5 players who featured for both Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid

#1 Santiago Bernabeu

Santiago is probably the greatest person in the history of the club

Yes, arguably the greatest personality in Real Madrid’s history, the very soul of the club and after whom the club’s stadium is named, played for both Real and Atletico.

After moving to Real post the civil war in 1936, what he found was – for all intents and purposes - a dead club. Several of the previous administration had been killed in the war, and the club was in disarray.

Bernabeu then proceeded to restructure the entire club, spending several months finding and contacting former players, directors and club members. Elected president in 1943, he spent the rest of his life in the position, overseeing Madrid’s growth into a footballing powerhouse.

He was everything to Real Madrid, player, director, assistant, manager and finally president; no single person in their rich history has had as much an impact on the club as he did.

During his years as a player, he progressed through the youth ranks before captaining the first team and finally retiring in 1927.

However, during his initial years, he had problems with the direction the club was headed and ended up signing for their arch-rivals, Atletico. Though it is important to note he never actually played an official game for them.