Florentino Perez is a Spanish sports figure and investor. In 2017 he was named the best CEO in Spain. Known to the general public for his work with the Real Madrid football club.
Biography and early career
The future entrepreneur was born in March 1947 on the eighth in the Spanish capital - Madrid. After graduation, he entered the local polytechnic institute, which he graduated with honors with the specialty "engineer for roads and ports." In the seventies he received a post in the administration of Madrid. Acting Director General of the Spanish Roads Association. He was also engaged in ecology as part of the administration of the capital.
In the eighties, Florentino was already confidently heading the Ministry of Tourism, Communications and Transport. Later he served as vice president of the ministry in charge of industry and agriculture. In 1991 he joined the board of directors of a large local construction company. The following year, he reached the presidency of the construction company OCISA, becoming one of the company's largest investors. From 1993 to 1997, he managed a construction company OSR.
In 1997, OCP and another construction company, Gines Navarro, merged their assets and received a common new name - ACP. Perez was appointed CEO of the new company, for which he was awarded the prestigious annual Spanish award "Best Entrepreneur" from the prestigious magazine "Economics News".
In 2003, Perez's company acquired Grupo Dagrados and became a leading structure in the construction industry in Spain. By 2017, Florentino held in his hands more than 12 percent of the shares of this company.
In 2018, Forbes Spain magazine estimated the fortune of an influential businessman at two billion dollars, and with this capital, Florentino Perez took the 16th position in the list of the richest people in Spain.
Real Madrid
Perez made his first attempt to lead one of the best clubs in Europe in 1995. He announced his candidacy for the presidency of the club, but lost with a wide gap to the current functionary Ramon Mendoza.
Perez took the next approach to the coveted position in 2000, and this time he was successful. Despite the high results and an abundance of trophies for the club (victories in the Champions League in 1998 and 2000), the current president looked less attractive against the background of Florentino's statement: in case of a victory, he promised to lure the leading player and world-class star Luis Figo from the Barcelona camp.
Four years later, he was easily re-elected for a new term. Until 2006, Real Madrid led an active and very aggressive campaign to buy up star players, David Beckham, Robinho, Michael Owen, Zidane and Ronaldo joined the cream during this period. In early 2006, the football team was overtaken by a series of major defeats, and the president resigned.
In 2009, he returned to the post, being the only candidate for this post. Perez, in his usual manner, once again excited the transfer market and made two amazing acquisitions: Cristiano Ronaldo moved from Manchester to creamy, and Kaka came from Inter.
Today, Perez is still the current president of the famous football club Real Madrid.
Personal life and family
The famous entrepreneur was married and also has three children. All his life, his wife Maria was by his side, Peres's loyal and reliable support in all his affairs. In 2012, Maria Sandoval passed away, and since then Florentino has lived alone, finding solace in her children and grandchildren.
