If Santiago Bernabéu Yeste built the foundation of Real Madrid's greatness, Florentino Pérez elevated the club to a level of commercial and sporting supremacy that no other football institution has matched. Across two presidential stints spanning over two decades, Pérez has overseen the signing of the world's biggest stars, the winning of seven Champions League titles, and the most ambitious stadium renovation in European history. His vision has transformed Real Madrid from a Spanish football giant into a global entertainment empire.
Florentino Pérez won the presidential election in July 2000 with a campaign promise that seemed impossible: he would sign Luis Figo from arch-rivals Barcelona. When he delivered on that promise within days of taking office — paying €62 million for the reigning Ballon d'Or winner — the football world realized that Pérez was a different kind of president.
The Galácticos strategy that followed was revolutionary: sign one global superstar every summer, combining sporting excellence with commercial power. The logic was simple — the world's best players generate the world's biggest shirt sales, sponsorship deals, and media attention.
The results were stunning. Real Madrid won the Champions League in 2002 (Zidane's volley), two La Liga titles, and became the richest club in world football — a status they've maintained almost continuously since.
However, the Galácticos approach had flaws. The emphasis on star signings came at the expense of defensive solidity and squad depth. After 2003, the team's performance declined, and Pérez resigned in February 2006 following a trophyless stretch.
Pérez returned to the presidency in June 2009 with an even more ambitious vision. His first acts were to sign Cristiano Ronaldo (€94M) and Kaká (€67M), launching what became known as Galácticos 2.0. But Pérez had learned from the mistakes of his first tenure — this time, there would be no neglect of the squad's overall balance.
🏆 Trophies won under Florentino Pérez's presidency: 7 Champions League titles (2002, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2022, 2024), multiple La Liga crowns, and 30+ total trophies.
The crowning achievement of Pérez's presidency is Real Madrid's unprecedented Champions League dominance. Under his watch, the club has won seven European Cups:
No other president in football history has overseen this many Champions League victories. Pérez's ability to hire the right managers (Ancelotti, Zidane), sign the right players (Ronaldo, Modric, Benzema, Bellingham), and maintain institutional stability during periods of change has been masterful.
Perhaps Pérez's most lasting legacy will be the €1.85 billion renovation of the Santiago Bernabéu. As a civil engineer and chairman of the construction group ACS, Pérez brought his professional expertise to bear on the most ambitious stadium project in European football history.
The renovated Bernabéu features:
The project was financed without public money — entirely through long-term loans backed by projected commercial revenues. This financial engineering (literally and figuratively) is pure Pérez: ambitious, calculated, and designed to ensure Real Madrid's supremacy for generations.
Pérez's financial management of Real Madrid has been remarkable. Under his presidency:
Pérez's most controversial initiative has been his role as the driving force behind the European Super League project. Announced in April 2021, the breakaway competition aimed to create a new elite European league featuring the continent's biggest clubs. While the initial announcement collapsed within 48 hours due to fierce backlash from fans, players, and governments, Pérez has continued to push the concept through legal channels — winning a significant ruling from the European Court of Justice in December 2023.
Whether one agrees with the Super League vision or not, it demonstrates Pérez's willingness to challenge established structures in pursuit of what he believes is best for Real Madrid and European club football's commercial future.
Real Madrid has had two truly transformative presidents. Santiago Bernabéu Yeste (1943-1978) built the club from the ruins of the Civil War into Europe's dominant force, constructing the stadium that bears his name and overseeing six European Cup victories. Florentino Pérez has taken that foundation and elevated it to unprecedented heights — seven Champions League titles, global commercial supremacy, and a stadium renovation that ensures the club's competitiveness for the next century.
Together, they account for 13 of Real Madrid's 15 Champions League titles. The club's success is inseparable from the vision and leadership of these two men.
As of 2026, Florentino Pérez continues to serve as Real Madrid's president. His legacy is already secure — seven Champions League titles, a transformed stadium, and a club valued at over €5 billion. But knowing Pérez, he won't stop until Real Madrid has achieved even more. His ambition, like the club he leads, seems to have no ceiling.
Track all the trophies won during Pérez's presidency on our live trophy counter.