Real Madrid—the 15-time champions of Europe and 36-time champions of Spain—have a love-hate (mostly hate) relationship with Spain’s premier cup competition, the Copa del Rey. After all, this is the only major trophy in which Real Madrid do not hold the record for the most titles.
Real Madrid’s only period of true dominance in the Copa del Rey dates back to an era when both the club and the competition were known by different names. Founded by leaders at Athletic Club and Real Madrid in 1902 to celebrate the coronation of King Alfonso XIII, the Copa de la Coronación laid the foundation for what is now the Copa del Rey. The more refined tournament would later be called the Copa de Su Majestad El Rey Alfonso XIII. At the time, Real Madrid were still known as Madrid Football Club, prior to receiving royal patronage.
Between 1905 and 1908, Madrid won the Copa del Rey four times in a row—a feat they have never managed to repeat. In fact, since 1908, Madrid have only defended their title twice, in the 1940s and 1970s.
1905
A hard-fought final against Athletic Club (Bilbao) ended 1–0, with forward Manuel Prast scoring the decisive goal. This marked Madrid’s first taste of consecutive cup success.
1906
The team followed up with a comprehensive 4–1 victory over Athletic Club, solidifying their superiority at that time. Prast, once again, played a key role in the attack.
1907
Madrid’s third trophy came against a representative side from Bizcaya. Although accounts of the final score vary, most sources confirm that Madrid claimed a narrow 1–0 win, extending their run to three in a row.
1908
A 2–1 result over Real Vigo Sporting secured Madrid’s fourth consecutive Copa.
Spanish midfielder Manuel Prast Rodríguez de Llano scored in the first three finals, helping Madrid achieve their only threepeat in the competition. In total, Prast played 29 matches for Real Madrid.
During this early era, football in Spain was still developing. Formal managerial structures were largely absent, and many clubs—Madrid FC included—relied on a more communal or player-led approach to training and tactics. Leadership often came from administrators like Carlos Padrós, who served as president and oversaw the club’s overall direction, while senior players contributed to match strategy.
Despite occasional surges—most notably the 2011 victory over Barcelona under José Mourinho, the 2014 triumph against Barcelona under Carlo Ancelotti, and the 2023 final against Osasuna—these successes in the Copa del Rey have remained isolated achievements rather than the beginnings of a new era of cup dominance.
