Being from the same city as Spanish giants Real Madrid, it is tough for any club to establish itself, but this was not the story of Atletico Madrid. Atletico Madrid are famous for their counter-attacking style of play. The 2024-25 season was decent for the Red and White brigade of Madrid, as they qualified for the round of 16 stage of the UEFA Champions League. In the La Liga, one of the best football leagues in the world, they finished the LaLiga in third place in the 2024-25 season, securing their spot in the 2025-26 UEFA Champions League. The club was established on April 26, 1903, by a group of Basque students who were tired of watching Real Madrid, one of the best clubs in Europe, and were attracted to Athletic Bilbao’s style of play instead. They wanted to open a second club in Madrid and named their club Athletic Madrid, which was later renamed to Atlético de Madrid.
Who are Atletico Madrid owners?
Atletico Madrid FC are owned by several entities, primarily controlled by Atletico HoldCo, a holding company that serves as the majority shareholder. Within this structure, Miguel Angel Gil Marín is the key figure and CEO, holding a majority stake in the club. He is the son of the former long-time president, Jesus Gil, and has been in control since 2003. The club's president, Enrique Cerezo, is a co-owner alongside Gil Marin. Additionally, two significant external investors are part of the ownership: Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer, whose Quantum Pacific Group holds a substantial minority stake, and the American investment firm Ares Management, which acquired a notable share in Atletico HoldCo in 2021 to provide a capital boost for the club. This combination of long-standing familial control and strategic external investment forms the basis of the club's current ownership.
Atletico Madrid management Personnel
Let’s take a closer look at the Atletico Madrid management.
Role
Name
President
Enrique Cerezo
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)
Miguel Ángel Gil Marín
Board Members
Antonio Alonso Sanz, Antoine Bonnier, Óscar Gil Marín, Pablo Jiménez de Parga (Board Secretary)
Manager (Head Coach)
Diego Simeone
Assistant Managers
Nelson Vivas, Hernán Bonvicini
Goalkeeping Coach
Pablo Vercellone
Atletico Madrid owners
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Other Sports Teams Owned by Atletico HoldCo
Atlético HoldCo, the holding company and majority owner of Atlético Madrid, have expanded its sports portfolio beyond the Spanish capital by implementing a strategic multi-club ownership model. This has led them to acquire or establish football clubs in other key international markets. Their portfolio includes Atletico San Luis, a Mexican club competing in Liga MX, in which they acquired a controlling interest in 2017. Additionally, they founded Atletico Ottawa, a Canadian team that was established in 2020 and competes in the Canadian Premier League. This expansion strategy allows the ownership group to grow the global brand of Atlético Madrid, while also creating a network for talent development and scouting across different regions.
Atletico HoldCo Source of Income
As a holding company for a sports team, Atletico HoldCo's primary source of income is as such linked to the financial performance of its asset, Atletico Madrid, and its other football club ventures. Most of the revenue stream is derived from media and broadcasting rights, which account for a significant portion of the club's overall earnings from domestic competitions like La Liga and international tournaments such as the Champions League. Secondly, commercial revenue provides a major contribution through a huge range of sources, including lucrative sponsorship deals with companies like Riyadh Air and Nike, merchandising sales, and licensing agreements. Matchday revenue, which includes ticket sales, season passes, and corporate hospitality at the Civitas Metropolitano stadium, is a third key pillar of income, especially with the club's move to a larger, modern venue. Finally, the profitable business of player trading, where the club buys, develops, and sells players for a net profit, is a crucial component of their financial model, providing a huge capital injection that helps fund new player signings and manage debt. Beyond these regular operational revenues, the holding company also benefits from strategic investments, such as the capital increase from Management, which provides an essential financial boost for long-term projects and stability.
Atletico Madrid Owners Net Worth
Atletico Madrid owners net worth is not an easily calculable figure, as the club are owned by a holding company with multiple key shareholders. The most prominent and wealthiest individual in the ownership group is Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer, a global business tycoon in shipping and mining. His net worth has been estimated by Forbes to be in the range of $17 billion to over $20 billion as of 2025. The day-to-day leadership is provided by CEO Miguel Angel Gil Marín and President Enrique Cerezo, both of whom are also major shareholders. While their individual fortunes are not at the same level as Ofer's, they are important and have been estimated to be in the hundreds of millions of euros, largely derived from their ownership stakes in the club and their other successful business ventures, such as Gil Marín's cattle breeding and Cerezo's career as a prominent film producer.
Atletico Madrid Owners History: From Past to Present
The history of Atletico Madrid's ownership has seen a significant shift from fan-run and club-member models to a more centralised, and at times controversial, private ownership. For much of the club's early history, it was organised as a sports association with elected presidents, a common model in Spanish football. A key figure from this era was Vicente Calderon, who served as president for over two decades across two different periods (1964-1980 and 1982-1987) and is widely regarded as one of the club's greatest presidents, with the former stadium named in his honour.
The most dramatic change in the club's ownership came in 1992, when a Spanish law mandated that all professional football clubs become Sociedades Anonimas Deportivas (S.A.D.), or Public Limited Sports Companies. This transition allowed for the private investment of shares. It was at this time that the controversial businessman Jesus Gil took control of the club. He has been president since 1987. Gil used this new structure to merge his power, and his tenure (1987-2003) was defined by an unstable blend of on-field success, including the 1996 league and cup double, and off-field scandals and financial mismanagement.e
Following Gil's death in 2004, his son, Miguel Angel Gil Marín, inherited the majority of the club's shares and took on the role of CEO. He, along with Enrique Cerezo, who became president, formed the new leadership. This partnership has guided the club since, supervising a period of both financial recovery and sporting recovery, most notably under the management of Diego Simeone, one of the highest-paid managers in the world. In recent years, the ownership structure has evolved with the introduction of external investment. In 2017, Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer acquired a significant minority stake through his Quantum Pacific Group, and in 2021, the American investment firm Ares Management also bought into the holding company, Atletico HoldCo. This has transformed the ownership from a single-family enterprise into a diverse, modern corporate structure with international backing.
Era
Key Events
Details
Early Years (1903–1990s)
Foundation (1903)
Atletico Madrid was founded in 1903 as Athletic Club de Madrid by Basque students, originally as a youth branch of Athletic Bilbao.
Early Years (1903–1990s)
Early Presidents
Atletico Madrid was led by early presidents including Julian Ruete and later Vicente Calderon, after whom the former stadium was named.
Early Years (1903–1990s)
Merger & Name Change (1939–1947)
In 1939, Atletico Madrid merged with Aviacion Nacional to become Athletic Aviación de Madrid. By 1947, the club was officially renamed Club Atletico de Madrid.
The Gil Era (1990s–Present)
Jesús Gil’s Takeover (1990s)
In the early 1990s, businessman Jesus Gil acquired Atlético Madrid with Enrique Cerezo, becoming majority owner and leading the club for many years.
The Gil Era (1990s–Present)
Transition to Gil Family
After the leadership of Jesus Gil, his son Miguel Angel Gil Marín became CEO and a key shareholder of Atletico Madrid.
Modern Era (2021–Present)
Ares Management Investment (2021)
In 2021, U.S. private equity firm Ares Management purchased a 34% stake in Atletico Holdco, the parent company of Atletico Madrid.
Modern Era (2021–Present)
Current Structure
Today, the Gil family remains the majority shareholder of Atletico Madrid through Atletico Holdco, with Miguel Angel Gil Marín serving as CEO and main shareholder, while Ares Management is a significant minority shareholder.
who is the owner of Atletico Madrid football club
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Frequently Asked Questions
Who are Atletico Madrid Owners?
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The owners of Atletico Madrid FC are a many-sided structure primarily controlled by Atletico HoldCo, a holding company that serves as the majority shareholder. Within this structure, Miguel Ángel Gil Marín is the key figure and CEO, holding a majority stake.
How much is Atletico HoldCo Net Worth?
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Atletico Madrid owners net worth is not an easily calculable figure, as the club are owned by a holding company with multiple key shareholders.
Who are the major shareholders of Atletico Madrid?
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Atletico HoldCo is the major shareholder of Atletico Madrid.
Who was the first owner of Atletico Madrid?
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Atletico Madrid were not owned by a single person initially; it was founded in 1903 by a group of three Basque students who established it as a youth branch of Athletic Bilbao.