Florentino Pérez: The story behind Real Madrid's iconic president

Florentino Pérez, the president of Real Madrid for over two decades, stands out as the Godfather of modern football, a key figure behind the sport. Heavily criticized by his rivals, yet adored by his followers. It is impossible to neglect his impact on modern football with jaw-dropping transfer moves, but where does Florentino Pérez come from, what is his story?

Born on March 8, 1947, in Madrid, Spain, Pérez was born into an affluent Spanish family. He went off to study at the Polytechnic University of Madrid where he would finish his engineering degree.

Pérez was a visionary with big ideas and a young engineer with an ambitious schedule. In 1972, young Pérez earned his seat as director of the Spanish Road Association!

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Florentino Pérez started to mingle with Spanish politics after the death of Francisco Franco. A new democratic era was born in Spain, a fresh start for the nation's political scene. He participated closely with the UCD democratic party, denominated as a centrist political party. He held positions in the Madrid city council and in the ministries of Transport and Agriculture.

Florentino Pérez tried to continue his political career in the Democratic Reformist Party promoted by Miquel Roca, but in 1986 this party suffered an overwhelming failure. They failed to obtain seats in parliament, so the enterprising engineer returned to business as usual and began expanding towards the construction industry.

A series of acquisitions, financial operations, and business mergers led Florentino Pérez to become president of ACS, one of the most powerful construction companies in Spain.

But his eyes were on Real Madrid. Football was a big part of his life and he had been raised as a 'Madridista'. He ran for president twice but lost to stronger candidates. Nevertheless, in 2000, he promised the Bernabeu if he were to be made president, he would orchestrate one of the most controversial transfers in Spanish football history, he was out to poach Luis Figo from FC Barcelona.

Once made president, Florentino Pérez went on to change some aspects of the club's culture. He coined it as the 'galactico' era, where the club began to push for big international signings to help grow the club locally and internationally. He grew obsessed with the concept of entertainment and felt Real Madrid had to adapt to the demands of modern-day football. One of those 'galatico' signings was David Beckham.

Florentino Pérez left Real Madrid for a few years but returned to re-impose his philosophy on the club: signings, business, and champagne football, of course, but without losing sight of the realities of modern-day football. A big club needs to think like a big company. A company that works and thinks like a family, keeping veteran players and those involved with the club very close.

The fact is that Florentino Pérez was never too fond of celebrity status. He would conduct his business behind the scenes. Pérez would pose with political figures but would never seek the spotlight.

In strictly private matters, it should be noted that he was married to Mari Ángeles Sandoval until he was widowed in 2012. He has three children, however, Real Madrid is his second family.

The fortune that Forbes has attributed to Florentino Pérez over the last few years has usually ranged between approximately 1.5 and 2 billion euros ($2.15 billion). ACS, the company he presides over, is listed on the IBEX and had a net profit of 1 billion euros in 2019.

Those who criticize Florentino Pérez have often suggested that he mixes the interests of Real Madrid with his own as a businessman. However, much like his predecessor and role model Santiago Bernabeu (president of Real Madrid in 1947), he refused to exploit the club's finances.

Pérez is also criticized for his wide sphere of influence in media and local politics.

However, the Super League project that he leads has shown that he does not always get a simple yes. At the time, leaders as powerful as Boris Johnson and Emmanuel Macron said no to this new idea of a Super League.

Nevertheless, Florentino Pérez is far from throwing in the towel. Ever since the idea of the Super League was introduced to FIFA, Pérez and his partners have faced some series opposition from UEFA. Time will tell...

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