Real Madrid

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez had lunch with the 100 oldest club members in the directors’ box in the Santiago Bernabéu stadium. The highest ranking Whites’ representative, who was accompanied by honorary president Alfredo di Stéfano and several members of the board, along with a large representation of former football and basketball players, thanked members for their loyalty, faithfulness and dedication throughout the years. It was a speech charged with emotion and memories in which they all expressed their confidence in the work that José Mourinho and the squad are doing and that it will bear fruit in the form of new titles.

The 100 Club, the oldest Real Madrid club members, convened this Friday in the directors’ box at the Santiago Bernabéu stadium to share an intimate lunch with club president Florentino Pérez. The highest ranking Whites’ representative, who on arrival went from table to table to thank the members for their loyalty, dedicated a few words to those present: "I want to thank you all, the club’s oldest members, for being here. It is also an important day as we celebrate this special event of our 110th anniversary and in this gathering of friends there are people who are over 80 years old and are a living history of the club. 110 years after its founding the club has a well established identity and it lives on through our members. You have passed on the club’s founding values better than anybody. We have an enormous responsibility to leave the team for future generations at least as good as we found it and live up to the name and help to continue Real Madrid’s legend."

Florentino Pérez concluded his speech by talking about Alfredo Di Stéfano: "60 years ago he had the 'audacity' to beat us in our own stadium, but he did it to stay with us forever. He changed the history of football and of Real Madrid." During the ceremony, each of those present were presented with their new membership card, a silver medal with their name and a copy of the book La Liga del 110. Finally the intimate gathering concluded with the traditional photo of the club’s 100 oldest members as an excellent reminder of the event.

Florentino Pérez was accompanied at the event by Eduardo Fernández de Blas, second vice president; Pedro López Jiménez, third vice president; Manuel Cerezo, board member; Manuel Redondo, director of the president’s office, Miguel Pardeza, director of football, Emilio Butragueño, director of institutional relations, and former football and basketball players such as Gento, Santamaría, Pachín, Pérez-Payá, Rullán, Luyk and Arlauckas amongst others.