Real Madrid CF: Enrique Riquelme runs for presidency, first challenger to Florentino Pérez since 2006

The electoral commission of Real Madrid CF (LALIGA EA Sports) has validated the candidacy of Enrique Riquelme, chairman and founder of Spanish group Cox (water and energy), for the club’s presidential election, the club announced on 24 May 2026.

He therefore fulfils all the requirements to stand for election, including the obligation to hold Spanish nationality, to have been a club member (socio) for at least 20 years and to provide financial guarantees equivalent to 15% of the last approved budget, i.e. €178m (turnover of €1.185bn in 2024-25 for Real Madrid).

Enrique Riquelme will challenge Florentino Pérez, president of Real Madrid from 2000 to 2006 and since 2009. Pérez had not faced an opponent since 2006 and his defeat to Ramón Calderón. He returned to the presidency in 2009 following Calderón’s resignation and subsequently stood unopposed in 2013, 2017, 2021 and 2025.

Re-elected until 2029, Florentino Pérez nevertheless announced on 12 May 2026 that he would call new elections. "I made this decision because an absurd situation has been created, driven by campaigns aimed at…