Atlético de Madrid members had the opportunity to select the players who will have their place on a new “Walk of Legends” at the Metropolitano Stadium. Originally, the Metropolitano Stadium featured a “Walk of Legends” that included all players who had worn the red and white colors for over 100 matches. This approach sparked controversy, as it included players who may have played for a considerable time but didn’t necessarily leave a lasting impact, while others were excluded despite shorter but more memorable tenures at Atleti. The plaque of Thibaut Courtois was even torn down by supporters after the Belgian goalkeeper, now playing for Real Madrid, stated in a 2022 interview that he was now on the “right side of history.”
The club decided to remove the existing plaques and create a new “Walk of Legends” with a reduced number of 18 plaques. A vote was held last Christmas, with 47,095 members participating.
The 18 Most Iconic Players in Atlético de Madrid’s History, Including Griezmann
The criterion for selection involved choosing, from a pool of 200 players, those deemed most significant in the club’s history, excluding currently active players. Here are the results, ranked by the number of votes received:
- Fernando Torres
- Luis Aragonés
- Futre
- Simeone
- Gabi
- Adelardo
- Escudero
- Ben Barek
- Godín
- Gárate
- Collar
- Kiko
- Pantic
- Forlán
- Aparicio
- Arteche
- Falcao
In addition, a place will be reserved for Antoine Griezmann. Although he was still active at the time of the vote, he left the club at the end of the season to join Orlando City. The Social Committee unanimously voted to reserve a spot for the French player as well.