Florentino Pérez has called a snap election at Real Madrid, and suddenly the club's unique presidential system is in the global spotlight. After a second consecutive trophyless season, the timing couldn't be more dramatic. Here's everything you need to know about how one of football's most powerful clubs chooses its leader.
Forget billionaires, consortiums, or state funds. Real Madrid belongs to its roughly 100,000 members—the socios who pay annual dues and, in theory, hold the ultimate authority over the club's direction. This founding principle, which Pérez himself repeatedly emphasized in his recent press conference, shapes the entire electoral process. The president governs on behalf of the membership, not in place of it.
Elections are held every four years, but the cycle begins when the sitting president convenes a board of directors meeting to formally trigger the process. Under Article 38, paragraph B of the club's articles of association, the president requests that the Electoral Board initiate the procedure for convening elections for both president and board of directors. Candidates then have a fixed window—typically around 10 days—to submit their candidacy papers. If only one candidacy is presented, the Electoral Board proclaims that slate without a vote taking place.
The Electoral Board itself is a special body of the club, responsible for establishing and monitoring compliance with the regulations that govern any electoral process. It functions independently from the club, and its five members are proposed by the board in a General Assembly and ratified every four years. For each cycle, the Electoral Board publishes specific rules covering candidacy windows, appeal deadlines, and voting logistics.
The requirements to run are deliberately demanding. A candidate must have been a Real Madrid member for at least 20 years and must provide a bank guarantee—backed by their own personal wealth—worth at least 15% of the club's annual budget. With Real Madrid's budget now exceeding €1 billion, that financial barrier alone ensures only serious contenders step forward. For fans watching from home, this is the ultimate test of passion, loyalty, and deep pockets. And for those looking to show their support, wearing the club's colors has never felt more meaningful.