Real Madrid | The Locker Room

S otheby's is proud to present Real Madrid’s first team locker room from the legendary Santiago Bernabéu. In use from the 2001-2002 season through 2021-2022, and offered to the public after an extensive renovation of the stadium, the auction features artifacts from the locker room including 24 lockers that were used by football icons such as Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, Zinedine Zidane, Roberto Carlos, Sergio Ramos, and many more. During this period 544 home games were played at the stadium and some 20 trophies held aloft by the team - from six UEFA Champions League victories to seven La Liga wins.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale will benefit The Real Madrid Foundation - committed to encouraging the education of children and teenagers; promoting the social inclusion of the most vulnerable members of society, and building a world-class memorabilia programme for the club and its fans.

Among European club football royalty, Real Madrid reigns as king. Born in 1902, this Spanish powerhouse has transcended the world of football, not just as a team but as a global symbol. Nicknamed Los Blancos for their pristine white kits, Real Madrid is synonymous with grandeur. Throughout the club’s storied history, Real Madrid has dominated football domestically and across Europe - their 36 La Liga titles are the most of any Spanish club and 15 Champions League (formerly known as the European Cup) crowns stand as a European record. Today, Los Blancos is the most widely supported club football team in the world, as well as the most valuable.

Real Madrid’s dominance on the pitch is attributed to era-defining superstars, or Galacticos. Club heroes like Alfredo di Stefano of Argentina and Ferenc Puskás of Hungary brought international acclaim to the Spanish side when the two legends started winning European Cups in the 1950s. Real Madrid is credited with shaping the modern European club footballing landscape, largely due to the man at the helm during that time, former club President and player Santiago Bernabéu. Under his leadership, Real Madrid became the powerhouse that would dominate European football for decades. He spearheaded the construction of the now-iconic Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, a colossal arena that would become the fortress of dreams.

Opened in 1947, the Santiago Bernabéu was the brainchild of the visionary club president, Bernabéu himself. He envisioned a stadium that would reflect the ambition of the club, a football cathedral capable of housing the passion of Real Madrid’s ever-growing legion of fans. Originally named the Nuevo Estadio Chamartín, it was soon renamed in honor of the man who transformed it into a symbol of the club’s ambition.

With a seating capacity of over 80,000, the Bernabéu is more than just a place to watch football—it’s a cauldron. The roar of the crowd feels almost mythical as if the very soul of Madrid reverberates through every chant. Under its floodlights, Real Madrid has won countless titles, from domestic triumphs to European conquests, with 15 Champions League titles etched into its walls. Walking into the stadium is like stepping into a living museum of football, a hallowed ground that has felt the boots of legends—Di Stéfano, Zidane, Ronaldo, Ramos, and countless others.

And yet, the Bernabéu is always evolving, a fitting metaphor for a club that never stands still. With recent renovations, it’s being transformed into a venue on the razor’s edge of football for the modern era—complete with a retractable roof, new technology, and increased capacity to further cement its place as one of the greatest stadiums in the world.

As the Bernabéu transitioned to its most recent iteration, the old first-team changing room was removed, but preserved as a reminder of the greatness that stood within it. The lockers were used continuously for 2 decades, from the 2001/02 season through the 2021/22 season. From Figo, Zidane, Beckham to Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, and Karim Benzema, these lockers spanned the two modern Galacticos eras and arguably one of the most successful continuous periods of any football club. Over the course of the locker room's use, Real Madrid clinched 7 La Liga championships, 6 Champions League titles, 2 Copa del Rey victories, and 7 Supercopas de España - one of the most dominant runs in club football history.

Players from the 2021-2022 Real Madrid team celebrate in the dressing room.

In addition to the lockers, the auction will also include the iconic Real Madrid Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Mosaic, measuring approximately 300cm, alongside the stadium’s monumental metal doors.

The Real Madrid Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Mosaic and a close-up of Real Madrid silver crest on Locker Room door

Real Madrid’s crest, which is affixed on two of the doors and the mosaic, is a symbol of prestige, tradition, and royalty. It features three key elements: The Initials, The Crown, The Band. At the center of the crest, the intertwined letters "M," "C," and "F" stand for "Madrid Club de Fútbol." This monogram reflects the club’s identity and heritage. Sitting atop the crest is a large royal crown, introduced in 1920 when King Alfonso XIII granted the club the title "Real" (meaning "Royal"). The crown signifies the club’s royal patronage and its longstanding association with Spanish nobility. The band is the bold diagonal blue stripe that cuts across the crest, added in 1931. Though initially removed during the Spanish Republic, it was reinstated after the Spanish Civil War and has remained ever since, symbolizing continuity and evolution.