If Barcelona are the princes of Europe, with their style and exotic manner, Real Madrid are the kings and at the moment the record of the throne is undisputed. Real should feel satisfied that the club s proved a point by winning it eight times. The most impressive spell was from 1956-60 when the trophy never left Madrid. But winning at such a high level changes the rules at a club.
Eccentricity starts to become involved in the evolution and mutation of the operations.
As an illustration Jupp Heynckes pushed Real to the Cup in 1998 to end a barren spell of 22 years. And his reward was the sack. Today, the expected level of success comes at a heavier price than ever before and with debts that would make a small country flinch, president Florentino Perez may be forced to look at breaking away and leading the charge for the superleague which only Real Madrid could successfully do. Madrid FC was formed by students in 1902 - three years after Barcelona and the amateur concern was regular winners of the regional group the Campeonato del Centro. Entry to the Copa Del Rey was fruitful for Madrid and they lifted the cup four times from 1905.