Florentino Pérez Surpasses Santiago Bernabéu in Coaching Changes at Real Madrid

Florentino Pérez has now surpassed Santiago Bernabéu as the president of Real Madrid with the most frequent changes in coaching staff. The historic president, after whom the club’s stadium is named, changed coaches 16 times during his 34-season tenure. Álvaro Arbeloa will be the 17th coach to take over the position, succeeding Xabi Alonso. In contrast to Bernabéu’s lengthy presidency, Pérez has served for a total of 22 and a half seasons across two terms.

Legend has it that Santiago Bernabéu adhered to the principle that Real Madrid would not dismiss coaches prematurely; they would only leave if they resigned. However, this is not entirely accurate, as during his 34 years in charge, Miguel Muñoz held the position for a significant 14 years (1960-1974), while many others, such as Miljanic, Fleitas, and Enrique Fernández, faced dismissals. Other coaches under Bernabéu included Ramón Encinas, Jacinto Quincoces, Baltasar Albéniz (across two terms), Michael Keeping, Héctor Scarone, Juan Antonio Ipiña, José Villalonga, Luis Carniglia, Manuel Fleitas Solich, and Luis Molowny (who served in two terms).

In his 23 seasons, Pérez has appointed a total of 15 coaches, some of whom served multiple terms. During his first term (2000-2006), he had six different coaches. Notably, Vicente del Bosque was the only coach in the first three seasons, but from 2003 to 2006, the position changed hands multiple times, with Carlos Queiroz, José Antonio Camacho, Mariano García Remón, Vanderley Luxemburgo, and Juan Ramón López Caro all taking turns.

In his second term (2009-2026), eight coaches have filled the managerial role, with some returning for additional tenures. Manuel Pellegrini, José Mourinho, Carlo Ancelotti, and Zinedine Zidane all managed full seasons, while Rafael Benítez and Julen Lopetegui did not. Following Lopetegui’s departure, Santiago Solari took the reins, and subsequently, Zidane and Ancelotti returned for their second terms. Currently, Xabi Alonso is on the bench, with Álvaro Arbeloa poised to follow, bringing the total to 15 coaches and 17 changes.

The period of greatest instability in terms of coaching at Real Madrid occurred during Lorenzo Sanz’s presidency. From 1995 to 2000, the managerial position saw a flurry of changes, with Jorge Valdano, Vicente del Bosque, Arsenio Iglesias, Fabio Capello, Jupp Heynckes, José Antonio Camacho, Guus Hiddink, John Benjamin Toshack, and once again Vicente del Bosque all taking charge.

Ramón Mendoza also had a notably high turnover, employing nine different coaches in ten seasons, with three from 1985 to 1990 and six from 1990 to 1995.