Atletico de Madrid (Gil Marin Family)

Who owns Atletico de Madrid?
Apollo Sports Capital became the majority shareholder in November 2025, acquiring approximately 55% of the club in a deal valuing it at EUR 2.2 billion ($2.55 billion). Miguel Angel Gil Marin remains as CEO with approximately 10% stake, and Enrique Cerezo remains as president with approximately 3%. Quantum Pacific Group (Idan Ofer) and Ares Management remain as minority shareholders. The deal was expected to close in Q1 2026.

How much did Apollo pay for Atletico Madrid?
Apollo Sports Capital acquired a majority stake (approximately 55%) in a deal that valued Atletico de Madrid at approximately EUR 2.2 billion ($2.55 billion), according to Sportico. This makes it the second-highest price ever paid for a controlling stake in a football club, behind the $3.16 billion purchase of Chelsea in 2022. The exact purchase price for the 55% stake was approximately EUR 1.2 billion.

Who is Miguel Angel Gil Marin?
Miguel Angel Gil Marin is the CEO of Atletico de Madrid. He inherited his ownership stake from his father Jesus Gil, who acquired the club in 1987. Gil Marin was previously the largest shareholder with approximately 35% before the Apollo deal reduced his stake to approximately 10%. He has served as CEO since his father's departure from the club presidency in 2003.

What stadium does Atletico Madrid play at?
Atletico de Madrid plays at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium, which opened in 2017. The stadium has a capacity of 70,692 spectators and is located in the San Blas-Canillejas district of Madrid. It was originally called the Metropolitano and later the Civitas Metropolitano before Riyadh Air acquired naming rights. The stadium generated over EUR 100 million in revenue in the 2024-25 season.

When did Idan Ofer invest in Atletico Madrid?
Idan Ofer, through Quantum Pacific Group, acquired a significant minority stake in Atletico de Madrid in 2018. His investment brought additional capital and international business expertise to the club. Quantum Pacific Group remains a minority shareholder following the Apollo Sports Capital acquisition in 2025.

What is Atletico Madrid's revenue?
Atletico de Madrid reported record revenue of EUR 416 million for the 2024-25 season, up 5.3% from EUR 395 million the prior year. Broadcasting contributed EUR 223 million, commercial revenue EUR 116 million (up 19%), and match day revenue EUR 77 million. The club is budgeting for revenue approaching EUR 500 million for the 2025-26 season.

What is the Ciudad del Deporte project?
The Ciudad del Deporte (Sports City) is an EUR 800 million sports and entertainment district planned around the Riyadh Air Metropolitano stadium. The project includes retail, entertainment, and residential development. The club estimates the project will increase revenue by more than EUR 200 million by 2033. Apollo Sports Capital's investment is expected to support the financing of this project.

Atletico de Madrid was founded on April 26, 1903, by three Basque students living in Madrid who wanted to create a branch of Athletic Club Bilbao in the Spanish capital. The club was originally called Athletic Club de Madrid. The name was changed to Atletico de Madrid in 1939 after the Spanish Civil War, when the club merged with Aviacion Nacional, a military team, becoming Atletico Aviacion de Madrid. The "Aviacion" was dropped in 1947.

The club's early sporting success included La Liga titles in 1940 and 1941, and the Copa del Rey (then called the Copa del Generalisimo) in 1960 and 1961. Atletico won the European Cup Winners' Cup in 1962, the club's first European trophy. The team reached the European Cup final in 1974, losing to Bayern Munich in a replay.

Jesus Gil y Gil acquired Atletico de Madrid in 1987. Gil was a controversial real estate developer and politician who served as mayor of Marbella. His acquisition began a turbulent period marked by frequent managerial changes, high-profile signings, and financial volatility. Under Gil's ownership, Atletico won the Copa del Rey in 1991 and 1992 and the La Liga title in 1996. However, the club was relegated to the Segunda Division in 2000, a low point in its history. Gil was forced to step down as club president in 2003 due to legal issues and died in 2004.

Miguel Angel Gil Marin, Jesus Gil's son, inherited the ownership stake and took over as CEO. Enrique Cerezo became club president. The period from 2000 to 2010 was difficult, with the club spending two seasons in the second division before returning to La Liga in 2002. Financial problems persisted, and the club struggled to compete with Real Madrid and Barcelona in revenue and squad quality.

Atletico's fortunes changed with the appointment of Diego Simeone as head coach in December 2011. Simeone transformed the club's playing style and culture, emphasizing defensive discipline, counter-attacking football, and a never-say-die mentality that resonated with the club's working-class fanbase. Under Simeone, Atletico won La Liga in 2021 (breaking the Real Madrid-Barcelona duopoly), the Copa del Rey in 2013, two UEFA Europa League titles (2012, 2018), and reached the UEFA Champions League final in 2014 and 2016, losing both times to Real Madrid.

In 2018, Israeli billionaire Idan Ofer acquired a significant minority stake through Quantum Pacific Group. Ofer's investment brought additional capital and international business expertise. Ares Management, a US alternative investment firm, acquired a stake in 2021. These investments helped fund the club's move to the Civitas Metropolitano stadium (now Riyadh Air Metropolitano) in 2017 and supported continued player investment.

The stadium move from the Vicente Calderon to the Metropolitano was a turning point in the club's commercial development. The Vicente Calderon, opened in 1966, had a capacity of approximately 55,000 and was located in central Madrid. The Metropolitano, located in the San Blas-Canillejas district, has a capacity of 70,692 and provides significantly more revenue-generating opportunities through premium seating, hospitality, and commercial spaces. Stadium revenue surpassed EUR 100 million in the 2024-25 season with double-digit growth.

In November 2025, Apollo Sports Capital agreed to acquire a majority stake. The deal valued the club at EUR 2.2 billion and represented the culmination of talks that initially began around financing for Atletico's EUR 800 million Ciudad del Deporte (Sports City) project, a sports and entertainment district planned around the Metropolitano stadium. Apollo's interest expanded from project financing to a full equity investment in Atletico HoldCo, the entity that owns approximately 70% of the club's shares.

Atletico de Madrid publishes financial information through La Liga's economic control framework, which requires clubs to submit annual accounts and comply with spending limits. The club's accounts for the 2024-25 season were submitted to La Liga in November 2025 and to the Consejo Superior de Deportes in December 2025.

The club has implemented community programs through the Atletico de Madrid Foundation, focusing on social inclusion, youth development, and health initiatives. The foundation operates programs in Madrid and internationally.

Atletico does not publish a standalone sustainability report aligned with GRI or SASB standards. The club's environmental initiatives are limited to stadium operations, including waste management and energy efficiency measures at the Metropolitano. The club is not a Certified B Corporation and has not committed to carbon neutrality targets.

The Gil family's ownership of Atletico de Madrid has been controversial since Jesus Gil's acquisition in 1987. Jesus Gil was convicted of embezzling public funds while serving as mayor of Marbella and was forced to step down as club president in 2003. He died in 2004. The Gil family's management of the club has been criticized for financial instability, frequent managerial changes, and a reliance on player trading to balance the budget.

Miguel Angel Gil Marin has faced legal scrutiny during his tenure as CEO. In 2004, he was investigated in connection with the "caso Atletico" probe into alleged misappropriation of club funds during the signing of players. The case was eventually dismissed, but it damaged the club's reputation.

The Apollo acquisition has drawn mixed reactions from Atletico supporters. Some fans welcome the financial resources and international expertise that Apollo brings, particularly for the Ciudad del Deporte project. Others are concerned about the transition from family ownership to private equity control, citing examples of leveraged buyouts in European football that have increased club debt. Apollo has stated that it is a long-term investor and that the Atletico investment is not part of a multi-club ownership strategy, addressing concerns about the club becoming a satellite in a portfolio of teams.

The club's gross financial debt of EUR 487 million has been cited as a risk factor. The debt has more than doubled from EUR 218 million five years ago, driven by stadium construction costs and squad investment. However, the debt-to-value ratio is approximately 4% based on the Apollo valuation, and the club has maintained stable liquidity.