What Does “Hala Madrid” Mean?

Many sports teams have anthems, slogans, and mottos. Some are better than others. Some have real meaning behind the words. Some slogans or mantras are cheesy marketing ploys from the football club’s corporate branch. Some, however, have meaning. There is power behind the words. Clubs like Liverpool and Barcelona understand this. So do Real Madrid. SportsBoom did some digging to find out what “¡Hala Madrid!” means.

Why Do Madridistas Say “¡Hala Madrid!”?

Image Credits: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

“¡Hala Madrid!” is a phrase chanted and shouted by Real Madrid supporters. The slogan translates in English as “Go Madrid!” “¡Hala Madrid!” also means “Forward Madrid!” or “Come on Madrid!” It is an exclamation of encouragement and support used by Madrid fans. “¡Hala Madrid!” is used to sign off on the club’s social media platforms like Twitter (x), YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram.

It is a battle cry for Los Blancos fans and is frequently used by the players when trying to get themselves and the crowd going during tough moments in a game. “Hala” is used the same way “¡vamos!” (“let’s go!”) is used in Spanish, and by sports supporters in the country. “¡Hala Madrid!” is also the title of Real Madrid’s official anthem (known as “Las mocitas Madrileñas” after a line in the lyrics).

“¡Hala Madrid!... y nada más”

According to Steven G Mandis, author of The Real Madrid Way: How Values Created the Most Successful Sports Team on the Planet, former president Santiago Bernabéu realised the importance of rituals and traditions. So, Bernabéu commissioned the anthem to commemorate the club’s Golden Jubilee in 1952. Luis Cisneros Galiane wrote the lyrics, and José de Aguilar recorded the song. 

“¡Hala Madrid!... y nada más” is a modern anthem written by journalist Manuel Jabois and composed by Nadir Khayat, also known as RedOne, in 2014. Khayat is a Moroccan-Swedish music producer. He is famous for his collaborations with Britney Spears, Pitbull, Enrique Iglesias, Lady Gaga, and Jennifer Lopez, to name a few. RedOne has won three Grammy Awards and has been nominated for another eight. 

The song was written to celebrate Los Blancos’ tenth UEFA Champions League (UCL) title. Madrid’s tenth UCL title is affectionately known as “La Decima” by the fans and the media. The song title translates from Spanish to English as “Come on, Madrid! And Nothing More” The anthem has become a staple at home games at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The recording of the song involved most of the Real Madrid squad, including, Gareth Bale, Cristiano Ronaldo, Sergio Ramos, Karim Benzema, Luka Modrić, and Marcelo, who all feature in the official music video. The anthem is always played and sung by Madridistas at the Bernabéu before matches. The stadium, named after the former president, has recently been renovated and is one of the best grounds in the world. 

Image Credits: Angel Martinez/Real Madrid via Getty Images

A short clip of the song is also played whenever a Madrid player scores at the Bernabéu. “It is the new Real Madrid song, I don't want it to be an anthem, I want it to be a song that the whole world can sing,” RedOne said back in 2014. “We have a song for La Decima, and it's incredible. We needed an easy song that people could sing quickly to support the team and that's what we've done.”

There is no other club like Real Madrid. They are European royalty. Real Madrid is the best team in La Liga and are the 2023/24 La Liga and Champions League winners. The team is filled with the best players in the world. In an interview with Líbero magazine in 2014, Jabois noted that Madrid is different to other clubs; the fans, players, and especially the club’s president expect to win. “The beauty in Madrid has always been victory, winning and lifting titles,” he said. “That is the greatest beauty there is for the club. Winning is beautiful.”

Khayat is friends with some Madrid players. He goes on holiday with Ramos. He said that Ronaldo, while still at the club, would stop by his studio. “The recording with the players was better than expected,” he said in the same interview with Líbero magazine. “Cristiano and Ramos led the group, but unexpected figures quickly emerged. Everyone was incredibly good but Jesé, Cristiano and Carlo were sensational.” 

Lyrics of “¡Hala Madrid!... y nada más”

[Verse 1]
History that you've made 
History you will make
Because no one can resist
Your desire to win

[Verse 2]
The stars are coming out
My old Chamartín
From afar and up close
You bring us here

[Verse 3]
I'm wearing your T-shirt
Close to the heart
The days that you play
Are everything I am

[Pre-Chorus]
The Arrow is already running
My Madrid is already attacking
I'm struggle, I'm beauty
The scream I learnt