Real Madrid veteran defender Marcelo has broken multiple club records as the club won their 35th La Liga title on Saturday.
Carlo Ancelotti became the first coach ever to win each of Europe’s top five leagues: adding Spain to his titles in Serie A, the Premier League, Ligue 1 and the Bundesliga. It was secured with a comfortable four-goal home win over Espanyol, with Rodrygo Goes netting a double before Marco Asensio and Karim Benzema adding to the victory.
While the Italian coach celebrated a historic day, he was not the only one who was celebrating a special individual achievement. Saturday was just the fifth La Liga start of the season for the club’s experienced left-back Marcelo, who is set to depart at the end of the campaign.
For most of this season, the Brazilian has been second choice behind Ferland Mendy in the pecking order for the position. Marcelo’s contract is expiring at the end of the current campaign and it is anticipated that the defender will end his glorious 16 years in the Spanish capital to return to Brazil.
His title winner’s medal was his 24th trophy won with Los Blancos – a club record. It means that he has surpassed the club legend Paco Gento, who won 23 trophies with Real Madrid. It was the sixth time that Marcelo has won La Liga, while he won four Champions League crowns, two Copa del Reys, five Supercopa de Espanas, three UEFA Super Cups and four FIFA Club World Cups.
Not only did Marcelo break that record held by Gento, but he also became the first non-Spanish player to captain Real Madrid to the league title. The Brazilian assumed that role within the squad at the start of the season after Sergio Ramos left to join Paris Saint-Germain.
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Saturday was just the 17th appearance of the season for the Brazilian, but his 545th in total for Real Madrid – whom he joined in the January transfer window of the 2006-07 campaign. He was not taxed defensively by Espanyol, who offered little attacking threat down the wings during the match and allowed Marcelo to advance up the pitch and offer somewhat of an attacking threat of his own.
Upon his signing, then Madrid club president Ramon Calderon said: "He is an important signing for us. He is a young player who will inject some freshness into the side and is part of our plan to bring younger players into the squad. We're very happy because he's a pearl that half of Europe wanted."
Marcelo then grew into the long-term successor to another Brazilian club legend Roberto Carlos in the position for over a decade, helping Real Madrid to plenty of success both domestically and in Europe. He is now expected to return to Brazil this summer as a free agent.
