British Real Madrid players have been few and far between down the years, but with everything pointing towards Jude Bellingham becoming the latest addition to a very select group, we taking a look back through history to see how the UK’s flag bearers fared in the Spanish capital.
According to transfer guru Fabrizio Romano, negotiations with Borussia Dortmund are at an advanced stage and Jude Bellingham looks set to become to latest member of Real Madrid‘s vision for the future.
The 19-year-old will join Aurelien Tchouameni, Eduardo Camavinga and Fede Valverde to complete a frankly stupendous midfield four that will usher in a new era at the the Bernabeu.
Loyal servants Luka Modric and Toni Kroos also appear ready to extend their stays for a least another season, providing Bellingham with the chance to soak up as much knowledge as possible from one of the greatest midfield duos to ever grace the game.
With the headline transfer of the summer window seemingly nearing completion, we are taking you through some of the other British Real Madrid players who have been fortunate enough to represent Europe’s most illustrious team.
Laurie Cunningham (1979-1984)
Laurie Cunningham is one of the chief trailblazers for British players moving abroad, and in the summer of 1979, he became the first ever British player to complete a move to Los Blanocs.
Often criminally overlooked by England manger Ron Greenwood, Cunningham enjoyed a successful five year stint in Spain, scoring twice on his debut before helping them to a La Liga and Copa Del Rey double in his first season.
He also remains the only Real Madrid player to receive a standing ovation at the Camp Nou, following a dazzling display in 1980.
“He drove us crazy with his dribbling, his bursts, his speed. He was electric, impressive,” recalled legendary Barca defender Migueli, who witnessed first hand a dominant display just two months after they had pocketed a budding young Diego Maradona.
Ten years later, Cunningham would tragically die in a fatal car crash, but his short-lived legacy at Real Madrid remains ever-present as a glowing example for British players to emulate.
Steve McManaman (1999-2003)
Only the second ever British player to don the white of Real at the time, Steve McManaman swapped the dreary streets of his hometown Liverpool for sun-drenched Madrid in 1999.
Now a widely-recognised pundit and commentator for BT Sport, ‘Maca’ was an integral component of Madrid’s overwhelmingly successful period around the turn of the century, where he lent a helping hand in two La Liga triumphs.
He also became the first English player to lift the Champions League for a team outside of his home country, and became the first English player to lift it for a second time just two years later.
Following a famous El Clasico victory in the Champions League last four, club general manager Jorge Valdano said in 2002, “McManaman is connected to everybody. A football match is a game of little societies and McManaman is a member of them all.”
David Beckham (2003-2007)
David Beckham’s arrival was one of a string of high-profile signings by president Florentino Pérez, now known as the Galacticos era. Madrid managed to snatch the most marketable footballer on the planet right from under the nose of rivals Barcelona, who had previously announced they had reached an agreement with Manchester United.
He became the third British player to represent Los Blancos after Cunningham and McManaman, who he effectively squeezed out the club after his arrival.
Sit back and enjoy 79 seconds of David Beckham assists at Real Madrid. So pure, so satisfying.pic.twitter.com/Nx6BhjDEAj
— Football Tweet ⚽ (@Football__Tweet) May 2, 2023
Despite playing alongside some of the most influential players of the 21st century, Beckham’s time in Madrid did not translate to trophies, winning just one league title in 2007 and a Supercup in his first season.
Regardless, he was a beloved figure and embodied the global footballing behemoth that is Real Madrid, while Ronaldo said upon his arrival in 2003: “We did not expect him to be such an influential player, to show such commitment to the team spirit. The way he runs for everything, the way he tries his best. He has everyone’s respect.”
Jonathan Woodgate (2004-2007)
Jonathan Woodgate in a Real Madrid shirt typically leads one to his disastrous opening game, which is widely regarded as the one of the worst debuts in football history.
Not only was the transfer from Newcastle a shock to fans at the time, but he arrived in the midst of a lengthy injury that kept him on the sidelines for the entirety of his first season in Spain.
“I got told the night before I was playing. We played against Bilbao.”
“The first tackle I made could’ve been a red, it was that bad!”
“I got a standing ovation from the fans. They realised how hard I worked.”
Jonathan Woodgate opens up on his infamous Real Madrid debut pic.twitter.com/kWEzF9s62f
— talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) February 14, 2021
In September 2005 he announced himself to the Bernabeu faithful with a performance that will live long in the memory, for all the wrong reasons. A calamitous own goal, followed by a second bookable offence rounded off a truly unforgettable debut for the Englishman, who would only go on to make a total of 14 appearances across two seasons.
Spanish newspaper outlet Marca released a poll in 2007, in which participants named Woodgate as the worst signing of the 21st century with a 37% share of the vote.
Michael Owen (2004-2005)
Joining in a double British transfer spree in 2004 with Woodgate was Michael Owen, who arrived having ranked as Liverpool’s highest scorer for the past six years, as well as a Ballon D’or to his name three years prior.
He endured a sluggish start to his career in the Spanish capital, and didn’t find the net until two months after his arrival having been largely confined to the bench in favour of Ronaldo and Raul.
13 goals in the league, and 16 overall is certainly not a bad return for a player who struggled for consistent game time, but following the additions of Robinho and Julio Baptista in the summer of 2005, he made the decision to return to the Premier League with Newcastle.
Gareth Bale (2013-2022)
The club’s longest-serving and most successful Brit, Gareth Bale, is undoubtedly a Real Madrid icon.
Despite enduring his fair share of toxicity in the latter years after falling out of favour with managers and fans, the Welshman picked up five Champions League medals, three league titles and three Club World Cup trophies throughout his nine-year stint.
Gareth Bale 15/16 Season:
– Matches: 31🥅
– Goals: 19⚽️
– Assists: 14 🎯
– Goal contribution every 72 minutes.💎Underrated player💎 pic.twitter.com/sQxHdOM9Sy
— Real Madrid World👑🤍 (@RMLove77) May 3, 2023
Forming part of a devastating three-pronged attacking unit with Karim Benzema and Cristiano Ronaldo, he clocked in with 106 goals, including several crucial match-winners and equalisers in cup finals, as well as 67 assists.
Bale is the benchmark for success for British players abroad, and Jude Bellingham can only hope to emulate his trophy haul as his transfer to Madrid edges closer.
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