Spanish businessman Florentino Pérez, who stood down as president of Real Madrid in 2006, has confirmed his candidature for the position for a second time.
Pérez runs ACS, one of Europe's largest construction conglomerates. Ramón Calderón was forced to resign the post in January following allegations of vote-rigging for the confirmation for the financial budget, with Vicente Boluda assuming the position of caretaker president since then.
Pérez is best known as the ‘father of the galácticos’ – the man who brought to football world stars such as Zinedine Zidane, Luis Figo, Ronaldo, Michael Owen and David Beckham to the Bernabéu.
"I am returning with more enthusiasm than when I first stood in 2000. I return with more ideas, more strength and more passion than ever," Perez told a news conference at the Ritz hotel in Madrid. "We are working on a spectacular sporting project but I am not going to give details just now until the election officially opens."
Pérez stepped down after Real Madrid had not won a trophy in four years, and added yesterday that he “should not have left without having assured that there was the stability that Real Madrid needed.”
The elections will open on May 31 and a decision will be made in Madrid on 14 June.
