Madrid Bravos: how a professional project tried to connect Spain with Europe

The announcement

On 19 May 2023 the European League of Football announced Madrid as its second Spanish franchise and eighteenth location, with Jaime Martín as general manager and the intention to cooperate with Madrid clubs Las Rozas Black Demons, Osos Rivas and Camioneros de Coslada. [1] [2] The Madrid Bravos name and crest were presented on 26 September 2023; the owning company was Marlos Sports 2022 SL and the stadium, Vallehermoso. [3]

Two seasons, two playoff runs

In 2024, with Rip Scherer as head coach, the Bravos went 8-4 in the Western Conference and reached the playoffs, losing 40-10 in Duisburg to Rhein Fire on 1 September. [3] [4] In 2025, under Andrew Weidinger, they repeated the 8-4 record and again lost in the wild-card round, this time to Stuttgart Surge. [8] [13]

Attendance was the big problem. According to elDiario.es, the 2024 average at Vallehermoso was 1,433 over six games, in a municipal stadium provided free of charge; El Español put the 2025 average at around 2,500, with a record close to 4,000. Figures vary by outlet and are pending confirmation with official data. [5] [6]

The NFL steps in

On 14 November 2025, two days before the NFL's first regular-season game in Spain, the Miami Dolphins announced a long-term agreement with the Bravos as their supported American football team in Spain, focused on school flag football, community activities and brand activations. [7] The NFL, for its part, has committed to games at the Bernabéu for several years from 2026. [12]

The withdrawal

The context collapsed within months. In 2025 the ELF franchises created their own league, the European Football Alliance, of which the Bravos were founding members; the ELF, without a commissioner after Patrick Esume's departure, ended in insolvency proceedings opened in Hamburg on 23 March 2026. [11] [10]

On 10 March 2026 Jaime Martín announced that the Bravos would not compete in 2026 because the project's continuity had become unviable in the current context of European football. Madrid, and Spain, were left without a professional team in a European league. [8] [9]