10 Popular Football Teams With Real In Their Name

Real Valladolid football teams with Real in their name
(Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Football club sides from across the world bear various names, but in Spain in particular, it’s very common to see teams carry the ‘Real’ prefix in addition to another name.

This is because some of these clubs were bestowed with the title ‘Real’ by the Spanish royal family.

Real, which means royalty in Spanish, was a title given to certain clubs acknowledging the appointment of the King of Spain as honorary president of their respective clubs.

In other words, the ‘Real’ title is a sort of royal seal of association with the club bearing the name.

Today we will look at some football teams that have the word ‘Real’ in their club name. 

1. Real Madrid 

Real Madrid teams that are unbeaten this season
(Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images)

This is probably the most famous example you will find in Spanish football.

Real Madrid are the most successful football team Spain, and are also one of the football clubs with the most trophies.

They were founded in 1902 and were initially known as Madrid football club before changing their name to Real Madrid in 1920.

This was after the Spanish giants were bestowed with the Real name by King Alfonso XIII in 1920.

Los Blancos were among the last clubs he gave the Real title before his death in 1931.

The Bernabeu club has ever since been associated with Spanish royalty and authority, which is also reflected in its club badge bearing the image of a crown.

You can read about some other football clubs that changed their names.

2. Real Sociedad

Real Sociedad Football teams with Real in their name
(Photo by Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)

Sociedad is a Spanish football club based in San Sebastian. They are another popular football club with ‘Real’ in their name.

They were founded in 1909 and were originally known as Sociedad de Futbol.

In 1910 they were given the Real title by King Alfonso XIII, who used San Sebastian as his summer capital.

Los Txuri-Urdin officially changed their name to Real Sociedad de Futbol, becoming the first side to bear the royal title.

Their club emblem also bears the image of a crown.

3. Real Betis

Real Betis football clubs with Real in their name

The Seville-based club was founded in 1907 and was originally known as Betis Football Club.

After merging with another Seville-based club called Balompie in 1914, they received the patronage of King Alfonso XIII.

This led to an official change of name to Real Betis Balompie.

The Balompie name was dropped sometime in the 1930s and have simply been known as Real Betis since then.

Los Verdiblancos, like other clubs with the title, also have a crown in their club badge.

4. Real Mallorca 

Real Mallorca football clubs with Real in their name
(Photo by Eric Alonso/Getty Images)

Mallorca was founded in 1916 under the name Alfonso XIII Foot-Ball Club.

Later that same year, the King himself requested the adoption of the Real title into the team’s name, becoming Real Sociedad Alfonso XIII Foot-Ball Club.

In the 1930s, the Mallorcans had to drop any reference to their royal links in their names due to internal strife in Spain.

In 1949 they were able to recover their Real title in time for the new season, becoming Real Club Deportivo Mallorca. Los Piratas also have the crown image on their emblem.

5. Real Valladolid

Real Valladolid football teams with Real in their name
(Photo by Octavio Passos/Getty Images)

Real Valladolid was founded in 1928 as a result of a merger between Real Union Deportiva de Valladolid and Club Deportivo Espanol.

They also have a crown image incorporated into their club logo and are currently owned by former Brazilian international Ronaldo de Lima Nazario.

6. Real Racing Club de Santander

Real Racing Club de Santander, S.A.D. is commonly known as Racing de Santander or simply Racing. Hence not many fans know that the club has Real in its name.

Real Racing Santander is a football club based in Santander, Cantabria, Spain.

The club was founded in 1913 and currently competes in Segunda División.

7. Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña

Real Club Deportivo de La Coruña is known to many football fans as simply Deportivo La Coruña, Deportivo, or simply Dépor.

However, it is another one of the soccer teams that have Real in their name.

It is a football club based in the city of A Coruña, Galicia, Spain. They were founded in 1906 and currently play in the Primera División RFEF – Group 1, the third tier of the Spanish football league.

Deportivo La Coruña is one of the football teams that fell from grace, as the club used to regularly participate in European competitions.

They played in the UEFA Champions League for five consecutive seasons between 2000/01 and 2004/05, reached the quarterfinals twice, and reaching the semi-finals in the 2003/04 season.

8. Real Unión

Real Unión Club, SAD is a Spanish football club owned by Spanish football manager and head coach of Premier League club Aston Villa Unai Emery.

The club is based in Irun, in the autonomous community of the Basque Country, in the province of Gipuzkoa, close to the border with France.

It was founded in 1915 and currently plays in Primera División RFEF – Group 2.

9. Real Avilés CF

Real Avilés Club de Fútbol is a Spanish football team based in Avilés, Asturias.

It was established in 1903 and currently competes in the Segunda División RFEF – Group 1.

The club was formerly known as Sport Club Avilesino and then Stadium Club Avilesino.

However, In 1925 the club obtained the royal crown from Alfonso XIII and added Real to their name.

10. Real Murcia

Real Murcia Club de Fútbol, S.A.D., simply known as Real Murcia, is a Spanish football club based in Murcia, in the Región de Murcia.

The club was established in 1919 and currently competes in the Primera División RFEF – Group 2.

When the club was founded in 1919, it was known as Levante Foot-ball Club or Murcia Football Club.

But in 1923–24, King Alfonso XIII changed their name to Real Murcia.

Notable Mentions:

Although most of the popular football clubs with Real in their name from Spain, there are also other football teams with Real in their name in different countries. Here are some of them.

  • Real Agro Aversa (Italy)
  • AS Real Bamako (Mali)
  • Real Sporting de Gijón (Spain)
  • Real Cartagena FC (Colombia)
  • Réal du Faso (Burkina Faso)
  • Real de Arteaga (Mexico)
  • Real Estelí F.C. (Nicaragua)
  • Real Club Deportivo España (Honduras)
  • Real Frontera SC (Venezuela)
  • Real Salt Lake FC (United States)
  • Real Kashmir FC (India)
  • Real Jaén CF (Spain)
  • Real Jersey FC (United States)
  • Real Pilar FC (Argentina)
  • Club Real Potosí (Bolivia)
  • Real West Fort FC (Trinidad and Tobago)
  • Real Oviedo (Spain)
  • Real New York FC (United States)
  • Real Queluz FC (Portugal)
  • Real Vicenza VS (Italy)
  • CD Real Tomayapo (Bolivia)
  • Real Titánico de Laviana (Spain)
  • Real Garcilaso (Peru).
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