| 1996–97 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| President | Lorenzo Sanz | ||
| Head coach | Fabio Capello | ||
| Stadium | Santiago Bernabéu | ||
| La Liga | 1st | ||
| Copa del Rey | Round of 16 | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Davor Šuker (24) All: Davor Šuker (29) | ||
|  | |||
The 1996–97 season was the Real Madrid CF's 66th season in La Liga. This article shows player statistics and official matches that the club played during the 1996–97 season. For the first time since 1977–78, Real Madrid was not involved in any European competitions due to the previous season's lowest league finish in 19 years.
Summary
For the first time since the 1977–78 season, Real Madrid only played in the domestic competitions after having rejected the option to enter the 1996 Intertoto Cup.[1] Madrid returned to domestic glory in the only season under the Fabio Capello's reign, who, after much conflict with club president Lorenzo Sanz, announced his exit already in mid-season, choosing to return to Italy (where he would eventually settle at his old club AC Milan). New signings Predrag Mijatović and Davor Šuker played alongside main striker Raúl González as well as Clarence Seedorf in midfield. Real Madrid was nearly on course to sign Newcastle United-bound Alan Shearer courtesy of his best form at Blackburn Rovers, but due to already featuring Raúl González as the club's main striker, Alan Shearer preferred to stay in England. Roberto Carlos,[2] Carlos Secretário, Christian Panucci, and mid-season arrival Zé Roberto were also new signings in defense.
In May 1997, Real Madrid began to slip due to injuries of key players despite having won 3 of 5 matches in that month. However as rivals Barcelona also slipped in early June after a loss against Hércules, Real took an advantage by crushing CF Extremadura 5-0 in the same weekend. Real Madrid eventually won the La Liga title with a record 92 points, after a 3–1 victory against Atlético Madrid on the penultimate round of the season (five points ahead of Barcelona), and thus Fabio Capello became the first-ever Italian manager to win La Liga silverware. In the Copa del Rey, Madrid advanced to the round of 16 where they faced perennial rivals Barcelona, losing 4–3 on aggregate. The Catalans went on to win the tournament, setting up a Super Cup clash against Madrid.
Players
Squad information
| N | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Age | EU | Since | App | Goals | Ends | Transfer fee | Notes | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GK |  | Paco Buyo | 38 | EU | 1986 | 0 | 1997 | €380,000 | ||
| 2 | RB |  | Chendo | 34 | EU | 1996 | 16 | 0 | 1997 | Youth system | |
| 3 | LB |  | Roberto Carlos | 23 | Non-EU | 1996 | 37 | 5 | 2007 | €3,500,000 | |
| 4 | CB |  | Fernando Hierro (VC) | 28 | EU | 1989 | 39 | 6 | 2003 | €2,000,000 | |
| 5 | CB |  | Manolo Sanchís (captain) | 31 | EU | 1983 | 22 | 0 | 2001 | Youth system | |
| 6 | DM |  | Fernando Redondo | 27 | EU | 1994 | 33 | 1 | 2000 | €4,500,000 | |
| 7 | FW |  | Raúl | 19 | EU | 1994 | 42 | 21 | 2010 | Youth system | |
| 8 | FW | .svg.png.webp) | Predrag Mijatović | 27 | EU | 1996 | 38 | 14 | 1999 | €7,500,000 | |
| 9 | FW |  | Davor Šuker | 28 | EU | 1996 | 38 | 24 | 1999 | €3,600,000 | |
| 10 | MF |  | Clarence Seedorf | 20 | EU | 1996 | 38 | 6 | 1999 | €4,800,000 | |
| 11 | LW |  | José Emilio Amavisca | 25 | EU | 1994 | 26 | 0 | 1998 | €1,050,000 | |
| 12 | RB |  | Carlos Secretário | 26 | EU | 1996 | 13 | 0 | 1997 | €1,800,000 | |
| 13 | GK |  | Santiago Cañizares | 26 | EU | 1988 | 2 | 1998 | Youth system | ||
| 14 | MF |  | Milla | 30 | EU | 1990 | 19 | 0 | 1997 | €2,100,000 | |
| 15 | DF |  | F. Sanz | 22 | EU | 1996 | 6 | 0 | 1999 | Youth system | |
| 17 | RB |  | Christian Panucci | 23 | EU | 1997 (Winter) | 19 | 2 | 1999 | €3,500,000 | |
| 18 | CB |  | Rafael Alkorta | 27 | EU | 1993 | 40 | 0 | 1997 | €2,400,000 | |
| 19 | LB |  | Mikel Lasa | 24 | EU | 1991 | 13 | 0 | 1997 | €1,700,000 | |
| 20 | MF | .svg.png.webp) | Dejan Petković | 23 | Non-EU | 1995 | 2 | 0 | 1996 | €2,200,000 | |
| 21 | LB |  | Zé Roberto | 21 | Non-EU | 1997 (Winter) | 9 | 0 | 1998 | €2,500,000 | |
| 23 | MF |  | Guti | 19 | EU | 1995 | 14 | 0 | 2010 | Youth system | |
| 24 | MF |  | Álvaro Benito | 19 | EU | 1995 | 7 | 0 | 2002 | Youth system | |
| 25 | GK |  | Bodo Illgner | 29 | EU | 1996 | 40 | 2001 | €1,200,000 | ||
| 26 | MF |  | Víctor | 20 | EU | 1996 | 36 | 5 | 1998 | Youth system | |
| 29 | DF |  | García Calvo | 21 | EU | 1996 | 6 | 0 | 1997 | Youth system | 
- Source:
Transfers
In
| No. | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Age | EU | Moving from | Type | Transfer window | Ends | Transfer fee | Source | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | FW | .svg.png.webp) | Mijatović | 27 | EU | Valencia | Transfer | Summer | 1999 | €7,500,000 | [] | 
| 9 | FW |  | Šuker | 28 | EU | Sevilla | Transfer | Summer | 1999 | €3,600,000 | [] | 
| 10 | MF |  | Seedorf | 20 | EU | Sampdoria  | Transfer | Summer | 1999 | €4,800,000 | [] | 
| 3 | LB |  | Roberto Carlos | 23 | Non-EU | Internazionale  | Transfer | Summer | 2007 | €3,500,000 | [] | 
| 12 | RB |  | Secretário | 26 | EU | Porto  | Transfer | Summer | 1997 | €1,800,000 | [] | 
| 25 | GK |  | Illgner | 29 | EU | 1. FC Köln  | Transfer | Summer | 2001 | €1,200,000 | [] | 
| 17 | RB |  | Panucci | 23 | EU | Milan  | Transfer | Winter | 1999 | €3,500,000 | [] | 
| 21 | LM |  | Zé Roberto | 21 | Non-EU | Portuguesa  | Transfer | Winter | 1998 | €2,500,000 | [] | 
Total spending:  €28,400,000
 €28,400,000
Out
| N | Pos. | Nat. | Name | Age | EU | Moving to | Type | Transfer window | Transfer fee | Source | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | MF |  | Michael Laudrup | 31 | EU | Vissel Kobe  | Transfer | Summer | [] | |
| 9 | FW |  | Ivan Zamorano | 29 | Non-EU | Inter Milan  | Transfer | Summer | [] | |
| 8 | MF |  | Míchel | 33 | EU | Celaya  | Transfer | Summer | [] | |
| 20 | DM |  | Freddy Rincón | 29 | Non-EU | Palmeiras  | Transfer | Summer | [] | |
| 7 | FW |  | Juan Eduardo Esnáider | 24 | Non-EU | Atlético Madrid | Transfer | Summer | [] | |
| 21 | MF |  | Luis Enrique | 26 | EU | FC Barcelona | Transfer | Summer | [] | |
| 3 | RB |  | Quique Sánchez Flores | 31 | EU | Real Zaragoza | Transfer | Summer | [] | |
| 22 | LB |  | Miquel Soler | 31 | EU | Real Zaragoza | Free | Summer | [] | |
| 12 | RB |  | Carlos Secretario | 26 | EU | Porto  | Transfer | Winter | [] | 
 
Total income:  €0
   €0
Competitions
La Liga
League table
| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation | 
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Real Madrid (C) | 42 | 27 | 11 | 4 | 85 | 36 | +49 | 92 | Qualification for the Champions League group stage | 
| 2 | Barcelona | 42 | 28 | 6 | 8 | 102 | 48 | +54 | 90 | Qualification for the Champions League second qualifying round | 
| 3 | Deportivo La Coruña | 42 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 57 | 30 | +27 | 77[lower-alpha 1] | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round | 
| 4 | Betis | 42 | 21 | 14 | 7 | 81 | 46 | +35 | 77[lower-alpha 1] | Qualification for the Cup Winners' Cup first round[lower-alpha 2] | 
| 5 | Atlético Madrid | 42 | 20 | 11 | 11 | 76 | 64 | +12 | 71 | Qualification for the UEFA Cup first round | 
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) head-to-head points; 3) head-to-head goal difference; 4) head-to-head goals scored; 5) goal difference; 6) number of goals scored.
(C) Champions
Notes:
- 1 2 BET 1–2 DEP; DEP 3–0 BET
- ↑ Since Barcelona, winners of 1996–97 Copa del Rey, was qualified for the 1997–98 UEFA Champions League, losing cup finalists Real Betis earned a spot in the first round of the 1997–98 UEFA Cup Winners' Cup.
Results by round
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss; = Leader, 1997–98 UEFA Champions League group stage; = 1997–98 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round; = 1997–98 UEFA Cup first round
Matches
| 31 August 1996 1 | Deportivo La Coruña | 1–1 | Real Madrid | A Coruña | 
| Martins  22' Armando  74'  Donato  89'  Djukic  | Report | Roberto Carlos  78' Milla  52'  | Stadium: Riazor Referee: Dauden Ibañez | 
| 8 September 1996 2 | Real Madrid | 3–0 | Hércules | Madrid | 
| Mijatović  16' Raúl  28' Raúl  71' Seedorf  | Report | Ferreras  Palomino  | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu | 
| 16 September 1996 3 | Real Betis | 1–1 | Real Madrid | Seville | 
| Alfonso  28' Luis Fernandez  | Report | Roberto Carlos  44' Secretario  Sanchís  Hierro  Šuker  | Stadium: Benito Villamarín | 
| 22 September 1996 4 | Real Madrid | 1–0 | Rayo Vallecano | Madrid | 
| Raúl  40' | Report | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Referee: Puentes Leira | 
| 29 September 1996 5 | Oviedo | 2–3 | Real Madrid | Oviedo | 
| Dubovsky  63' (pen) Gamboa  84' Onopko  40' | Report | Šuker  14' Mijatović  15' Víctor   43' Secretario  63'  | Stadium: Carlos Tartiere Referee: Carmona Mendez | 
| 1 October 1996 6 | Real Madrid | 2–0 | Espanyol | Madrid | 
| Raúl  6' Šuker  26' Sanchís  Alkorta  Roberto Carlos  | Report | Pocchettino  Arteaga  | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Referee: Iturralde Gonzalez | 
| 13 October 1996 7 | Racing Santander | 2–2 | Real Madrid | Santander | 
| Beschastnykh  70' Schürrer  80' | Report | Šuker  75' (pen) Mijatović  83' | Stadium: El Sardinero Referee: Hernanz Angulo | 
| 19 October 1996 8 | Real Madrid | 6–1 | Real Sociedad | Madrid | 
| Mijatović  30' Šuker  41' (pen) Mild  63' (own goal) Šuker  68' Mijatović  87' Šuker  89' | Report | Kovacevic  10' Pikabea  24' | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Referee: Japon Sevilla | 
| 22 October 1996 9 | Real Zaragoza | 1–2 | Real Madrid | Zaragoza | 
| Poyet  50'
Radimov  82' | Report | Šuker  16'
Šuker  78'pen | Stadium: La Romareda Referee: Prados García | 
| 26 October 1996 10 | Real Madrid | 0–0 | Tenerife | Madrid | 
| Report | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu | 
| 3 November 1996 11 | Compostela | 1–2 | Real Madrid | Compostela | 
| Luboslav Penev  68' | Report | Mijatovic  22'
Raúl  78' | Stadium: San Lázaro | 
| 10 November 1996 12 | Real Madrid | 0–0 | Logroñés | Madrid | 
| Report | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu | 
| 17 November 1996 13 | Sevilla | 1–3 | Real Madrid | Seville | 
| Salva  53' | Report | Mijatovic  19' Suker  60' | Stadium: Ramón Sánchez Pizjuán | 
| 24 November 1996 14 | Real Madrid | 4–2 | Valencia | Madrid | 
| Suker  15' Suker  74' | Report | Karpin  9' | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu | 
| 30 November 1996 15 | Sporting Gijón | 0–1 | Real Madrid | Gijón | 
| Report | Hierro  19' | Stadium: El Molinón | 
| 7 December 1996 16 | Real Madrid | 2–0 | Barcelona | Madrid | 
| Šuker  24'   Mijatović  | Report | Sergi  Luis Enrique  | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Referee: Juan Manuel Brito Arcero | 
| 21 December 1996 17 | Real Valladolid | 1–1 | Real Madrid | Valladolid | 
| Alkorta  58'o.g | Report | Suker  15' | Stadium: José Zorrilla | 
| 5 January 1997 18 | Real Madrid | 1–0 | Athletic Bilbao | Madrid | 
| Raúl  59' | Report | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu | 
| 11 January 1997 19 | CF Extremadura | 0–0 | Real Madrid | Extremadura | 
| Report | Stadium: Francisco de la Hera Referee: Celino Gracia Redondo | 
| 17 January 1997 20 | Atlético de Madrid | 1–4 | Real Madrid | Madrid | 
| Kiko  32' Santi  | Report | Raúl  46' Raúl  | Stadium: Vicente Calderón Referee: Eduardo Garcia Iturralde | 
| 25 January 1997 21 | Real Madrid | 4–0 | RC Celta | Madrid | 
| Roberto Carlos  20' Redondo  54' Raul  69' Suker  74' | Report | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu | 
| 1 February 1997 22 | Real Madrid | 3–2 | Deportivo La Coruña | Madrid | 
| Panucci  19' Hierro  65' | Report | Flavio Conceicao  15'
Martins  50' | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu | 
| 8 February 1997 23 | Hércules | 2–3 | Real Madrid | Alicante | 
| Manuel Alfaro  5'
Nemanja Miljanovic  33' | Report | Mijatovic  11' Seedorf  53' | 
| 14 February 1997 24 | Real Madrid | 2–2 | Real Betis | Madrid | 
| Mijatovic  18' Panucci  | Report | Alfonso  6' Finidi George  | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Referee: Rodriguez Martel | 
| 18 February 1997 25 | Rayo Vallecano | 1–0 | Real Madrid | Madrid | 
| Ezequiel Castillo  35' José María  | Report | Hierro   Alkorta  | Stadium: Vallecas Attendance: 10,000 Referee: Carmona Mendez | 
| 22 February 1997 26 | Real Madrid | 6–1 | Oviedo | Madrid | 
| Suker  3'pen Mijatovic Suker Suker Raúl  89' | Report | Velamazan  87' | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu | 
| 9 March 1997 28 | Real Madrid | 2–1 | Racing Santander | Madrid | 
| Raúl  65'
Seedorf  68' | Report | Correa  44' | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu | 
| 16 March 1997 29 | Real Sociedad | 1–2 | Real Madrid | San Sebastián | 
| Adepoju  71' | Report | Raúl  40'
Roberto Carlos  47' | 
| 22 March 1997 30 | Real Madrid | 2–0 | Real Zaragoza | Madrid | 
| Hierro  35'
Hierro  43' | Report | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu | 
| 6 April 1997 32 | Real Madrid | 0–0 | Compostela | Madrid | 
| Report | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu | 
| 15 April 1997 34 | Real Madrid | 4–2 | Sevilla | Madrid | 
| Seedorf  44' Raúl  89' | Report | José Mari  1'
Tarik Oulida  20' | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu | 
| 3 May 1997 36 | Real Madrid | 3–1 | Sporting Gijón | Madrid | 
| Suker  38' Roberto Carlos  71' | Report | Cheryshev  9' | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu | 
| 10 May 1997 37 | Barcelona | 1–0 | Real Madrid | Barcelona | 
| Ronaldo   44'
Figo  | Report | Roberto Carlos   Alkorta  | Stadium: Camp Nou Referee: Rodriguez Martel | 
| 17 May 1997 38 | Real Madrid | 1–0 | Real Valladolid | Madrid | 
| Suker  57'pen | Report | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu | 
| 24 May 1997 39 | Athletic Bilbao | 1–0 | Real Madrid | Bilbao | 
| Carlos García  56' | Report | Stadium: San Mames | 
| 31 May 1997 40 | Real Madrid | 5–0 | CF Extremadura | Madrid | 
| Raúl  9' Seedorf  89' | Report | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu | 
| 13 June 1997 41 | Real Madrid | 3–1 | Atlético de Madrid | Madrid | 
| Raúl  36' Hierro  56' | Report | Esnáider  64' | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Referee: Berrenchea Montero | 
| 21 June 1997 42 | Celta | 4–0 | Real Madrid | Vigo | 
| Gudelj  8' Gudelj  89' | Report | 
Copa del Rey
Second round
| 6 November 1996 | UD Salamanca | 0–2 | Real Madrid | Salamanca | 
| Report | 
| 27 November 1996 | Real Madrid | 2–0 | UD Salamanca | Madrid | 
| Report | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu | 
Third round
| 9 January 1997 | Real Madrid | 2–1 | Real Valladolid | Madrid | 
| Report | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu | 
| 15 January 1997 | Real Valladolid | 0–2 | Real Madrid | Valladolid | 
| Report | Stadium: José Zorrilla | 
Round of 16
| 30 January 1997 | FC Barcelona | 3–2 | Real Madrid | Barcelona | 
| Ronaldo  13' Nadal  78' | Report | Suker  16'
Hierro  67' | Stadium: Camp Nou Attendance: 97,000 Referee: Lopez Nieto | 
| 6 February 1997 | Real Madrid | 1–1 | FC Barcelona | Madrid | 
| Suker  79'pen | Report | Roberto Carlos  69'(o.g) | Stadium: Santiago Bernabéu Attendance: 110,000 Referee: Diaz Vega | 
Statistics
Player statistics
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | La Liga | Copa del Rey | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 25 | GK |  GER | Illgner | 46 | -36 | 40 | -31 | 6 | -5 | 
| 17 | DF |  ITA | Panucci | 21 | 2 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 
| 18 | DF |  ESP | Alkorta | 45 | 1 | 40 | 0 | 5 | 1 | 
| 4 | DF |  ESP | Hierro | 45 | 8 | 39 | 6 | 6 | 2 | 
| 3 | DF |  BRA | Roberto Carlos | 42 | 5 | 37 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 
| 26 | MF |  ESP | Víctor | 41 | 6 | 25+11 | 5 | 3+2 | 1 | 
| 6 | MF |  ARG | Redondo | 39 | 1 | 31+2 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 
| 10 | MF |  NED | Seedorf | 42 | 6 | 37+1 | 6 | 3+1 | 0 | 
| 7 | MF |  ESP | Raúl | 47 | 22 | 41+1 | 21 | 4+1 | 1 | 
| 8 | FW | .svg.png.webp) YUG | Mijatović | 43 | 15 | 38 | 14 | 4+1 | 1 | 
| 9 | FW |  CRO | Šuker | 43 | 29 | 38 | 24 | 5 | 5 | 
| 13 | GK |  ESP | Cañizares | 2 | -5 | 2 | -5 | ||
| 11 | MF |  ESP | Amavisca | 31 | 0 | 14+12 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 
| 2 | DF |  ESP | Chendo | 18 | 0 | 14+2 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 
| 12 | DF |  POR | Secretário | 17 | 0 | 13 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 
| 5 | DF |  ESP | Sanchis | 22 | 0 | 13+9 | 0 | ||
| 14 | MF |  ESP | Milla | 23 | 0 | 6+13 | 0 | 3+1 | 0 | 
| 24 | FW |  ESP | Alvaro | 7 | 0 | 5+2 | 0 | ||
| 21 | DF |  ESP | García Calvo | 7 | 0 | 4+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 
| 21 | MF |  BRA | Zé Roberto | 9 | 0 | 2+7 | 0 | ||
| 15 | DF |  ESP | Sanz | 9 | 0 | 2+4 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 
| 19 | DF |  ESP | Lasa | 15 | 0 | 2+11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 
| 23 | MF |  ESP | Guti | 17 | 0 | 0+14 | 0 | 2+1 | 0 | 
| 20 | FW | .svg.png.webp) YUG | Petković | 3 | 0 | 0+2 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 
| 27 | FW |  ESP | Irurzun | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0+1 | 0 | 
| 1 | GK |  ESP | Buyo | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
References
- ↑ "Real Oviedo say Yes to Intertoto Cup". El País (in Spanish). 1 April 1996. Retrieved 2 August 2020.
- ↑ "Capello reveals how he signed Roberto Carlos for Real Madrid in 24 hours". Marca. Spain. 27 April 2021.














