Florentino Perez, president of Real Madrid CF, attends an urgent press conference in Madrid, Spain, May 12, 2026. Florentino Perez on Tuesday announced new elections for the club presidency, less than a year and a half after he was re-elected in January 2025. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
MADRID, May 12 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid president Florentino Perez on Tuesday announced new elections for the club presidency, less than a year and a half after he was re-elected in January 2025.
The 79-year-old announced his decision at an urgent press conference called with less than three hours' notice at Real Madrid's Valdebebas training ground, following a meeting of the club's board of directors.
The decision to call elections comes at the end of a season in which Real Madrid failed to win a major title for the second consecutive year, with the club also surrounded by rumors over who will coach the first team next season as well as reports of disunity in the dressing room.
"I share the frustration because we haven't been able to win anything this year. But I have to tell you and show you that with me as president, we've won 66 titles in football and basketball, including seven Champions League titles in football," said Perez, who launched a furious attack on the Spanish sports press for carrying out a "campaign" against him.
"I've made this decision because an absurd situation has been created, provoked by campaigns against the interests of Real Madrid and against me."
"The results haven't been the best, but in sports, you don't always win. They're taking advantage of the situation to attack me personally," Perez said.
"I want to speak to those behind this campaign, those who operate in the shadows. Let them run in the elections; now they have the opportunity," he added.
Perez has had two spells as Real Madrid president, with the first lasting from 2000 to 2006 and including the 'Galacticos' era featuring players such as David Beckham, Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane and Ronaldo.
Perez's second spell began in May 2009 and has seen him run unopposed in the last five elections, with no other candidate able to meet the strict financial requirements. ■
Florentino Perez, president of Real Madrid CF, attends an urgent press conference in Madrid, Spain, May 12, 2026. Florentino Perez on Tuesday announced new elections for the club presidency, less than a year and a half after he was re-elected in January 2025. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
Florentino Perez, president of Real Madrid CF, attends an urgent press conference in Madrid, Spain, May 12, 2026. Florentino Perez on Tuesday announced new elections for the club presidency, less than a year and a half after he was re-elected in January 2025. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
Florentino Perez, president of Real Madrid CF, attends an urgent press conference in Madrid, Spain, May 12, 2026. Florentino Perez on Tuesday announced new elections for the club presidency, less than a year and a half after he was re-elected in January 2025. (Xinhua/Meng Dingbo)
