Real Madrid appointed Florentino Pérez as the club president on July 17, 2000. The Spanish businessman has been at the club for 25 years now, and there have been massive changes and improvements in the team in terms of finances, trophies, and team reputation.
Florentino Pérez became Real Madrid‘s club president after defeating Lorenzo Sanz at the polls. The election was called by Sanz after winning two Champions League titles in just three years. Out of the 29,711 members who cast their votes, 16,469 were in favor of Perez, and only 13,302 supported Sanz.
Since Florentino Pérez took over as the club president, he has transformed and modernized the club’s structure, turning it into what Forbes has described as “the most valuable sports club in the world.” Two of the most iconic changes from these 25 years are the creation of Real Madrid City in Valdebebas and the renovation of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.
The Florentino Pérez effect in Madrid
But reaching that point required action. When Pérez first assumed the presidency, the club was burdened by a debt of around €277 million (roughly $295 million at the time). His biggest electoral promise was the signing of Luis Figo, a move that instantly began generating revenue for the club.
It also ushered in the Galácticos era: following Figo came Zidane, Ronaldo Nazário and Beckham. Madrid made a dramatic leap in status, but in February 2006, Pérez stepped down with a striking admission: “I’ve spoiled the players and they’ve lost their way.”
Barely three years later, in 2009, Florentino Pérez returned to the Real Madrid presidency. With headline-grabbing signings like Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Kaká and Xabi Alonso – and managers such as Mourinho, Ancelotti and Zidane – the club returned to its winning ways.
Under his leadership, Real Madrid has won 66 trophies: 37 in football (including seven European Cups – six of them in just 11 years – seven Club World Cups, six UEFA Super Cups, seven La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey wins and seven Spanish Super Cups) and 29 in basketball (three European Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, nine league titles, seven Copa del Reys and nine Spanish Super Cups).
And the winning cycle shows no signs of slowing. The club recently replaced the head coaches of its four most important teams – the first and second men’s football teams, the women’s team, and the basketball squad – in an effort to refresh momentum and solidify its culture of victory.
