Perez steps down as president of Real Madrid

In a move that he said was designed to capture the attention of underachieving players, Florentino Perez, 58, resigned as president of Primera Liga club. The club, recently selected the richest in the world, has been unable to translate its financial success to the field.

Perez helped usher in the period of financial success after taking over the club in 2000 and ushering his “galacticos” policy of buying some of the world’s best known and expensive stars. “We have a squad of great players,” said Perez, who was replaced by former club vice president Fernando Martin. “But some of them think they have a guaranteed place and that they are the best. They are confused.”

Under Perez, Real Madrid won the Champions League in 2002 and the Spanish Primera Liga in 2003. But the club failed to win anything last season and are currently in third place in its domestic league and facing the possibility of elimination in the Champions League by English club Arsenal. “We have constructed a squad made up of great players," Perez told a news conference. “But some of the players have clearly got mixed up and I want to capture their attention through my resignation so that they understand that all that matters is Real Madrid. I don't regret bringing the best players in the world to this club, but perhaps I wasn't able to make them understand the importance of their responsibilities, maybe I have educated them badly.”

Perez spent more than EUR 400 million on players such as England’s David Beckham, Portugal’s Luis Figo and Brazilians Ronaldo and Robinho. Real Madrid also spent more than EUR 90 million on reinforcements for this season. “This is the right time to go and I'm convinced it will bring about the change in direction Real Madrid needs,” Perez said.

Perez’s resignation has led to claims by his biographer, Juan Carlos Escudier, that it was Perez and even sportswear manufacturer Adidas that would decide team selections. He also said it was Perez who personally selected which players would be bought and sold. Escudier also claims that Beckham has a provision in his contract that says he must start every game unless he is injured, a stipulation that Escudier says was one of the reasons for the resignation of Jose Antonio Camacho as manager in 2004.

“From the time that the club won their first European Cup under his charge he thought he knew which players were best for the club,” Escudier said. “He thought he was the club’s best press officer and advisor too. I don’t know if he actually selected the teams but it doesn’t matter whether it was he or Adidas. It’s true that in some cases the team is selected by people other than the coach. In Beckham’s case there is a stipulation in his Adidas contract that states that he must play every game unless he is injured.” In total there have been six coaches in Perez’s reign and 17 new players purchased.

Real Madrid vice-president Fernando Fernandez Tapias has claimed that the most sensible course of action to take following Florentino Perez’s resignation is to call new elections. Fernando Martín has replaced Perez at the helm of the world’s richest club but Tapias believes that this can only be a temporary measure.

“Legally Fernando can be president until 2008 but I think the most advisable thing to do is to have new elections.” Tapias has been attempting to convince Perez to change his mind.

Source: euFootball.BIZ © Copyright 2006 - All rights reserved.