Real Madrid is one of the most iconic football clubs around the world, with a fan following of more than 100 million worldwide it is also the most followed club, but how a club of this calibre is managed the biggest question arises "Who owns Real Madrid".
We all know that Real Madrid is also the best-run club as the pandemic seemingly did not affect Real Madrid at all, when other clubs were grappling to have financial stability, Real Madrid was signing players like Camavinga, and Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Well, let's find out who runs this club.
The Socios ownership structure of Real Madrid
Real Madrid operates under a unique ownership model known as the socios system.
Unlike many other football clubs that are privately owned, Real Madrid is a fan-owned institution.
The term "socios" refers to the club's members who have voting rights and play a crucial role in shaping the club's destiny.
Real Madrid had over 90,000 socios. Note* that number of socios can change
Here is the list of data on Real Madrid's earned revenue (estimated from 2000) which will help you better understand how much revenue is earned by broadcasting and other functions. There is no injection of singular figures.
Year | Total Revenue (in € millions) | Main Sources of Revenue |
2000 | €100 million | Sponsorships, matchday income, merchandise. |
2001 | €125 million | Sponsorships, TV broadcasting rights, merchandise, matchday revenue. |
2002 | €141 million | TV rights (Champions League), sponsorship, matchday revenue. |
2003 | €153 million | Broadcasting rights, sponsorship (Adidas, Audi), matchday revenue. |
2004 | €161 million | Sponsorship, broadcasting, matchday income (stadium ticket sales). |
2005 | €204 million | Sponsorship (Adidas, Audi), broadcasting rights (La Liga, Champions League), matchday income. |
2006 | €275 million | Broadcasting rights (La Liga & Champions League), sponsorship (Emirates, Adidas), merchandise. |
2007 | €292 million | TV broadcasting rights, sponsorship, merchandise sales. |
2008 | €352 million | Sponsorship (Emirates, Adidas), broadcasting (Champions League), merchandise. |
2009 | €400 million | Major sponsorship deals (Emirates), broadcasting rights (La Liga, Champions League), matchday income. |
2010 | €450 million | Broadcasting, sponsorships, matchday revenue (new season ticket deals). |
2011 | €480 million | Sponsorship (Emirates), broadcasting, matchday, player sales (Cristiano Ronaldo transfer). |
2012 | €510 million | Broadcast rights, sponsorship (Emirates, Audi), matchday income. |
2013 | €520 million | Sponsorship, TV broadcasting rights, merchandise sales, matchday revenue. |
2014 | €550 million | Broadcasting rights (Champions League, La Liga), sponsorships, matchday income. |
2015 | €620 million | Sponsorship (Adidas, Emirates), broadcasting, matchday income, player sales. |
2016 | €620 million | Sponsorship (Adidas, Emirates), broadcasting rights (Champions League), matchday income. |
2017 | €674 million | Sponsorships, broadcasting, matchday income, Champions League success. |
2018 | €750 million | Broadcasting rights, sponsorships, matchday revenue, Champions League success. |
2019 | €750 million | Broadcasting rights, sponsorship, matchday income, merchandise. |
2020 | €720 million | (COVID-19 impact, decreased matchday revenue) Sponsorships, broadcasting, and merchandise. |
2021 | €640 million | Broadcasting (La Liga, Champions League), sponsorships, merchandise. |
2022 | €714 million | Sponsorship (Adidas, Emirates), broadcasting, merchandise, matchday revenue. |
2023 | €720 million | Broadcasting, sponsorship, matchday income (stadium expansion), merchandise. |
The President Of Real Madrid
At the topmost is the Real Madrid president, Mr Florentino Perez, who oversees daily business and strategic decisions.
He also has absolute control over the appointment of staff and manager in particular, He fired Lopetegui, and Santiago Solari and again reappointed Zinedine Zidane in under one season in 2019. because they were not able to generate the expected results. That is the power he has over appointments
The president is elected by the socios and serves a four-year term. The individual holding this prestigious position wields significant influence, both within the club and on the global football stage.
Key Historical Figures who have a part in managing Real Madrid.
Over the years, Real Madrid has been synonymous with legendary figures, both on and off the pitch. One such influential personality was Santiago Bernabéu, the club president from 1943 to 1978.
Bernabéu's legacy extends beyond his presidency, as the club's stadium, the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, bears his name.
His leadership played a pivotal role in establishing Real Madrid as a football powerhouse.
Players like Alfredo Di Stefano, Roberto Carlos, and Ronaldo Nazario all remain key figures in the Real Madrid dressing room, these people operate now under the club and have an active role to play in the development of Real Madrid's youth academy.
One of the key noticeable figures right now is Raul who previously played for Madrid and now is the manager of Real Madrid's prestigious academy La Fabrica.
Here is the data chart to understand how much part Real Madrid's president as an owner has played in the club's finances
President | Years in Power | Key Contributions to Revenue |
Santiago Bernabéu | 1943–1978 | - Transformed Real Madrid into a global powerhouse. - Oversaw the building of the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium, which became a revenue-generating asset through matchday income. - Expanded broadcasting deals and international commercial activities. |
Luis de Carlos | 1978–1985 | - Presided during a period of financial stability. - Focused on promoting the club's image and attracting sponsorships, though revenue generation was still limited compared to modern times. |
Ramón Mendoza | 1985–1995 | - Played a role in the "Galácticos" era, which started under his leadership. - Improved matchday revenues with increased ticket prices and sponsorships. - Increased international brand recognition. |
Florentino Pérez | 2000–2006, 2009–present | - Revolutionized the club's commercial structure with the Galácticos strategy (signing global stars like Zinedine Zidane, Ronaldo, and David Beckham). - Secured major sponsorships with brands like Emirates, Adidas, and Audi, boosting commercial revenue. - Played a pivotal role in expanding Real Madrid’s global brand presence, leading to significant increases in broadcasting rights and merchandise sales. - Oversaw the renovation of Santiago Bernabéu to increase matchday revenue. |
José A. García | 2006–2009 | - Managed club finances during a period of transition. - Played a role in managing the financial challenges during the end of the Galácticos era. - Worked with Florentino Pérez on restructuring the club’s sponsorship deals. |
Vicente Boluda | 2009 (Interim) | - His short tenure didn’t result in major revenue-generating changes, as he was largely a caretaker during a time of financial restructuring. |
Florentino Pérez (second term) | 2009–present | - Continued the club's revenue growth with strategic deals, such as with Emirates and Adidas. - Played a key role in maintaining Real Madrid's position as one of the highest-earning football clubs globally. - Led the club through several Champions League victories, which increased broadcasting and commercial revenue. |
Florentino Pérez (Current) | 2021–present | - Continues to drive commercial revenue through sponsorship deals and global branding. - Focus on digital transformation and leveraging the renovated Santiago Bernabéu to maximize matchday revenue. - Actively involved in the controversial European Super League proposal, seeking new revenue streams for top clubs. |
Current Ownership Landscape:
Florentino Pérez served as the president of Real Madrid. Pérez, a prominent business tycoon, has been associated with the club for many years.
His leadership has seen Real Madrid secure numerous trophies, solidifying its status as one of the most successful football clubs globally. It is Florentino's second term serving as a Real Madrid president, previously he was famous for being the mastermind that orchestrated the historical transfer of Luis Figo from Barcelona.
In addition to Pérez, the Board of Directors, comprised of various professionals from diverse fields, collaborates to steer the club in the right direction.
Together, they navigate the complex challenges that come with managing a football institution of Real Madrid's stature.
Financial Considerations:
Real Madrid's financial strength is a result of its global fan base, lucrative sponsorship deals, and successful marketing strategies.
The club consistently ranks among the wealthiest football clubs globally, allowing it to attract top talent and invest in state-of-the-art facilities.
Not to mention Real Madrid is the most followed club in the world and has much more followers than Barcelona on Instagram. Real Madrid has successfully turned itself into a brand and this has been very positive for Real Madrid as the global fan following has increased
Conclusion:
The ownership structure of Real Madrid follows the historical path of tradition, democracy and business culture.
The socio system ensures that the fans have a choice and a voice in the club's affairs, while the president and board help navigate the challenges that bring with transfers, finance, marketing and many more.
As Real Madrid celebrates its illustrious history and looks towards a promising future, the ownership dynamics will undoubtedly continue to shape the destiny of this iconic football institution.
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