Fast forward to June 2024, and Real Madrid’s triumph over Borussia Dortmund in the UEFA Champions League signals the dawn of a new era. The impending arrival of Kylian Mbappé and Endrick, joining the likes of Jude Bellingham and Vinicius Junior, has led some to suggest that we are going to see a new formation of the Galácticos.

In this latest edition of The Edit, we look back at the original Galácticos and the strategy deployed by Florentino Perez.

The genius of the Galácticos

For much of the 1990s, Real Madrid were forced to play second best to Barcelona in La Liga. Johan Cruyff’s Barcelona dream team dominated the Spanish domestic landscape. Los Blancos did end a three decade long wait for a European Cup by winning the Champions League in 1998. They also lifted the trophy in 2000. But the club was still crying out for new leadership at the start of the millennium.

Step forward Florentino Perez and the start of the Galácticos era. Perez vowed to bring the best players in the world to the Santiago Bernabeu and dominate world football. The strategy was to mix superstar signings with the existing core group of players already at Madrid; players like Fernando Hierro, Raul, Roberto Carlos, and Iker Casillas.

By leveraging their star power to boost the club’s brand and revenue stream, the strategy was also about turning Real Madrid into a global marketing brand. The influx of superstar players significantly boosted Real Madrid’s revenue through merchandise sales, sponsorship deals, and global fan engagement. The club’s brand value skyrocketed, establishing Real Madrid as a leading global sports brand.

The stars of the Galácticos

Luis Figo (2000)

Perez initiated his newfound transfer approach by signing Portuguese winger Luis Figo from arch-rivals Barcelona for a then world-record fee of €60 million. His transfer was one of the most controversial in football history, inciting anger from Barcelona fans but bringing flair and precision to Madrid’s midfield. In his first season with Madrid, Figo won the 2001 La Liga title, scoring 14 goals in all competitions. For his performances at Real, he was also named the 2001 FIFA World Player of the Year.

Zinedine Zidane (2001)

Zidane, one of the most elegant and technically gifted midfielders of all time, joined from Juventus for a new world-record fee of €77.5 million. Zidane’s legendary volley in the 2002 Champions League final against Bayer Leverkusen is etched in football folklore. A moment of pure artistry that secured Real Madrid their ninth European title. The magnitude of the strike saw Zidane produce one of his most emotional goal celebrations as he ran toward the touchline with mouth wide open, screaming in delight.

Ronaldo (2002)

The Brazilian striker was another marquee signing. Signing for €46 million his shirt sales broke all records on the first day. Ronaldo brought with him an incredible goal-scoring ability and a World Cup-winning pedigree, further enhancing Real Madrid’s attacking prowess. His 23 league goals in his first season helped to seal the La Liga title. Ronaldo also scored a hat-trick against Manchester United at Old Trafford in the Champions League quarter-final. After completing his hat-trick, Ronaldo was substituted off after 67 minutes and was given a standing ovation from both sets of fans.

David Beckham (2003)

Beckham’s move from Manchester United for €37.5 million was as much about his footballing skills as his global appeal. Beckham’s brand value and marketability helped Real Madrid expand its reach, particularly in Asia and the United States. Let’s not look past how his precise crossing and free-kick prowess aadded a new dimension to Madrid’s attack. Beckham did not need much time to settle in. He scored five times in his first 16 matches, including a goal less than three minutes into his La Liga debut.

Michael Owen (2004)

The English striker, and a former Ballon d’Or winner, joined from Liverpool. Although his tenure was brief, Owen added depth to the star-studded squad. With 13 La Liga goals in his debut season, he finished with the highest ratio of goals scored per minutes played in the league. Following the signing of two high-profile Brazilians, Robinho and Julio Baptista, Owen returned to the Premier League.

Robinho & Sergio Ramos (2005)

In the summer of 2005, Perez unveiled two new signings. Robinho joined from Brazilian club Santos for €24 million. He’d taken the number 10 shirt previously worn by Luis Figo, who had moved to Inter Milan after five seasons in Madrid. The second signing was defender Sergio Ramos, acquired from Sevilla for a record €27 million transfer fee for a Spanish defender. Ramos took the number 4 shirt, formerly worn by Fernando Hierro, who had left for Qatar’s Al-Rayyan SC. Surprisingly, Ramos was the only Spanish player Perez bought during his first stint as Real Madrid president.

The Galácticos impact on the pitch

The Galácticos were not just about glamorous signings. They were also expected to have an impact on the pitch and to dominate world football. But despite the immense talent and star power, Madrid had a mixed record of success. They won La Liga titles in 2001 and 2003, and the UEFA Champions League in 2002. Despite expectations of continued dominance in domestic and European competition, the club failed to win any trophy for the next three seasons. Ultimately, the Galácticos fell short of their expected sustained dominance.

The assembly of such high-profile talent was always going to pose challenges. These players were footballing icons and brought with them a set of egos and expectations. Most of them had been established as the focal point of their previous teams. Balancing those egos, managing defensive frailties, and maintaining team spirit were constant struggles. The decline in the team’s on-field performance hit a low in 2005 when they crashed out of the Champions League in the Round of 16 without scoring a goal in either leg. Perez eventually resigned as the club president in February 2006 and was succeeded by Ramón Calderón.

Despite the on-field struggles, the Galácticos laid the foundation for the modern super club concept. It demonstrated that a football club could be both a sporting powerhouse and a commercial giant. While the Galácticos project had its critics and did not always translate to consistent success on the pitch, its influence on football’s globalisation and commercial strategies is undeniable.

Today, the legacy of the Galácticos is visible in the way top clubs operate, with a focus on combining elite talent with strong commercial acumen. Real Madrid’s bold experiment in the early 2000s reshaped the footballing landscape.

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With Klopp’s time on Merseyside drawing to an end, his tenure has undoubtedly etched him into Liverpool’s history as one of their greatest ever managers. The German has delivered countless memorable moments with his heavy metal football. In this latest edition of The Edit, we take a trip down memory lane and revisit some of Klopp’s standout achievements at Liverpool’s gaffer.

5. Divock Origi netted a 96th minute Merseyside derby winner

Anfield erupted into chaos as Divock Origi sealed a last-gasp, 96th minute, winner for Liverpool against Everton in the 2018/19 Merseyside derby. The Belgian forward capitalised on Jordan Pickford’s blunder and nodded home, sending the crowd into absolute bedlam. Jurgen Klopp couldn’t contain his joy, charging onto the pitch to join the celebrations with Alisson, the Liverpool keeper. The win moved the Reds to within two points of table-toppers, and defending champions, Manchester City after 14 games.

Post-match, Klopp was quick to offer apologies for his exuberant celebrations. He admitted to saying sorry to Everton boss Marco Silva for his pitch invasion, insisting it wasn’t his intention. Describing Origi’s fairy-tale winner, Klopp hailed it as a ‘really nice story’ after the striker had sustained a serious injury during the derby in 2016.

Known for his animated celebrations, Klopp’s departure from Anfield might even leave neutrals nostalgic for his passionate fist pumps.

4. Liverpool thrash Manchester United 7-0 at Anfield

Despite an underwhelming season by Klopp’s usual high standards, Liverpool still managed to thrash arch-rivals Manchester United 7-0 at Anfield in March 2023. It was their biggest ever win over their fierce rivals. Cody Gakpo kicked off the scoring just before halftime, setting the stage for a second-half onslaught nobody saw coming. Klopp’s team made it 3-0 inside 50 minutes, 5-0 by the 75th minute and it ended up at 7-0. They completely outclassed the high-flying visitors. Going into the match, United had won eight of their last 10 games, including clinching the Carabao Cup against Newcastle United at Wembley.

This historic 7-0 drubbing also marked a milestone for Mohamed Salah, hailed as one of Klopp’s best-ever signings. The Egyptian became Liverpool’s leading scorer in Premier League history. His brace, and Liverpool’s sixth goal, took his tally to 129, surpassing Robbie Fowler’s previous record.

Klopp’s men finished two places behind United in the Premier League that season. But, no Liverpool supporter will ever forget the madness that unfolded at Anfield that March. It was the most emphatic scoreline in the long history of this titanic clash.

3. THAT infamous Champions League semi-final comeback against Barcelona

Liverpool’s Champions League semi-final victory against Barcelona in May 2019 is one of the greatest comebacks in the competition’s history. Klopp masterminded a remarkable 4-0 win against the Catalan giants after suffering a 3-0 defeat in the first leg. Many were ready to write off Klopp’s Reds after that brutal beating at Camp Nou. But the German never lost his faith. 

Anfield, as it always does for big Champions League nights, was absolutely rocking that evening. And then, after just seven minutes, Divock Origi started the unlikely revival, slotting one in from close range. But it was when substitute Georginio Wijnaldum bagged two goals after halftime that the tide really turned in Liverpool’s favour. And let’s not forget that infamous quickly taken corner by Trent Alexander-Arnold that set up Origi’s goal to complete the turnaround.

Liverpool have had some epic European comebacks before – cue the memories of that legendary night in Istanbul – but this one? This one might just top it.

2. Liverpool won their first-ever Premier League title. 

Jurgen Klopp led Liverpool to their first-ever Premier League title in 2020. Smashing records left, right, and centre along the way. With a massive 99 points, they finished a whopping 18 points ahead of second-placed Manchester City. The title party kicked off with a bang as Liverpool beat Chelsea 5-3 at Anfield on the final matchday

The game itself was end-to-end. Naby Keita, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Georginio Wijnaldum had the home crowd in party mode with a 3-0 lead, but Olivier Giroud pulled one back just before halftime. Roberto Firmino extended the lead after the break, only for Tammy Abraham and Christian Pulisic to bring Chelsea back into the mix at 4-3. Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain capped off the thrilling affair with a devastating counter-attack to secure the victory and start the celebrations.

That season, Liverpool rewrote the record books, with the longest streak of successive league wins (24) and hitting 30 league victories faster than any other team in English top-flight history, doing so in just 34 games. Plus, they clinched the title with a whopping seven games to spare, topping City’s previous record of five.

Klopp’s squad of 2019/20 will go down as one of the all-time greats in English football history. They also ended Liverpool’s agonising 30-year wait to lift the league title.

1. Champions League triumph for Klopp’s first trophy with Liverpool. 

Liverpool clinched their sixth Champions League crown in 2019 by outclassing fellow Premier League side Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in Madrid. Klopp’s Reds, riding high from their semi-final comeback, wasted no time asserting dominance. Mohamed Salah coolly converted a penalty to put Liverpool ahead early on. Then, the hero of the semi-finals, Divock Origi, doubled the advantage with a late goal, capitalising on Spurs’ failure to clear a corner. For Klopp, it was his first trophy since his glory days with Borussia Dortmund back in 2012, signalling the start of a new golden era for Liverpool.

While the final wasn’t exactly a thriller for the neutrals, it put to bed the demons of Liverpool’s defeat to Real Madrid the previous year and served as sweet redemption for narrowly missing out on the Premier League title with a remarkable 97 points.

“It’s like this is still only the start” beamed Klopp in his post-match chat, and boy, was he right! 

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Liverpool fans will fondly remember Jurgen Klopp as one of the all-time greats to ever sit in the Anfield dugout. The German has won every single trophy in club football with the Reds during his nine year stint in charge. Our Liverpool themed t-shirts offer a unique way to celebrate this iconic and defining legacy. 

All of our products are made from high-quality materials that are both comfortable and long-lasting. Our embroidered designs are carefully crafted using the latest techniques and highest quality materials to ensure that they remain durable and eye-catching, even after multiple washes.

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