Florentino Pérez has secured another term as president of Real Madrid until 2030, using his election victory speech to deliver a powerful message about the club’s future ownership, independence and ambitions on the pitch.
Pérez has served as Real Madrid president for a total of 25 years across two separate terms. His first term lasted six years, and his second term is currently ongoing.
A timeline of his presidencies is as follows: First Term: July 2000 to February 2006; Second Term: June 2009 to the present.
This was detailed in a release on the club’s website on Sunday.
The Electoral Board announced that Pérez’s candidacy won 21,741 votes, representing 65% of ballots cast, defeating challenger Enrique Riquelme, who received 11,814 votes, or 35%.
But beyond the election result itself, Pérez framed the outcome as a mandate to defend the identity of one of world football’s most influential institutions, insisting that Real Madrid would remain under member ownership and independent of outside control.
“We have won the elections and will continue working to keep winning titles.
“We have won at all the polling stations and achieved the second-best result in the history of Real Madrid elections. The first was also achieved by us in 2004. It is an extraordinary result,” Pérez said after being re-elected until 2030.
The veteran president also revealed that nearly 1,000 mail-in votes had been annulled over procedural issues, despite being certified by a notary.
“And I must tell you that it could have been better because nearly a thousand mail-in votes were annulled, votes certified by a notary, due to procedural issues that we will appeal, as we believe we are in the right,” he said.
Pérez then shifted his focus to the broader significance of the election, portraying the process as evidence of the club’s democratic model at a time when ownership structures across elite football continue to evolve.
“Real Madrid has won.
“We have set an example to the world of democracy, transparency, and coexistence. We have shown that we are a big family, that we love Real Madrid, and that we are prepared for the future,” he declared.
In one of the most politically significant lines of his address, Pérez reiterated his commitment to preserving the club’s member-owned structure.
He stated, “With me as president, Real Madrid has been, is, and will always remain owned by its members.”
The statement is likely to resonate across world football, where many leading clubs are controlled by private investors, sovereign wealth funds or multinational ownership groups.
Pérez also sought to position Real Madrid as a club willing to confront major challenges while remaining faithful to its traditions.
“This is the Real Madrid we all want. An independent Real Madrid. A Real Madrid unafraid of challenges and obstacles,” he added.
Looking ahead, the president linked the club’s identity to both sporting and infrastructural ambitions.
He celebrated the transformation of the Santiago Bernabéu and pointed to a new era on the sporting side, highlighting the return of José Mourinho.
“We will continue to take pride in the Santiago Bernabéu stadium, the best stadium in the world. Proud to have the best players in the world, proud to welcome back one of the best coaches in the world, a madridista like José Mourinho.”
Pérez also set a clear competitive objective for the coming years.
“We will continue working so that Real Madrid keeps winning titles, and we will fight until the end to achieve the sixteenth European Cup.”
Seeking to bridge divisions after the contest, Pérez extended an olive branch to members who backed his opponent.
“We must stay united, driven by our passion for Real Madrid. To those who did not vote for me, I will do everything possible to address your concerns,” he concluded.
