Club legend Alfredo Di Stéfano came back to the club as head coach in a high-expected movement after he was La Liga champion managing Valencia CF in 1971.[1] The arrive of Di Stefano as the team head coach was delayed by then club President Santiago Bernabeu -who died in 1977- after personal issues aroused since 1964 when the Argentine striker rejected his offer to retire with an administration spot in the club and chose to play two more seasons with RCD Espanyol.
Finally, after a long turmoil lasting almost a year Incumbent Luis de Carlos won the reelection as President of the club on 9 October 1982 defeating the electoral campaign of challenger Ramon Mendoza by more than 3,000 votes.[2] Mendoza was linked by Cambio 16 magazine with Soviet Spy agency KGB,[3] prompting to quit his position as vice-president on board of directors during Autumn.
For the third consecutive season, De Carlos reinforced the club with low-profile players such as Dutch defender John Metgod from AZ Alkmaar[4] English striker Laurie Cunningham suffered injury issues during almost the entire campaign and was loaned out by the club to Manchester United in April.[5]
The campaign is best remembered by the bizarre fact of five trophies closely lost, four of them in four closely contested finals (Supercopa, European Cup Winners' Cup, Copa del Rey and Copa de La Liga). Besides that, in La Liga the squad finished in 2nd place a single point behind champions basque-side Athletic Bilbao after losing 0–1 against former Di Stefano club Valencia in the ultimate match at Mestalla Stadium. Madrid were leading most of the rounds before the game and only needed a draw to clinch the title.[6]
Squad
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
