Florentino Perez will remain at the helm of Real Madrid until 2030 after securing a convincing victory in the club’s first contested presidential election in nearly two decades, overcoming challenger Enrique Riquelme on Sunday.
The 79-year-old won 65 per cent of the vote at Real Madrid’s Valdebebas training complex, earning the backing of members to extend a presidency that has overseen one of the most successful periods in the club’s history. Riquelme received 35 per cent support in an election that drew 33,555 voters.
The result marks Perez’s latest triumph since first taking charge of the Spanish giants in 2000. Having largely run unopposed in recent years, the veteran administrator faced his first serious electoral challenge since 2006 amid growing debate over the club’s sporting direction and ownership model.
Perez called the election despite having two years remaining on his current mandate, seeking a fresh endorsement from members after Real Madrid endured a second consecutive season without major silverware and watched rivals Barcelona retain the LaLiga title.
“I would like to congratulate Florentino Perez’s campaign on its victory. Real Madrid will not go another 20 years without an election,” Riquelme told reporters, as per Reuters.
Perez called the election despite having two years remaining on his mandate, following a second consecutive season without major trophies and with rivals Barcelona retaining the LaLiga title.
Addressing supporters after the victory, Perez hailed the outcome as a strong endorsement of his leadership.
“This has been a great day for Real Madrid. We have won across the board, that is to say, across all age groups. And we have achieved the second-best result in the history of Real Madrid elections,” Perez said.
He also described the election as an important moment for the club, saying Real Madrid had “set an example to the world of transparency and harmony”.
The campaign was marked by ambitious sporting promises from both candidates. Perez pledged to appoint Benfica manager Jose Mourinho and announced plans to invest 150 million euros in a marquee signing, with details expected to be revealed shortly. He also identified defenders Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries as priority transfer targets.
Benfica confirmed interest in Mourinho through a filing to Portugal’s market regulator, noting that any move would require compensation to terminate the coach’s contract.
Riquelme sought to galvanise support with proposals to sign Manchester City stars Erling Haaland and Rodri, while outlining plans to transform Valdebebas into a broader social and entertainment complex featuring a hotel, swimming pools, a gym and a 15,000-seat indoor arena.
A major point of contention during the campaign was Perez’s proposal to create a subsidiary structure that could allow external investors to acquire a stake of around five per cent in the club. Riquelme strongly opposed the idea, arguing it risked undermining Real Madrid’s traditional member-owned model.
Perez has repeatedly insisted that the club’s ownership structure would remain unchanged and that members would continue to retain control over key decisions. Any modification to the club’s statutes would require approval at an extraordinary general meeting.
Real Madrid remains one of the most valuable sports organisations in the world, reporting revenue of 1.19 billion euros during the 2024-25 season. Forbes recently valued the club at $6.75 billion, the highest figure in global football.
(With agency inputs)