As an addendum - at no point anywhere in their history have they been called Athletico Madrid as per the title of this thread.
I don't suppose there's any chance of a mod changing the thread title to the right name is there? I get a bit OCD about these things. :lolol:
Athletic were indeed known as Atletico Bilbao under Franco but changed back after he died.
Athletic Madrid (or, to be accurate, Athletic Aviacion de Madrid) became Atletico Aviacion de Madrid in the early 40s and then simply Club Atletico de Madrid in the late 40s, which they have remained...