Florentino Pérez has secured another term as president of Real Madrid after winning the club’s first contested elections in 20 years. Pérez, who has led the club for 23 years across two periods, received 65% of the vote, defeating challenger Enrique Riquelme, who garnered 35%. A total of 33,555 club members voted in the election, which was delayed due to a challenge over postal ballots.
Why this matters
This election result confirms Pérez’s continued leadership of Real Madrid, allowing him to advance his plans to sell a 5% stake in the club and reshape its structure. His presidency has been marked by significant sporting success and financial growth, including seven European Cup titles and Real Madrid becoming the richest football club globally. The outcome also paves the way for the formal announcement of José Mourinho as the club’s new manager.
Key developments
- Florentino Pérez won 65% of the vote, while Enrique Riquelme received 35%.
- Riquelme challenged the validity of about 1,000 postal votes, resulting in over 400 being invalidated.
- José Mourinho is expected to be officially confirmed as Real Madrid’s manager, with the club paying Benfica a €15 million release fee.
- Pérez plans to bid at least €150 million for a new “galactico” player, believed to be Michael Olise.
- Riquelme had proposed appointing Raúl González Blanco as sporting director and aimed to sign top talents like Erling Haaland and Rodri, as well as convincing Jürgen Klopp to become manager.
Background
Florentino Pérez has been president of Real Madrid since 2009, having previously held the role from 2000 to 2006. Until this election, he had faced no opposition in the last five elections. The decision to hold elections came after two years without a trophy and was announced during a press conference in May. Pérez called the snap election to confront emerging opposition and to secure a fresh mandate for his plans to change the club’s ownership model.
Enrique Riquelme, a 37-year-old businessman from Alicante with interests in Mexico, was a late entrant to the race. He had only 10 days to assemble his candidacy and meet strict requirements, including a €178 million bank guarantee secured against his personal wealth. Despite these challenges, Riquelme campaigned on a platform opposing Pérez’s plans, describing the current club leadership as authoritarian and criticizing the increasing influence of Moroccan banker Anas Laghrari.
Election campaign and promises
The campaign was the first contested election in two decades and focused heavily on the future direction of the club. Pérez emphasized protecting fan ownership by assigning a financial value to membership and inviting investment as a way to measure the club’s worth. Riquelme criticized Pérez’s approach as a move toward privatization and promised a different management style, including less interference with the coach’s work.
Both candidates made ambitious football-related promises. Pérez announced signings such as Denzel Dumfries and Ibrahima Konaté and confirmed the impending arrival of Mourinho as manager. Riquelme brought former club legends like Raúl, Fernando Hierro, Iker Casillas, and Vicente del Bosque into his campaign and pledged to sign high-profile players and a top coach, though these claims were denied by the agents and parties involved.
Conclusion
Florentino Pérez’s victory extends his presidency for at least another five years, reinforcing his control over Real Madrid and enabling him to pursue his vision for the club’s future. While the margin of victory was narrower than expected, Pérez’s position remains strong. The election marks a significant moment as it was the first contested vote in two decades, highlighting emerging debates about the club’s governance and direction.
Recommended reading
For more context, see related Peack News coverage and explainers linked below.
