(Spanish for galactics, referring to superstars) are expensive, world-famous football players recruited during the "galácticos" policy pursued by Florentino Pérez, during his presidency at Real Madrid, where in his first tenure between 2000 and 2006 he purchased at least one galáctico in the summer of every year. The club's second galáctico era began in 2009 with Pérez's return to the presidency, and is considered to be more successful both economically and in terms of on-pitch achievements.
The term itself carries both positive and negative meanings. Initially, it was used to emphasise the greatness of signing superstar players and the construction of a world-class team. Later the term attracted a more negative connotation; galáctico becoming synonymous with prima donna and used to deride the transfer policy and side (or team) built under it, following media perception that the policy at Real in the early 2000s had failed to deliver expected levels of success.
The term has occasionally been used to describe other teams, both in football and in other sports, that have been perceived to follow a similar policy. For example, British rugby union commentator Martin Gillingham called French club Toulon "rugby's galácticos" in 2012 due to a wave of signings of international stars by owner Mourad Boudjellal.
Origins
Although the term was popularized in the 2000s, the origins of the Galáctico policy date as far back as the 1950s and 1960s, when the policy was first founded by club-president Santiago Bernabéu. Bernabéu signed multiple star players for large fees in quick succession, such as Alfredo Di Stéfano, Francisco Gento, Raymond Kopa, Héctor Rial, Ferenc Puskás and José Santamaría. This period of buying allowed Real Madrid to enjoy their finest era of dominance, winning twelve La Liga championships and six European Cups.
The Galácticos transfer policy was contrasted with the Quinta del Buitre era of the late 1980s. This saw Real Madrid playing a more physical and less appealing style of football, and had an increased emphasis on producing homegrown players such as Emilio Butragueño, Manolo Sanchís, Rafael Martín Vázquez, Míchel and Miguel Pardeza. This period allowed Real Madrid to also enjoy domestic and European success, winning five La Liga championships and two UEFA Cups.
First galáctico era
The first galáctico era is considered to be synonymous with the presidency of Florentino Pérez between 2000–2006, from the signing of Luís Figo in 2000, to the departure of Zinedine Zidane in 2006. The first Pérez era brought:
Luís Figo – signed in 2000 for €60 million from Barcelona. Claude Makélélé – signed in 2000 for €14 million from Celta. Zinedine Zidane – signed in 2001 for €73.5 million from Juventus. Ronaldo – signed in 2002 for €45 million from Inter. David Beckham – signed in 2003 for €37.5 million from Manchester United. Michael Owen – signed in 2004 for €9 million from Liverpool. Robinho – signed in 2005 for €24 million from Santos. Sergio Ramos – signed in 2005 for €27 million from Sevilla.
Several other players were often considered to be a part of the galácticos legacy due to their influence on the team during that period, despite being signed previously to the reign of Pérez, or being graduates of the youth system. These included: Fernando Hierro – signed pre-Pérez in 1989 for €1 million from Valladolid. Raúl – graduated from youth system in 1994. Guti – graduated from youth system in 1995. Roberto Carlos – signed pre-Pérez in 1996 for €3.5 million from Inter. Fernando Morientes – signed pre-Pérez in 1997 for €6.6 million from Zaragoza. Iván Helguera – signed pre-Pérez in 1999 for €4.5 million from Espanyol. Míchel Salgado – signed pre-Pérez in 1999 for €11 million from Celta. Steve McManaman – signed pre-Pérez in 1999 for free-transfer from Liverpool. Iker Casillas – graduated from youth system in 1999.
2000–2006: Pérez's first presidency
Though Real Madrid had already won two European Cups in 1998 and 2000 under the presidency of Lorenzo Sanz, Sanz lost his re-election bid to Pérez. Pérez won by promising an aggressive new transfer policy and expensive new signings, in particular, Luís Figo from rivals Barcelona.
Pérez then sold the club's training ground, the Ciudad Deportiva, for €480 million, allowing Real to clear debts, and build a replacement training complex at a fraction of the cost. It also allowed for significant funds to be used for player transfers. The deal to sell the complex was later investigated by the EU on illegal-competition grounds, however, no charges were brought.