The story behind the Real Madrid’s fan groups

The Ultras Sur was born in 1980, created by a man named “Jose Luis” it consisted of the loudest and most vocal part of the Madridista army, which was practically a series of young fans held together by passion and extremism, when it came to supporting the team.

These group was driven by immense passion and it went too far on a number of occasions, despite all the support they gave and got from the players of Real Madrid, and especially coach Jose Mourinho who said -“without them you would think the stadium was empty.” Referring to how they made the Santiago Bernabéu shake with their chants. But their leader Jose Luis was too involved in political issues and he used the Ultra Sur to propagate hate crimes against minority groups.

Florentino Pérez banned the Ultra sur from The Bernabéu in 2014 prohibiting any material of the group from use in the Bernabéu, in 2015 the President completely banned every member from the group. His view was that Real Madrid wasn’t just a spanish brand anymore, he wanted to go global with the Los Blancos, and having a group of narrow minded fans with a Supremacist leader who was later arrested for waving a Neo-Nazi flag, would not help in any way at all.

Despite the ban, The President knew the players and the club depended a lot on the support and chats of those fans. So a new group of Ultra Fans was introduced. Called the “Grada” the White wall or the Great white sharks of Madrid. they are responsible for the non stop chants you hear during all the madrid games, the band, and the songs. “Así así así gana el madrid” “como no te voya querer” which translates to “so much wins Madrid” “how can I not love you”

The Grada fans were respectful and loving they started  the revolution for the New Global Real Madrid of Florentino Perez’s dream.

But, in 2022 while Real madrid were 1-0 down against PSG from the first leg having it all to play for at the Bernabéu in the Second Leg. Perez invited the Ultra sur to comeback and help Madrid make a “comeback” against the Parisians.

They sent a reply to Perez saying “we never left”

Each member was made to sign a contract that stated they would not engage in Racist Chants and Violence before being allowed back into the Bernabéu. And with the ultra sur behind the players you just knew, Magic was going to happen. And it did; with Real Madrid making a memorable comeback and then some more through out the 2022 champions league run that saw the Los blancos win it’s 14th thanks to the help of Ultra sur alongside the Grada Fans.