The big push to make it reality fell in the hands of the son-in-law of José Emilio Santamaría, legendary Madridista between 1957 and 1966. "He travelled through Lieja with the Spanish national futsal team that was in Belgium for a tournament. We struck up an immediate friendship and that's when the idea to give the fan club the name Santamaría and to make the former player the President of Honour came up.

And just like that, on 6 October 2000, the fan club was founded with the former Spanish international in attendance," recalled Cholo Villagra, one of the oldest members.

There are currently three Madridista fan clubs in Belgium, where there is an ever increasing fan base. In fact, Santamaría isn't just comprised of Spanish emigrants and their children.

Among the 90 members are Belgians, Italians, and a mix of other nationalities. Together they watch Real Madrid matches at the ‘Olé olé’ bar, but they are so involved that trips have been organised to Munich, Milan, Monaco, Manchester, as well as neighbouring Belgian towns. "We got to see the players up close and in person when they played against Anderlecht and Genk," continued Cholo. The fan lub also travels to the Spanish capital five or six times each season to experience the unique atmosphere of the Santiago Bernabéu.

The passion its members have for Real Madrid is so great that on days the team wins an important match, the throngs of people around the bar make traffic come to a standstill on nearby streets, but, "No one gets mad and the neighbours even join the party,” assured Cholo.