Real Madrid have a problem, and no, it has nothing to do with Vinicius Jr or Kylian Mbappe, or Xabi Alonso. It’s regarding the guy who sits at the helm and pulls all the strings: Florentino Perez.
Florentino Perez himself is not the problem, but who will succeed him as the president is. He was re-elected as the president in January 2025 unopposed, such is the aura he carries.
Florentino Perez is the Godfather of Football, the Logan Roy if I could slide in a Succession parallel, and Real Madrid have to find the Michael Corleone or the Tom Wambsgans to succeed him, and that succession could define Real Madrid for the coming decades.
Who Will be Florentino Perez’s Successor?
Florentino Perez before Real Madrid
Florentino Perez is the most successful President in the history of Real Madrid. But very little is said about Florentino Perez before he became the president of Real Madrid.
Perez, like many of us, has been a Real Madrid fan since his childhood, but unlike many of us, Florentino Perez had a Real Madrid membership from a very young age, thanks to his father.
He watched almost every Real Madrid match at the Santiago Bernabeu. The guy has literally seen Real Madrid win all the silverware.
Florentino studied Civil Engineering, but he ventured into politics in the early stages of his career and later moved into the World of Business.
Pérez purchased a failing construction company, Padros SA, for only 1 Peseta and turned it into one of the most successful construction companies, which is now known as ACS Group.
After making a fortune as an entrepreneur, he set his sights on the Real Madrid Presidency.
First Tenuer
Florentino Perez first tried his luck in 1995; he came close but finished 2nd.
In 2000, he decided to try again. Real Madrid had just won the Champions League, and everyone assumed Lorenzo Sans would be re-elected as the president. But Perez highlighted the rising debt off the pitch, and he promised to sign Luis Figo, and he won.
We all know about the Luis Figo Saga and Perez’s Galacticos. Real Madrid were €300 Million in debt, and Perez was spending hundreds of Millions in buying the biggest names in Football, but there was method behind this madness.
Perez followed the sustainable economic model of Santiago Bernabeu. Bernabeu had assembled the Galácticos in the 50s to maximise Real Madrid’s Matchday revenues.
Florentino Perez realised that with the commercialisation of the sport, he had to maximise Real’s commercial revenue, and he did that by signing the best players in the world.
The guy was a visionary. Real Madrid was out of their debt, but the success off the field didn’t translate onto the pitch, and thus, in 2006, Florentino Perez resigned.
Second Tenuer
In 2009, Perez saw that the club that he had rebuilt was on the brink of collapse again, and he wouldn’t let that happen. He took over as the president in 2009 and never looked back.
The first thing Perez did was sign one of the greatest footballers of this generation, Cristiano Ronaldo and the Galacticos kept flowing in, but this time Trophies followed too.
First, with Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid ended the dominance of Barcelona in Spain, and they were constantly lurking around the much-awaited 10th UCL title.
Carlo Ancelotti came in and delivered the LA Decima, and the flood gates were open, Zidane took over and won a Three Peat of Champions League, and Real Madrid were back where they belonged; at the very top.
Real Madrid has won 6 Champions League titles, Multiple La Liga titles, have had multiple Ballon d’Or winners during this time, and has had an unprecedented dominance.
During the last 15 years, Real Madrid has gone through multiple transitions, a Global Pandemic and a Stadium Renovation, and has remained at the top both on and off the pitch.
Real Madrid has been the Forbes’ most valuable football team for the last 4 years and has become the football club to record a revenue of over $1 billion.
All of this wouldn’t be possible without Florentino Perez. The first thing he did when he took over as Real Madrid President was he clearly lay out Real Madrid’s Vision, Mission, and Values.
Florentino Perez is the most successful President in the history of Real Madrid 37 titles, including 7 Champions League titles.
But this could be his last tenure as the President, because let’s face it, he isn’t getting any younger; he will be 82 years old by the time his current tenure ends in 2029.
So who’s next?
Ever since Florentino Perez came back in 2009, he has been re-elected 4 times unopposed, so there aren’t many names in contention who could fill his shoes, I mean, those are big shoes to fill, but here are a few names who could possibly be in contention.
Rafael Nadal
As ludicrous as it sounds, Rafael Nadal has been one of the names that have been discussed in Madrid when it comes to the presidency. He has been a lifelong Madridista. He has a clean public image and commands massive respect in Spain.
Although he has been an honorary member of Real Madrid and has been invited by the club to many key events, the socios would still see him as an outsider, and taking over such a massive institution is highly unlikely.
Emilio Butragueno
Emilio Butragueno has all the qualities of Rafael Nadal, and he is a Madridista through and through. The Vulture has spent his life inside the club’s structure.
He was part of the La Quinta del Buitre, a former captain, vice president, and he is the head of PR for the club, ever present at all the major events.
He has spent a lot of time under Florentino Perez and has a lot of respect among the socio’s and has a long history with the badge.
Jose Angel Sanchez
Jose Angel Sanchez has been Florentino Perez’ right-hand man ever since he took over at Real Madrid. He is the architect of the Modern Real Madrid.
He handles the transfer strategy, wages, sponsorships, global partnerships, stadium financing, and commercial expansion. Every big deal goes through him first.
He knows how Real Madrid functions better than anyone, has the credentials, is valued highly by the inner circle and the socios, and it feels right to have the next in command to Perez succeed him in the future.
With that being said, none of these names gives you that 100% conviction that Florentino Perez gives, and that is exactly what I meant when I said Real Madrid has a Florentino Perez problem.
But in the end, it’s Real Madrid. For a Santiago Bernabeu, we had a Florentino Perez, and for a Florentino Perez, we will have someone else. It will be a very tough transition, but Real Madrid will still remain at the top of the mountain.
