Florentino Pérez Wins Real Madrid’s First Contested Election in 20 Years — and Mourinho Is Coming Back

Real Madrid's most powerful man just got even more powerful. Florentino Pérez has been re-elected as Real Madrid president in the first contested presidential vote since 2006, brushing aside challenger…

By Reetam Bodhak

June 8, 2026

3 min read

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Real Madrid’s most powerful man just got even more powerful. Florentino Pérez has been re-elected as Real Madrid president in the first contested presidential vote since 2006, brushing aside challenger Enrique Riquelme to extend his reign at the Bernabéu — and wasting no time in teasing what comes next: José Mourinho.

Florentino Pérez Election Results

Detail	Info
Election Date	June 7, 2026
Winner	Florentino Pérez
Pérez Vote Share	~65–66%
Challenger	Enrique Riquelme (~34–35%)
Term Extended Until	2030
First Contested Vote Since	2006
Next Head Coach	José Mourinho (expected)

A Historic Vote — and a Dominant Win

Pérez secured 65% of the vote with 21,741 ballots, while Riquelme claimed 35% with 11,814 votes, according to the club’s electoral commission. The result was emphatic from start to finish. Pérez outperformed his rival in all 60 ballot boxes, leaving no room for doubt.

Since his return to power in 2009, Pérez had faced no opposition that met the necessary requirements to challenge him, leading to uncontested cycles in 2013, 2017, 2021, and 2025. This year’s contest required an active member vote — the first such instance in two decades.

Addressing supporters after the results, Pérez declared it was “the second-best result in the history of Real Madrid elections” and vowed the club would keep working to continue winning trophies.

Why He Called the Election in the First Place?

The vote took place after a two-week campaign which followed Pérez’s surprise decision to call elections, looking for a show of support from members after two seasons without a major trophy. It was a bold, calculated political move — and it paid off decisively.

Florentino Pérez, a civil engineer and chairman of the ACS Group, first took charge of Real Madrid in 2000, ushering in the iconic Galácticos era. During his presidency, Madrid have won seven Champions Leagues — most recently in 2022 and 2024 — and seven LaLiga titles. ESPN

Mourinho Is Back. Yes, Really.

The biggest subplot of this election? Pérez’s victory will pave the way for him to bring back Portuguese coach José Mourinho for a second stint at Madrid. Pérez specifically name-dropped Mourinho in his victory speech, calling him “a true Real Madrid fan” and the best head coach. The Special One’s return to the Bernabéu is now all but confirmed. ABC News Fanatik

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FAQs

Q: How long is Florentino Pérez’s new presidential term at Real Madrid?

Pérez’s re-election extends his presidency through 2030, giving him a full four-year mandate to reshape the club’s footballing direction.

Q: Will José Mourinho become Real Madrid’s manager after the 2026 election?

Yes — Pérez confirmed Mourinho as his choice for head coach in his victory speech, with the Portuguese manager set for a second spell at the Bernabéu.