Real Madrid wear all-white kit because of little-known reason which may surprise fans

Real Madrid have worn a white kit throughout their entire history dating back to 1902 - and the reason why might surprise you.

The record 15-time European Cup winners were no strangers to success even during their early days, winning the Spanish Copa del Rey just three years after their inception in 1905.

They won the fourth inception of La Liga in 1932, and their 36 titles have never been matched by any other team.

Real won the first five European Cups in the 1950s, with star striker Alfredo Di Stefano playing a leading role, and the club has been home to a number of legends since then, including Cristiano Ronaldo, Zinedine Zidane, Paco Gento and Luka Modric.

Despite all that history - and winning the Champions League as recently as last season - Real travel to Anfield to take on Liverpool in the group stage of this season's competition with just two wins from their first four matches.

They are set to wear their iconic white kit for the clash - a kit which has seen numerous minor modifications over the years but has always remained the same primary colour.

The reason for that actually relates to English amateur football back in the 1880s.

In 1882, when football in England was still only played by amateur players, Corinthian Football Club was set up.

In the following years, they would supply many players for the England national team, and were famed for their fair play and sportsmanship.

One of the club's strict rules was that it would 'not compete for any challenge cup or any prize of any description', except for a Charity Shield competition, so it only played friendly matches.

They would also not accept penalties, purposely missing if one was awarded to them.

A Corinthian FC team photo, dated 1920 (Image: Getty)

The link, as per The Guardian's Nick Miller - it has long been debated as to how tenuous - between Corinthian and Real Madrid is Englishman Arthur Johnson, who helped to found the club in 1902.

It is claimed that Johnson, who played for the club and became coach in 1910, based his principles for the new club on the principles followed by Corinthian in England.

Part of the reason behind the choice of a white shirt was because Corinthian wore it.

A later story claimed that two Real Madrid players watched a Corinthian game during a trip to England in 1926. Having taken in the action at The Oval ground - which now belongs solely to Surrey County Cricket Club but would regularly host football matches - it is claimed that they went back to the Bernabeu and asked the club's president to change their white shorts to black, although the change didn't last long.