LaLiga champions 2020/21: how many titles have Atlético won?
Atlético Madrid were crowned Spanish champions on Saturday after beating Real Valladolid 2-1, courtesy of goals by Ángel Correa and Luis Suárez.
Atlético Madrid’s 2-1 victory over Real Valladolid on Saturday saw the club win LaLiga for the 11th time in their history.
Correa, Suárez goals ensure Atlético pip Real Madrid to title
After falling behind to Óscar Plano’s 17th-minute strike, Atlético turned the scoreboard on its head in the second half thanks to goals by Ángel Correa and Luis Suárez, as Diego Simeone’s side held off title rivals Real Madrid despite Los Blancos’ 2-1 win over Villarreal.
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Atleti's previous LaLiga title came in 2013/14
It is only the fifth time this century that a team other than Madrid or Barcelona has won LaLiga. Indeed, in the 17 seasons since Valencia’s title triumph in 2003/04, Atlético have been the only club to break Madrid and Barça’s duopoly.
They did so not only this season, but also in 2013/14, Diego Godín’s header on the final day of the campaign earning a 1-1 draw with Barça that ensured Atleti beat the Catalans to what was the first league title of Simeone’s tenure as coach.
First league triumph came in 1940
Since winning their first Spanish championship as Atlético Aviación in 1939/40, the capital club have also topped LaLiga in 1940/41, 1949/50, 1950/51, 1965/66, 1969/70, 1972/73, 1976/77 and 1995/96.
Aragonés wins Atleti titles as player and coach
Atlético’s 1976/77 side was coached by the late, great Luis Aragonés, who had been a player in the club's three previous title-winning teams. Aragonés would go on to have a total of four spells in charge of Los Rojiblancos, before managing Spain to European Championship glory in 2008.
Domestic double winners in 1996
Meanwhile, Atleti’s 1995/96 LaLiga victory secured the club’s only ever league and cup double, as a team featuring Simeone followed up a Copa del Rey final win over Barça by finishing four points clear of a Valencia team coached by Aragonés.
Aragonés and Simeone are two of only three men to have won LaLiga with Atleti both as a player and a coach. The other is Marcel Domingo, who was part of the side that lifted consecutive titles in 1949/50 and 1950/51, before managing Los Colchoneros to league success in 1969/70.
Atlético are LaLiga’s third-most successful club, behind Barcelona (26 league titles) and Real Madrid (34).