THE VITALS:

Team: Real Madrid

Brand: Adidas

Era: 2018-19 (Used for the 2018-19 La Liga season, the 2018 UEFA Super Cup match, and for the 2018 FIFA Club World Cup Final)

Name/Number: Modric #10

CONDITION: EXCELLENT

This shirt is in excellent condition - with the club crest, FIFA Club World Cup shield, name and numbering print, sponsor decal standing in fine stead; albeit with some very light pulling to the material in places.

DIMENSIONS:

Size: Large

Pit to Pit Measurement: 21.0 inches

Shirt Length: 29.0 inches 

Made by Adidas in their ‘ClimaLite’ range of shirts that they released in 2018; the dimensions of this shirt suggest that this shirt would provide a relaxed size large fitting shirt.

DESCRIPTION:

For the first time since the 2014-15 season – Adidas used black to compliment the white backdrop that is synonymous with Real Madrid’s home shirt and with it, was also another button collar as was the design employed that season. This season marked the beginning of a new era as the club had to contend with the departures of both Zinedine Zidane and Cristiano Ronaldo and a tumultuous season would see Zidane return to the club in March 2019! Despite their troubles, they would finish third again and earn a first win over Atletico Madrid in the league since 2016 as well as earn home and away wins over AS Roma in the Champions League. This would also be the season that Vini Jr debuted for the club and Karim Benzema enjoyed a 30 goal haul in front of goal!

THE SEASON:

The 2017-18 season would conclude with Real Madrid accomplishing the mythical ‘3-Peat’ as they won their 3^rd successive UEFA Champions League trophy; nobody however, could have foreseen that both, Cristiano Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane would both moving on from the club in wake of the triumph! Faced with this predicament, Real moved in quickly to swoop in for Jolen Lopetegui ahead of the 2018 FIFA World Cup, however, the clubs announcement of his appointment led to him being dismissed from his post as the national team coach just days ahead of ‘La Roja’s adventure in Russia!

The pre-season would be dominated with the news of Ronaldo’s move to Juventus, however, Real would maintain their recent transfer strategy of moving in for prospects they could mould over ‘Galacticos’ and arriving were the likes of: Federico Valverde, Vinicius Junior, Alvaro Odriozola and the returning Mariano Diaz; there would however be a €35 million outlay reserved for Thibaut Courtois as they procured the Belgian goalkeeper from Chelsea. Leaving would be the series of raw talents that included: Achraf Hakimi, Borja Mayoral, Theo Hernandez as well as Mateo Kovacic, who after 2 seasons failed to carve his niche at the club.

The new regime began with 4 wins in their opening 5 games with Karim Benzema and Gareth Bale shining in front of goal, however, a disastrous Autumn would have the writing on the wall for Lopetegui, who was eventually relived from his duties as the club’s team manager on October 30^th, and in his placed stepped Santi Solari. The Argentine had a respectable spell at the helm as he racked up 12 wins in La Liga from the 17 he oversaw; however, when Zinedine Zidane answered the ‘Bat-Call’, Solari would have to make way for the returning ‘Zizou’ who would guide the club to second successive 3^rd place finish.

Elsewhere, the previous incumbents would have probably fared better however, Real Madrid would lose a first UEFA Super Cup since 2000, even more damming, the defeat came to Atletico Madrid. In the Copa del Rey, ‘Los Blancos’ would reach the semi-final for the first time since 2014, however, the series of quickfire defeats to Barcelona would contribute to Santi Solari’s demise. Lastly, Real Madrid would relinquish their iron-grip of the UEFA Champions League to Ajax in the Round of 16 in almost miraculous circumstances. There would still be the saving grace of the FIFA Club World Championship which the team won for the 3^rd time of asking when they outclassed Al-Ain 4-1 in the final!

The notable players that season were:

Vinicius Junior, Mariano Diaz, Karim Benzema, Marco Asensio, Lucas Vasquez, Gareth Bale, Isco, Luka Modric, Marcos Llorente, Toni Kroos, Casemiro, Dani Ceballos, Federico Valverde , Dani Carvajal, Marcelo, Alvaro Odriozola, Nacho, Sergio Ramos, Raphael Varane, Sergio Reguilon, Thibaut Courtois, Keylor Navas, Kiko Casilla