25 YEARS ON: HOW PÉREZ TRANSFORMED REAL MADRID, THE WORLD’S BIGGEST CLUB. (PHOTO).

 25 years on: how Pérez transformed Real Madrid, the world’s biggest club

Five decades at the head of Real Madrid. Or put another way, 25 years dedicated to running the best team in the world – with the exception of a temporary break between February 2006 and June 2009.

On July 17, 2000, Florentino Pérez officially took over as president of Real Madrid. The day before, he had defeated Lorenzo Sanz at the polls. Sanz had called the elections after winning two Champions League titles in just three years. Of the 29,711 club members who voted, 16,469 backed Florentino, while 13,302 supported Sanz.

Since then, Pérez has led a deep transformation that has modernized every aspect of the club’s structure, turning it into what Forbes has described as “the most valuable sports club in the world.” Two of the most iconic changes from these 25 years are the creation of Real Madrid City in Valdebebas and the renovation of the Santiago Bernabéu stadium.

The Florentino Pérez effect in Madrid

But reaching that point required action. When Pérez first assumed the presidency, the club was burdened by a debt of around €277 million (roughly $295 million at the time). His biggest electoral promise was the signing of Luis Figo – a move that instantly began generating revenue for the club.

It also ushered in the Galácticos era: following Figo came Zidane, Ronaldo Nazário and Beckham. Madrid made a dramatic leap in status, but in February 2006, Pérez stepped down with a striking admission: “I’ve spoiled the players and they’ve lost their way.”

Barely three years later, in 2009, Pérez returned to the Real Madrid presidency. With headline-grabbing signings like Cristiano Ronaldo, Benzema, Kaká and Xabi Alonso – and managers such as Mourinho, Ancelotti and Zidane – the club returned to its winning ways.

Under his leadership, Real Madrid has won 66 trophies: 37 in football (including seven European Cups – six of them in just 11 years – seven Club World Cups, six UEFA Super Cups, seven La Liga titles, three Copa del Rey wins and seven Spanish Super Cups) and 29 in basketball (three European Cups, one Intercontinental Cup, nine league titles, seven Copa del Reys and nine Spanish Super Cups).

And the winning cycle shows no signs of slowing. The club recently replaced the head coaches of its four most important teams – the first and second men’s football teams, the women’s team, and the basketball squad – in an effort to refresh momentum and solidify its culture of victory.