1994–95 Real Madrid CF season

During the summer, the club was reinforced in the midfield with Danish playmaker Michael Laudrup (in a controversial transfer from Barcelona) and Argentine Fernando Redondo;^[1][2] right back defender Sánchez Flores arrived from Valencia,^[3] and changes came to the dugout too, with Argentine head coach Jorge Valdano arriving from CD Tenerife after seven years of his forced retirement as a player during the climax of "La Quinta del Buitre" era.^[4]

The team played a 4–4–2 system with Buyo remaining as goalkeeper, Quique Sánchez Flores replacing aging Chendo as right back, while the central defenders were Fernando Hierro and Manolo Sanchís who replaced an injured Alkorta, along with the left back Mikel Lasa. Valdano changed the midfield towards aggressive play with Redondo and Laudrup in the center, Amavisca played superb as left winger and Luis Enrique took the right wing, a new role for him that turned out to be crucial for the squad. In the attacking line, Zamorano recovered his high level of play after a disastrous campaign last season, winning the Pichichi Trophy as the league top scorer. The season also saw the breakthrough of a 17-year-old forward Raúl who would assume the starting position in place of rapidly declining Alfonso and Emilio Butragueño.

In the meantime, financial worries increased during the season and on 16 February 1995, incumbent Ramon Mendoza defeated challenger Florentino Pérez in the club's longest ever Presidential election by just 698 votes. Mendoza's re-election was possible due to the good pace of the team in the league.^[5] Madrid ultimately clinched its first 26th league title and first in five years. In the cup competitions, however, the team was less fortunate, going out at the round of 16 stage both in the Copa del Rey and UEFA Cup to Valencia and Odense, respectively. The latter exit was particularly marred due to an embarrassing 0–2 home loss after a 3–2 first leg away victory.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK   ESP Francisco Buyo 13 GK   ESP Santiago Cañizares 5 DF   ESP Manolo Sanchís 4 DF   ESP Rafael Alkorta 3 DF   ESP Mikel Lasa 2 DF   ESP Chendo 14 DF   ESP Quique Flores 15 DF   ESP Fernando Muñoz — MF   ESP Míchel 6 MF   ESP Fernando Hierro — MF   ESP Luis Milla

No. Pos. Nation Player 8 MF   ESP Martín Vázquez 10 MF   DEN Michael Laudrup 6 MF   ARG Fernando Redondo 11 MF   ESP José Amavisca 9 FW   CHI Iván Zamorano 21 FW   ESP Luis Enrique — FW   ESP Emilio Butragueño 11 FW   ESP Alfonso Pérez 7 FW   ESP Raul 19 FW   ESP Dani 22 FW   SVK Peter Dubovský

Reference:^[6]

Reference:^[7]

Reference:^[7]

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