Pérez, 79, has been Real Madrid president since 2009, having previously served between 2000 and 2006.
By Kehinde Okeowo
Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has been re-elected by the La Liga club in the first contested presidential vote since 2006, defeating 37-year-old businessman Enrique Riquelme.
The construction magnate proclaimed his victory on Sunday during a speech at a hotel near the Bernabéu stadium.
Pérez secured 65 per cent of the vote with 21,741 ballots, while Riquelme claimed 35 per cent with 11,814 votes, the club’s electoral commission announced.
Speaking after winning the election, the 79-year-old football administrator thanked the voters, saying, “It’s a beautiful day for me and for all Madridistas.”
He went on to say the Spanish outfit had shown how democracy should be practised, while promising to take the club to greater heights.
“We’ve obtained the second-best result in the history of Real Madrid [elections],” Pérez said. “It’s an extraordinary result… Today, Real Madrid won. We’ve shown an example of democracy to the world. We’ll keep working for Real Madrid to keep winning trophies… I want to thank everyone who participated. Together, we have a lot of history left to make.”
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Meanwhile, his rival candidate, Riquelme, congratulated him during a speech outside his campaign headquarters.
He said, “I want to congratulate Florentino Pérez’s candidacy on the victory.
“I also want to thank all the members who listened, and knew the importance of voting after 20 years, with our red line being against the sale of the club… We know that Real Madrid isn’t for sale.”
Pérez has been Real Madrid president since 2009, and previously held the role between 2000 and 2006. During his presidency, Madrid have won seven Champions Leagues — most recently in 2022 and 2024 — and seven La Liga titles.
Sunday’s vote took place after a two-week campaign which followed Pérez’s surprise decision to call elections, seeking a show of support from members after two seasons without a major trophy.
