1959–60 Real Madrid CF season

During the summer French playmaker Raymond Kopa returned to Just Fontaine's Stade de Reims after three successful campaigns at Chamartín. Chairman Santiago Bernabéu, impressed by Brazil's style of play at the 1958 FIFA World Cup, hired their manager, tournament winner Manuel Fleitas Solich[1] from Flamengo and transferred in Brazilian World Cup winner playmaker Didí[2] (who only played 19 matches and abandoned the team in January). Also, from América-RJ, came Brazilian midfielder Canário[3] and in April arrived from Real Betis youngstar Luis del Sol,[4] who played a superb season.[5]

In the Spanish league the team reached the second spot, behind champions FC Barcelona: both squads tied in points (46), although Real Madrid had a record 92 goals scored in 30 rounds, finishing runners-up due to goal average. After the squad lost the league title mathematically in round 29, Fleitas was fired. Then, former club player Miguel Muñoz took the head coach job in time for the semifinal and final of the European Cup.

In the Copa del Generalísimo the team defeated Barakaldo (4-1), Cultural Leonesa (9-0) and Sporting Gijón (13-1), reaching the semifinals against Athletic Bilbao: at Bilbao, the basque team won 3–0, nevertheless Real Madrid won the second leg by 8–1. In the final, at Chamartín, the team lost the match in front of 100,000 spectators against Atlético Madrid by 3–1.

In the European Cup, the team won its fifth consecutive title. In the round of sixteen, they won the series against Jeunesse Esch from Luxembourg (12-2, including four goals for Puskas, three for Enrique Mateos) and in the quarterfinals defeated French champions Nice 7–2, the second leg in front of 100,000 spectators. In the semifinals against CF Barcelona, without star player Laszlo Kubala, out due to a technical decision by Helenio Herrera, the team won both legs of the series with a 3–1 score (Alfredo Di Stéfano and Puskas were crucial in order to achieve victory), reaching the Final for the 5th time in a row. In the title match the squad (this time with Puskas as starter) defeated West Germany champions Eintracht Frankfurt by a 7–3 score in front of 120,000 spectators at Hampden Park, Glasgow.[6]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ARG Domínguez — DF  URU Santamaría — DF  ESP Marquítos — DF  ESP Miche — MF  ESP Vidal — MF  ESP Antonio Ruiz — MF  BRA Didi — FW  ESP Gento — FW  ESP Herrera — FW  HUN Puskás — FW  ARG Di Stéfano

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  ESP Bagur — MF  ESP Zárraga — FW  ESP Pepillo — DF  ESP Lesmes II — DF  ESP Mateos — GK  ESP Juan Alonso — MF  ESP Santisteban — FW  ARG Héctor Rial — FW  BRA Canario — FW  ESP Bueno — DF  ESP Pantaleón — DF  ESP Pachín — MF  ESP Luis del Sol — MF  ESP Felo

• Real Madrid - 1959–60 BDFutbol