Real Madrid Owners: Los Blancos are arguably the biggest club in world football. However, they don’t have owners like Chelsea, Arsenal, Manchester United, Juventus Manchester City, etc. They have adopted a different structure regarding their ownership. Let’s have a look at the Real Madrid ownership.
Real Madrid Ownership: Who is the owner of Real Madrid?
In recent years we have seen Florentino Perez as the main man behind Los Blanco’s decisions. He is referred to as the President of the club. However, Florentino Perez is not the Real Madrid owner. Real Madrid’s ownership can be said to be similar to that of the functioning of a democracy.
The club is owned by its fans who have to pay an annual fee of 150 euros every year. The fans who pay this amount are known as socio or Madridistas. However, if a person has been a Madridsta for 50 years then the annual fees are waived. In other words, Los Blancos are a registered association of people.
It is these socio who elect the President and the Board of Directors who in turn run the club for them. Thus prominently it is Florentino Perez’s name that pops up when Real Madrid ownership is talked about. These socio are also given preference in the tickets for match days.
Who decides who will be socio?
In order to become a socio one has to apply for it by paying the required fees. Any Los Blancos fan from any part of the world can be a socio. Thus it can be said that any fan can be a Real Madrid owner. According to the 2020-21 annual report, Los Blancos currently have 91,071 socio at the club.
Out of these 91,071, there are 72,044 men and 19,657 who are women. However, from a practical perspective, it is very difficult to become a socio or a Real Madrid owner. This is because many people have applied to be a socio and they are still waiting to become a socio. Also, the socio membership cannot be transferred to anyone else.
Who can run for Presidency at Real Madrid and who elects the Los Blancos President?
While one might become the Real Madrid owner one will find it even more hard to become a President at Los Blancos. In order to be eligible to run for presidency one has to go through the Real Madrid statutes. The said statutes state that one has to be Spanish to be eligible to run for the presidency. If that is satisfied then it is seen whether the person has been a socio for twenty consecutive years or not.
If the above two criteria are fulfilled then there are financial requirements as well. Any person running for Presidency has to deposit a bank guarantee. The said bank guarantee has to be equivalent to 15% of the annual budget of the club for the year in which he runs for the Presidency. Currently, Florentino Perez has deposited a €124m bank guarantee.
After the nominations are finalized elections take place. The 91,000 members mentioned who can be said to be Real Madrid owners don’t directly decide who will be the President. There is a general assembly of 2000 representatives members who elect the President after nominations.
How are elections held at Real Madrid?
The 2000 representatives of the general assembly are also voted by the members. In order to be a representative at the general assembly one needs to be a member of the club for the past four years.
Also, the person wanting to be in the general assembly must get the support of three members as well. These members of the general assembly get exclusive rights to vote and speak during the general assembly at Real Madrid. While the whole election process is looked after by an electoral committee.
The Key Figures with respect to Real Madrid ownership?
Apart from Florentino Perez who is the President of the club, there are other key figures at the club as well. The electoral committee comprises of
Mr José María Paz Casañé acting as President, Mr. Luis Alejandro Huerta Calvo as a Board member, Mr. Lorenzo Álvarez Martín a Board member, Mr. Alfredo Revuelta de la Puente – a Board member and Mr. Juan Raúl Castellanos acting as Secretary.
On the other hand after Florentino Perez,
Fernando Fernandez Tapis is the 1st Vice President, Eduardo Fernandez De Blas is the 2nd Vice President, Pedro Lopez Jimenez is the 3rd Vice President, Enrique Sanchez Gonzalez is the Secretary, etc.
