Official: Florentino Perez re-elected Real Madrid president
Florentino Perez has won another four-year term as Real Madrid president following the club’s first contested election in over two decades.
The 79-year-old businessman, who has held the role since 2009 alongside a previous stint between 2000 and 2006, successfully defeated renewable energy executive Enrique Riquelme. Over 75,000 club members cast their votes in a tense ballot, which faced late delays after Riquelme legally challenged the validity of a batch of postal votes. Perez eventually secured victory in the early hours of Monday morning, claiming the second-highest vote share in the club’s electoral history.
The win signals the start of immediate structural and sporting changes at the Bernabeu. Perez has already confirmed that Jose Mourinho will return to the club for a second spell as manager, with Madrid set to trigger a 15m euro release clause to pry the Portuguese coach away from Benfica.
The snap election was initially called by Perez in May following public scrutiny over a rare barren cycle on the pitch and intense media pressure. Despite high-profile signings like French striker Kylian Mbappe, Madrid concluded a second consecutive season without silverware, prompting Perez to challenge his critics by putting his leadership to a democratic vote.
Perez used his victory speech to assure supporters that the club would remain member-owned under his watch, while also reiterating his commitment to securing a 16th European Cup. The veteran president also teased the arrival of a new marquee signing, with club officials preparing a bid of at least 150m euros to sign Bayern Munich winger Michael Olise.
Riquelme’s campaign, which promised the appointments of Jurgen Klopp as head coach and club legend Raul as sporting director, ultimately fell short against the enduring influence of the most successful president in Real Madrid history. Under Perez’s stewardship, the Spanish giants have claimed seven of their 15 Champions League titles and established themselves as the most valuable football institution in the world.
