What Happened to Florentino Pérez Rodríguez?

Florentino Pérez Rodríguez, born in 1947, has carved out a dual legacy as one of Spain's most influential businessmen and a transformative figure in global football. His career is primarily defined by his leadership of Grupo ACS, a multinational civil engineering and construction company, and his two impactful tenures as president of Real Madrid C.F.

Pérez first assumed the presidency of Real Madrid in July 2000, initiating the 'Galácticos' era, a strategy focused on signing global superstar players. This period, while generating immense commercial success and two La Liga titles and a Champions League, also faced criticism regarding squad balance, leading to his resignation in February 2006. He returned to the presidency in June 2009, ushering in another era of unprecedented success, marked by numerous domestic and international titles, including multiple UEFA Champions League trophies, and significant financial growth, making Real Madrid one of the world's most valuable sports clubs.

A pivotal, albeit controversial, chapter in Pérez's recent history was his role as the primary architect and chairman of the proposed European Super League in April 2021. This breakaway competition aimed to guarantee participation and financial stability for elite European clubs, but it faced immense backlash from fans, national leagues, UEFA, and FIFA, leading to the rapid withdrawal of most founding clubs. Despite initial defiance, the Super League project, with Real Madrid as its last remaining proponent after Barcelona's withdrawal, officially concluded on February 11, 2026, with an agreement of principles reached between Real Madrid, UEFA, and European Football Clubs to resolve legal disputes and focus on the well-being of European club football.

In his business endeavors, Pérez has continued to lead Grupo ACS with considerable success. The company reported historic financial results in 2025, with a 20% increase in sales volume to €50 billion and a 15% rise in net profit to €950 million. The first quarter of 2026 has shown continued strong performance, with a 21.5% increase in attributable net profit to €232 million, and the company projects to exceed €1 billion in net operating profit for the first time in 2026, largely driven by its strategic focus on digital infrastructure, particularly data centers in the US. This robust financial health has led to an announced 20% increase in dividends for 2026 and discussions about a potential share split.

As of May 12, 2026, Pérez's leadership at Real Madrid faced scrutiny following a trophyless 2025-2026 season, which included losing the La Liga title to Barcelona and reports of internal club tensions. Amidst rumors of his potential resignation, Pérez called an emergency press conference, firmly denying these claims and announcing that he would not step down. Instead, he declared his intention to call for new presidential elections, three years ahead of his mandate's scheduled end in 2029, and confirmed he would seek another term, attributing some of the negative speculation to a campaign against him. This move underscores his enduring commitment to the club and his proactive approach to reaffirming his mandate.