Florentino Perez has been re-elected president of Real Madrid, securing the role until 2030 after winning the club's first contested presidential election in 20 years. According to official results released by the club's Electoral Board in the early hours of Monday, 9 June, Perez captured 65 per cent of all votes counted — the second-best result in the history of Real Madrid elections.

Election Results in Detail

A total of 33,555 member-owners (socios) cast ballots through in-person and mail-in voting at the Real Madrid City Basketball Pavilion on Sunday. Perez's candidacy received 21,741 votes, while his challenger — 37-year-old renewable energy entrepreneur Enrique Riquelme — secured 11,814 votes, representing 35 per cent of the electorate. Riquelme's showing was described as a resilient campaign for a first-time contender against an incumbent of Perez's stature.

The Electoral Board confirmed the outcome in a formal statement: 'The Electoral Board of Real Madrid announces that, with 100% of the in-person and mail-in votes counted, the candidacy led by Mr. Florentino Perez has won the elections for president and the Board of Directors of Real Madrid. This candidacy received 21,741 votes, representing 65 per cent. The candidacy led by Mr. Enrique Riquelme received 11,814 votes, representing 35 percent.'

Perez Addresses Supporters After Victory

Speaking after his re-election, the 79-year-old president struck a triumphant tone. 'We have won the elections and will continue working to keep winning titles. We have won at all the polling stations and achieved the second-best result in the history of Real Madrid elections. We also achieved the first in 2004,' Perez said.

He also flagged a dispute over approximately 1,000 mail-in votes that were annulled on procedural grounds despite being certified by a notary. 'It could have been better because nearly a thousand mail-in votes were annulled... due to procedural issues that we will appeal, as we believe we are in the right,' he added. Had those votes been counted, Perez's margin would have been even wider.

Jose Mourinho Set for Formal Announcement

Perez's victory clears the path for Jose Mourinho to be formally unveiled as Real Madrid's new manager, reportedly as early as Monday. The club is set to pay Benfica a release fee of €15 million for the Portuguese coach. Mourinho's appointment had been a central campaign pledge by Perez, who argued the 61-year-old's winning pedigree makes him the right man to restore Madrid's competitive edge.

Notably, this would mark Mourinho's second stint at the Santiago Bernabeu. His first tenure, spanning three seasons, yielded one La Liga title, one Copa del Rey, and one Spanish Super Cup — a period during which the club was widely seen as playing second fiddle to Pep Guardiola's FC Barcelona. That era was also marked by increasingly strained relations between the two clubs and their players, a dynamic that observers have linked to Spain's early exit from the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Significance of the Vote

The election was the first contested presidential race at Real Madrid in two decades, making it a landmark moment in the club's governance history. Previous elections had gone uncontested, with Perez running unopposed. Riquelme's decision to challenge the incumbent injected rare democratic energy into a club accustomed to consensus. The high turnout of over 33,000 socios underscores the membership's engagement at a critical juncture for one of world football's most storied institutions.

With Perez confirmed for another term through 2030 and Mourinho's managerial appointment imminent, Real Madrid enters a new chapter — one that will be judged by silverware.