REAL MADRID
Will Florentino Pérez resign as Real Madrid president? How long has he been in charge and what have they won?
Rumours began circulating on Friday that the 76-year-old was planning to bring his second spell with Los Blancos to an end.
Speculation began circulating on Friday that Florentino Pérez was set to step down as president of Real Madrid and that the club would rename Real Madrid City, their world-class training complex, after him upon his departure. The LaLiga giants have, as a result, felt forced to respond in order to strenuously denying those rumours.
Real Madrid deny Florentino Pérez departure rumours
Los Blancos posted an official statement on their website addressing the fake news, which they say are “due to certain interests that have nothing to do with reality”.
The full statement reads as follows:
In response to a rumour that has surfaced on some social media claiming that president Florentino Pérez is allegedly considering stepping down as president of the club, Real Madrid C. F. wishes to state the following:
- These rumours are categorically false and are due to certain interests that have nothing to do with reality.
- And at the upcoming General Assembly of Representative Members of Real Madrid there will be no agenda item to discuss the name of Real Madrid City.
When did Pérez first became Real Madrid president?
Pérez, the chairman and CEO of Grupo ACS, is currently in his second spell as Real Madrid president, having first occupied the post between July 2000 and February 2006. His pledge to sign Luis Figo from Clásico rivals Barcelona ahead of the 2000/01 season was the key to him initially being elected and his first stint was synonymous with his “Galácticos” policy of recruiting one big-name player every summer (Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, David Beckham, Michael Owen, Robinho).
Galáticos flatter to deceive at the Bernabéu
However, squad imbalance prevented the team from reaching their potential and they won just two league titles and one Champions League in those six years (as well as two Spanish Super Cups, one Intercontinental Cup and one UEFA Super Cup). Pérez resigned in February 2006, claiming that the club needed fresh ideas and were headed in the wrong direction.
Ronaldo and Benzema spearhead Real Madrid resurgence
Pérez then returned as president by default in May 2009, being the only candidate who had the sufficient financial backing to run. His second spell has been considerably more impressive, with the arrivals of Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema during his first summer at the helm laying the foundations for long-term success.
In 14 years, Madrid may have won only four LaLiga titles but those have been accompanied by five Champions Leagues, five FIFA Club World Cups, four UEFA Super Cups, four Spanish Super Cups and three Copas del Rey.
What have Real Madrid won during Florentino Peréz’s two spells as president?
- 6 x LaLiga
- 6 x Champions League
- 5 x FIFA Club World Cup
- 5 x UEFA Super Cup
- 4 x Spanish Super Cup
- 3 x Copa del Rey
- 1 x Intercontinental Cup