Florentino Pérez facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Florentino Pérez
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Pérez in 2024
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| 15th and 18th President of Real Madrid | |
| Assumed office 1 June 2009 |
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| Preceded by | Vicente Boluda |
| In office 16 July 2000 – 27 February 2006 |
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| Preceded by | Lorenzo Sanz |
| Succeeded by | Fernando Martín Álvarez (unofficial) Ramón Calderón |
| Born |
Florentino Pérez Rodríguez
8 March 1947 Hortaleza, Madrid, Spain
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| Alma mater | Technical University of Madrid |
| Occupation | Businessman, civil engineer, sports club president |
| Known for |
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| Board member of | Chairman of ACS Group |
| Spouse(s) |
María Ángeles "Pitina" Sandoval Montero
(m. 1970; died 2012) |
| Children | 3 |
| Signature | |
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Florentino Pérez Rodríguez (born 8 March 1947) is a famous Spanish businessman. He is best known as the president of the football club Real Madrid. He also leads a large construction company called ACS Group.
Pérez started his career in business in 1971. He was also involved in politics from 1979 to 1986. He has served as Real Madrid's president during two periods: from 2000 to 2006, and again from 2009 until today. During his time, he has made Real Madrid one of the most successful sports clubs in the world.
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Florentino Pérez's Early Life and Career
Florentino Pérez studied to become a civil engineer at the Polytechnic University of Madrid. He first became involved in politics in 1979. He was a member of Madrid's city council for a few years.
Later, Pérez focused on his business career. In 1993, he became a vice chairman at OCP Construcciones. After a merger in 1997, he became the chairman of the new company, ACS Group. This company grew to become Spain's largest construction firm.
Leading Real Madrid: A Legacy of Success
First Term as President (2000-2006)
Florentino Pérez first ran for president of Real Madrid in 1995. He did not win that election. However, he tried again in 2000 and won with over 55% of the votes. He promised to solve the club's financial issues.
A key part of his campaign was promising to sign Luís Figo from rival club Barcelona. This promise helped him win the election. After becoming president, Pérez started a strategy known as the Galácticos policy. This meant bringing the world's best football players to Real Madrid every season.
Famous players like Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, and David Beckham joined the team. Initially, this strategy brought great success. Real Madrid won two Spanish championships and their ninth UEFA Champions League title. Pérez aimed to make the club financially strong and globally recognized.
However, after a few years, the team faced challenges. From the 2003-04 season to the 2005-06 season, Real Madrid did not win any major trophies. This led Pérez to resign from his position in February 2006.
Second Term as President (2009-Present)
Florentino Pérez returned as Real Madrid president in June 2009. He was the only candidate who met the requirements. He immediately restarted his Galácticos policy.
He brought in superstars like Kaká, Xabi Alonso, Karim Benzema, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo's transfer in 2009 broke the world record fee at the time. Later, Gareth Bale also joined in 2013, setting another world record.
Under Pérez's second term, Real Madrid achieved incredible success. The club won a record 7 Champions League titles during his presidency. This includes six titles between 2013 and 2024. Real Madrid also won many La Liga titles and other domestic cups.
Pérez is now the most successful president in Real Madrid's history. He has won 37 titles, surpassing the legendary Santiago Bernabéu. The club has also been recognized by Forbes as the most valuable sports club globally.
Santiago Bernabéu Stadium Renovation
In 2019, Pérez announced plans to renovate the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium. The new stadium features a retractable roof and an LED system. It also includes new commercial, leisure, and restaurant areas.
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The renovation project aimed to make the stadium a top tourist destination. It also sought to host major events in Europe. The new features were unveiled during the 2023-24 season. The stadium is now a modern and impressive landmark.
Recent Elections and Future Plans
In January 2025, Pérez was re-elected as the club's president until 2029. However, after this re-election, Real Madrid did not win any championships. This led to calls for early elections, which were held in June 2026.
Pérez was re-elected again in June 2026, defeating Enrique Riquelme. He will serve as president until 2030. He has pledged to continue striving for Real Madrid's sixteenth European Cup. He also welcomed the return of José Mourinho as head coach.
The European Super League Idea
In April 2021, Florentino Pérez was named the first chairman of the European Super League. This was a proposed new football competition. It aimed to involve some of Europe's biggest football clubs.
Pérez believed the Super League would offer higher-quality matches. He also thought it would bring more money to football. This money would help support the sport at all levels.
However, the announcement of the Super League faced huge opposition. Fans, players, managers, and governments strongly disagreed with the idea. Many worried it would make domestic leagues less important. They also feared it would reduce fair competition.
Due to this widespread opposition, most of the clubs involved decided to withdraw. The Super League project was then suspended just three days after its announcement. Pérez stated that the project was only on standby. He hoped to work with football authorities to make a version of it happen in the future.
In December 2023, a European court ruled on the Super League. The court stated that FIFA and UEFA's rules about new competitions violated EU law. This decision supported the idea that clubs could explore new competition formats.
Personal Life
Florentino Pérez married María de los Ángeles Sandoval Montero in 1970. They had three children: Eduardo, Florentino, and María Ángeles. His wife passed away in 2012.
In February 2021, Pérez tested positive for COVID-19. However, he did not experience any symptoms.
Honours
- Football:
- La Liga:
- 2000–01, 2002–03, 2011–12, 2016–17, 2019–20, 2021–22, 2023–24
- Copa del Rey:
- 2010–11, 2013–14, 2022–23
- Supercopa de España:
- 2001, 2003, 2012, 2017, 2020, 2022, 2024
- UEFA Champions League:
- UEFA Super Cup:
- 2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2022, 2024
- Intercontinental Cup:
- 2002
- FIFA Club World Cup:
- 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022
- FIFA Intercontinental Cup:
- 2024
- La Liga:
- Basketball:
- Liga ACB:
- 2004–05, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2021–22, 2023–24, 2024–25
- Copa del Rey de Baloncesto:
- 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2020, 2024
- Supercopa de España de Baloncesto:
- 2012, 2013, 2014, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023
- EuroLeague:
- 2014–15, 2017–18, 2022–23
- FIBA Intercontinental Cup:
- 2015
- Liga ACB:
Awards
Grand Cross of the Order of the Second of May (2011)- Golden Foot Prestige: 2022
- Special Career Award: 2024
See also
In Spanish: Florentino Pérez para niños
