Real Madrid: 10 Iconic Figures from Both Galactico Eras

The Galacticos have become huge part of Real Madrid's modern history.

It's a name associated with a group of players who were given the duty of recapturing glory and fuelled by their excessive transfer fees.

Florentino Perez has overseen, for the most part, both Galactico eras of the last decade and has played a significant role in greatly enhancing the club's image and status in world football.

While a number of significant figures have arrived and departed from the club at all levels, from playing staff to those in the boardroom, there have been a number of important and iconic figures who have left their mark on some of the most impressively assembled squads in the modern game.

Iker Casillas

Iker Casillas quickly established himself between the posts at Real Madrid from an early age and is one of the few players to stretch over both of Florentino Perez' Galactico eras.

His leadership qualities have seen him inherit the captain's armband from the now-departed Raul Gonzalez, and his consistency in goal has been the foundation for much of Madrid's success over the past decade.

His iconic status comes as one of the club's home-grown players, brought up through the ranks and cementing his place as one of the world's best goalkeepers.

One of the faces of the modern-day Real Madrid, and one who has shown fantastic humility and professionalism.

A natural leader and an ambassador for the club.

Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane was significant in the rebuilding process at Real Madrid, because he was the best.

He might have been the wrong side of 30, but there was no doubt that this was a player who could still enchant the world at the highest level and continue to have a significant effect on a Madrid side with expensive ambitions.

His transfer fee broke the earlier world record set by Madrid in their capture of Luis Figo from Barcelona, and the Frenchman naturally carried on where he had left off since his departure from Italian giants Juventus.

His volley in the 2002 Champions League final remains one of the greatest goals scored in the competition and is unquestionably an iconic moment from and unforgettable individual.

Luis Figo

Already one of the greatest players of his generation at Barcelona, Luis Figo was highly sought after by Real Madrid to begin the wave of glamorous signings.

His introduction was certainly a signal of intent on a number of levels—that the club were ambitious in their goals for domestic and European dominance, and, perhaps most importantly, that they could target and lure to the Bernabeu any player they wished.

There's no dampening the type of reception Figo received upon his return to the Nou Camp following his controversial switch. The pig's head thrown from the crowd will continue to stand as one of the most iconic images from Figo's generation of Galacticos.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Cristiano Ronaldo is undoubtedly the face of the second wave of Galacticos.

His £80 million price tag has become a weight and a responsibility for the player to lead Real Madrid on a quest for glory and surpass Barcelona on a consistent basis.

Ronaldo has done exceptionally well since he arrived at the Bernabeu in 2009 to a hero's welcome—already well past the 100-goal mark and with an exuberance to do well for both the club and his own personal ambitions.

Raul Gonzales

Raul Gonzales is another who managed to prolong his career at Real Madrid long enough to see the assembly of both Galactico eras.

He's the club captain and one of the pivotal performers who helped Madrid to their success during the early 2000s.

Raul's contribution to the club has been enormous—he's managed to maintain his standing as the king of Madrid even with the high-profile arrivals during the past decade, and, like Iker Casillas, never has to present his wallet on an evening out in the Spanish capital.

His goal-scoring successes and his ability to remain consistent for the club despite a number of strike partnerships will long be remembered for one of the club's favourite sons.

David Beckham

David Beckham has become the face of English football.

He was one of the key figures of Sir Alex Ferguson's great success during the 1990s and another standout figure at Real Madrid during the first Galactico era.

His abilities as a footballer were never in question, and even now well past the age of 30, Beckham still remains highly sought after for clubs across Europe.

But questions were sure to be raised when Real Madrid went in for another right-winger despite already having Luis Figo to occupy that area of the field.

Was Beckham brought in because he was an exceptional footballer? Perhaps.

Was he brought in because of the advantages he brought in commercially? Perhaps even more so.

But Beckham quickly became popular among the Spanish media and is another player who typifies Madrid's quest and hunger at the time to snap up the very best in world football.

Francisco Pavon

"Zidanes and Pavones" was the term used by Florentino Perez during his presidential campaign, in which the stars of world football arriving at Real Madrid would be complemented by the rising stars of the club's youth academy.

Francisco Pavon might not be remembered greatly for his actions on the pitch, but his name is synonymous with the first Galacticos of the modern era.

An iconic name and one who rightfully has a place alongside the great names of his era.

Sergio Ramos

From the fresh-faced teenager brought in from Sevilla in 2005, Sergio Ramos today doesn't look a day older than when he made his €27-million move to the capital.

Despite obvious talent, Ramos didn't settle in as quickly as hoped, perhaps engulfed by the galaxy of stars Florentino Perez had acquired.

Today, he stands as one of the club's most important individuals—a leader in the dressing room, and, as we've seen in recent months, a bridge between players and hierarchy at the Bernabeu.

His role in the current Madrid side is hugely important for the club's success and the positive feeling among the squad; challenging Jose Mourinho as a player who doesn't feel his manager's instructions are beneficial or necessary to victory on the pitch.

Second in command to Iker Casillas, there can be few who would deny or doubt the defender to the captain's armband in the future.

Claude Makelele

Claude Makelele's inclusion is significant due to the lack of interest Real Madrid had shown in the defensive aspect of the game.

Makelele was comfortably one of the very best defensive midfielders during his time in Spain, providing a vital bridge between defence and attack for the team.

But his importance was greatly underrated by those pulling the strings at the club, most of whom felt he was undeserving of a sizable pay increase.

His departure and the lack of investment toward him, even for the short-term, became a continuing problem for the club, who never really hit the heights that should have brought greater success to the Spanish Capital.

There was very little ambition shown toward further defensive purchases, and the team suffered for it.

Had Makelele and his importance toward the team been shown greater respect, the club would surely have prolonged the early success that greeted the Figos and Zidanes.

Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho is iconic to this current Real Madrid side, and perhaps one of the very few managers at the very highest level who can command respect from such a star-studded lineup and get them to buy into his ideology.

He's one of the best tacticians in the game and a man given the reins of a hugely ambitious club looking to overhaul their great rivals at the top of the mountain.

Mourinho's position and influence over previous managers at Real Madrid has been greatly contrasting.

He has been given almost unconditional control of the club, overseeing the departure of Jorge Valdano, and given the freedom to sculpt this side in his own image.

Jose Mourinho is absolutely one of the key figures of this second era of Galacticos.