agai and exiting the Champions League in the quarter-finals both times, ousted by Bayern Munich and Arsenal before that.
Now, for all the pedants out there, we will note that Carlo Ancelotti's team did win both the UEFA Super Cup in August 2024 and then the FIFA Intercontinental Cup four months later, beating Pachuca in Qatar. However, we are only including La Liga, a major UEFA competition, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de España. So, have los Merengues ever gone three campaigns in a row without major silverware?
Real Madrid back-to-back trophyless campaigns (1953-present)
Successive trophyless seasons | What happened the following year? |
|---|---|
2024/25 & 2025/26 | TBC |
2004/05 & 2005/06 | Liga: 1st. UCL: Last 16: Copa: Last 16. |
1982/83 & 1983/84 | Liga: 5th. UEL: Winners. Copa: Last 16. |
Since the advent of UEFA competition in the mid-50s, with Real Madrid winning each of the first five European Cups, they have only twice endured back-to-back trophyless campaigns.
The most recently example of this came 20 years ago, towards the end of the first Galáctico-era. In the summer of 2006, Fabio Capello was appointed and they signed Fabio Cannavaro, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Mahamadou Diarra, among others, leading los Merengues to the Liga title, finishing above Barcelona by virtue of head-to-head record.
Meantime, back in the early-80s, after back-to-back second place finishes, they actually finished fifth, but ended the trophy draught by winning the UEFA Cup, defeating Videoton in the final. Los Blancos retained the trophy in 1986, this time beating Köln in the final, but have not featured in Europe's second-tier competition for over three decades, something that's unlikely to change.
Well, José Mourinho won't be able to add to his two Europa Leagues, or one Conference League title, with Real Madrid next season, so will he avoid making unwanted club history? Well, Hansi Flick's Barça won a domestic treble during his first season, retaining the league title and the Supercopa this time round, with Real Sociedad the ones to capture the Copa del Rey.
So, the Catalan giants are undeniably strong right now, but bridging that gap is certainly not impossible if Florentino Pérez and Mourinho are able to get recruitment right. Meantime, despite this dysfunctionality, los Blancos begin every season as one of about six or seven clubs who can realistically win the Champions League; Barça, PSG, Bayern Munich and whichever Premier League clubs are strong at any given time, which would be Arsenal and Man City right now, the others.
So, chances are, Real Madrid will land some sort of silverware next season, but that is far from a given, and who knows if Mourinho will be the inspired re-appointment Pérez is hoping for.
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