Real Madrid’s club anthem, ¡Hala Madrid!…y nada más, sounds like an ancient Spanish hymn, but it was actually composed in 2014 by Swedish-Moroccan producer RedOne. As Joey D’Urso reported in his weekly newsletter, the song quickly achieved the status of a traditional fixture due to its catchy melody and the club’s subsequent dominance in the UEFA Champions League.
The Origins of RedOne’s 2014 Anthem
The anthem of Real Madrid is frequently mistaken for a historical piece of classical music. Journalist Joey D’Urso reported that the grand, choral composition was written in 2014 by RedOne, a producer known for his pop work with artists like Lady Gaga. Commissioned to motivate the squad ahead of the 2013-14 Champions League climax, the song was subsequently released to the public as a celebration.
The tune features lyrics by journalist Manuel Jabois, which reference the club’s 1950s star forward Alfredo Di Stéfano, nicknamed ‘La Saeta’ or ‘The Arrow’. Despite its recent origins, the track successfully emulates the feel of a bygone era. It contrasts sharply with typical modern pop songs by adopting the slow, majestic pacing of a traditional hymn.
How Champions League Dominance Built a Modern Tradition
A song requires more than a strong melody to become an accepted part of a sporting institution. Real Madrid won the Champions League in three of the four seasons following the song’s release, cementing its place in the club’s cultural fabric. An unusually settled squad featuring Cristiano Ronaldo, Luka Modric, Gareth Bale, Sergio Ramos, Marcelo, and Karim Benzema carried the team through that era.
This phenomenon mirrors observations by British historians Eric Hobsbawm and Terence Ranger in their 1983 book The Invention of Tradition. The authors argue that many practices perceived as ancient are actually recent constructs designed to establish continuity with a suitable historic past. Similar manufactured traditions include the Champions League anthem, which Tony Britten composed in 1992 by adapting George Frideric Handel’s 1727 piece Zadok the Priest for the tournament’s rebranding.
The Rise of Fan-Made Anthems at Arsenal
Modern football continues to generate spontaneous traditions that quickly feel foundational. In 2022, Arsenal fan Louis Dunford released the song “The Angel,” featuring the “North London Forever” chorus, which the club adopted for pre-match warm-ups at the Emirates Stadium. The track filled a historical gap for the club, which lacked a widely recognized anthem compared to Liverpool’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone.”
The song became the musical backdrop for Arsenal’s Premier League title challenge during the 2025–26 season. Much like the Real Madrid anthem or the culinary history of tiramisu—a popular Italian dessert invented in the 1970s at Le Beccherie restaurant in Treviso—these cultural touchstones rapidly acquire an aura of deep-rooted authenticity once tied to significant victories and collective memory.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who wrote the Real Madrid anthem?
The anthem ¡Hala Madrid!…y nada más was written in 2014 by Swedish-Moroccan music producer RedOne, with lyrics penned by Spanish journalist Manuel Jabois.
When was the modern Champions League anthem created?
Composer Tony Britten wrote the current Champions League anthem in 1992 for the tournament’s commercial rebranding, adapting elements of George Frideric Handel’s 1727 coronation anthem Zadok the Priest.
What song serves as Arsenal’s pre-match anthem?
Arsenal plays “The Angel,” featuring the “North London Forever” chorus written by fan and musician Louis Dunford, which the club adopted after its release in 2022.
How does the history of tiramisu relate to football traditions?
Tiramisu is widely perceived as an ancient Italian recipe, but it was actually popularized in the 1970s at a restaurant in Treviso, demonstrating how recent cultural items can rapidly acquire a traditional reputation.