Spanish billionaire Florentino Pérez has been re-elected as Real Madrid president and will lead the club for another four-year term.
The vote marked the club’s first contested presidential election in 20 years, but Pérez still won comfortably despite a brief controversy over about 400 mail-in votes tied to his candidacy. His victory also appears to clear the way for José Mourinho’s return as head coach, after Pérez confirmed during the campaign that the Portuguese manager would take over if he won.
The president’s victory also carries immediate consequences for the team’s sporting project. During the campaign, Florentino Pérez confirmed that José Mourinho would become the new head coach of Real Madrid if he won the election, making the Portuguese manager’s return appear imminent.
His opponent, Enrique Riquelme, had stated that he would not appoint Mourinho, so the election result removes any uncertainty regarding who will take charge of the Madrid bench.
Polls conducted throughout election day had already pointed to a comfortable lead for Pérez, who entered the vote as the clear favourite. The final results confirmed that trend and allowed him to extend one of the most influential presidencies in modern football history.
Since his first arrival at the club in 2000, Pérez revolutionized the transfer market with the “Galácticos” project, bringing stars such as Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo Nazário and David Beckham to Real Madrid.
That strategy not only elevated the team’s level on the pitch but also transformed how major clubs approached the business side of football.
After stepping down in 2006 following a period of inconsistent results, Pérez returned to the presidency in 2009 and launched an even more successful second spell.
Under his leadership, Real Madrid captured multiple domestic and international titles, including several UEFA Champions League trophies, establishing itself as a dominant force in European football.
Beyond the sporting achievements, Pérez has also driven the club’s modernization. The renovation of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, growth in commercial revenue and the global expansion of the Real Madrid brand have strengthened the institution both on and off the field.