Who is Enrique Riquelme - and is he delaying Jose Mourinho's appointment at Real Madrid? Presidential elections explained

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Real Madrid will soon hold an election between incumbent Florentino Perez and his rival for the position, billionaire Enrique Riquelme. Here is everything you need to know.

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The election is the first time that Perez has been opposed in more than a decade, and comes after a season without a Liga or UEFA Champions League title.

Madrid fans also had to contend with the mid-season dismissal of manager Xabi Alonso, who was replaced, temporarily, by Alvaro Arbeloa.

With Jose Mourinho yet to officially join the club as their new manager from Benfica, this election throws into some doubt how the club will proceed should Perez be deposed.

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Why are there presidential elections at Real Madrid?

The club is not privately owned. Instead, it is a sports association owned entirely by its socios - the club’s official members, totalling around 100,000.

Because of this democratic structure, a democratic vote must be called every four years to elect the president and board of directors.

While Florentino Perez has routinely run unopposed in recent electoral cycles, any eligible member who meets the club's criteria has the right to trigger a democratic ballot by submitting a formal candidacy.

These criteria include a consecutive 20-year membership requirement, and the ability to personally guarantee 15% of the club's annual budget, which equates to roughly €187 million (£161m).

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When are the Real Madrid elections?

The formal election process started on May 14 this year, with a 10-day window closing on May 23 for candidates to make their applications.

As Riquelme successfully had his candidacy ratified at the deadline, a simple re-election for Perez is not possible.

Club statutes dictate that when multiple candidates are formally registered, voting must be scheduled within the next 15 days. Consequently, the official election day is expected on Sunday, June 7, though it could feasibly take place before then.

Who is Enrique Riquelme?

Riquelme is a 37-year-old entrepreneur from Alicante. He is socio number 43,858, and a lifelong supporter of the club.

Professionally, Riquelme is the founder and executive chair of the Cox Group, a massive water and renewable energy conglomerate with a market valuation exceeding €1 billion, and widespread operations across Spain and Central America.

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Well-connected within the sporting world, Riquelme has a close personal relationship with tennis icon and fellow Madridista Rafael Nadal.

He officially launched his campaigning efforts over the weekend, making a public appearance at the Bernabeu for Madrid's final game of the season, against Athletic Bilbao.

What has Riquelme said about transfers?

Riquelme has kept his cards close to his chest regarding specific marquee signings - and his choice for manager. When swarmed by fans and reporters over the weekend, he remained tight-lipped, avoiding any bold Galactico promises - or managerial names.

In an interview with Marca, Riquelme emphasised that his campaign is not built on being against anyone, even calling Perez the best president the club has ever had.

In the interview, he suggested the club needs a prominent group of homegrown players. He also wants a sporting director to oversee some areas of the club.

While he notes that, under his leadership, some things will be similar and others very different, he has deliberately avoided using expansive transfer promises as electoral leverage.

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Why has Mourinho not been hired yet?

Mourinho’s highly-anticipated return is reportedly agreed - a two-year deal with a performance-based third-year extension - but the paperwork has hit a temporary administrative logjam due to Riquelme's last-minute entry.

Had Perez run unopposed, he would have been automatically re-elected on Sunday, May 24, clearing the way for Mourinho to be officially unveiled.

Now, because an active election is underway, the current board enters a transitional period.

While the current administration technically retains the legal authority to sign staff, making a significant, long-term sporting decision like hiring a manager before a presidential vote is considered highly risky and bad practice.

Florentino Perez speaks to journalists

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This delay has triggered a major financial complication regarding the release clause. Mourinho's specific exit clause at Benfica had a strict time limit.

Because the election has pushed the timeline back, that deadline has passed, and his release clause is believed to jump from €7m (£6m) to €15m (£13m).

Madrid will now have to pay double, or negotiate directly with Benfica's board once the election concludes.

How long has Perez been president?

Perez has served as the president of Real Madrid for a combined total of over 22 years across two distinct eras.

His first term ran from July 2000 to February 2006, which became famous as the original Galacticos era when the club signed players like Luis Figo, Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, and David Beckham, before his resignation.

His second term began in June 2009 and continues to the present day, marked by a return to power, a restart of marquee recruitment with players like Cristiano Ronaldo, Kaka, and Karim Benzema, and the establishment of a golden modern era of European dominance.

Perez is already the most decorated president in club history, having secured 37 major titles during his tenure, surpassing the legendary Santiago Bernabeu's haul of 32.

While he remains the heavy favourite to win the upcoming vote, Riquelme's bid marks the first time in 20 years that the club's members will actually cast physical ballots to decide their leader.

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