June 30 - Following are short biographies of the
five candidates standing in Sunday's election for the Real
Madrid presidency:
ARTURO BALDASANO
Aged 60, lawyer and economist
Slogan: "Bring back the excitement"
Background: Has cast himself as an independent candidate
because he is the only one never to have been on the Real board.
Only gained 1.7 percent of the vote when he stood against Perez
in 2004.
Plans: Has said he has an agreement with England's
Sven-Goran Eriksson to take charge as coach and that he will
appoint Vicente Del Bosque as sports director supported by
former Germany international and Real player Uli Stielike.
Wants to bring more Spanish players into the side.
Possible signings: Joaquin (Real Betis), Jose Antonio Reyes,
Cesc Fabregas (both Arsenal), Mahamadou Diarra (Olympique Lyon).
RAMON CALDERON
Aged 55, lawyer
Slogan: "Follow your instincts"
Background: Board member under Perez and Fernando Martin.
Plans: On the board the last four years, he says he has
inside knowledge as to where things went wrong, and therefore
what to put right. Has promised not to interfere in the signing
of players.
Will appoint former player Predrag Mijatovic, who scored the
winner for Real in the 1998 European Cup final, as sporting
director and has spoken of bringing Fabio Capello back as coach.
Possible signings: Kaka (AC Milan), Arjen Robben (Chelsea).
JUAN PALACIOS
Aged 58, president of multi-national watch and jewellery
business
Slogan: "What would you like to win?"
Background: A board member under former president Mendoza
and vice-president under Lorenzo Sanz.
Plans: Looking to Real Madrid old boys to turn things round.
Will appoint former Spain and Real boss Jose Antonio Camacho as
sports director and Del Bosque as coach.
Has announced a deal to sponsor Formula One world champion
Fernando Alonso.
Possible signings: Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Gianluca Zambrotta
(both Juventus), Andres Iniesta (Barcelona).
LORENZO SANZ
Aged 63, property speculator
Slogan: "And now let's talk about football"
Background: Club president between 1995 and 2000 when Real
won a league title and two European Cups.
Was accused of leading the club to the brink of financial
ruin and was ousted by Florentino Perez in the 2000 election.
Failed in his bid to regain control of the club when he was
heavily defeated by Perez in 2004.
Plans: Highly critical of the Perez era and the David
Beckham signing and claims the club's finances are in disarray.
Promises to make sporting success the club's main objective and
to balance the books.
Has an agreement with Vicente del Bosque to return as coach.
Possible signings: Michael Carrick (Tottenham Hotspur),
Fernando Gago (Boca Juniors), Zambrotta, Emerson (both
Juventus), Khalid Boulahrouz (Hamburg SV)
JUAN MIGUEL VILLAR MIR
Aged 74, construction magnate
Slogan: "Fighting spirit and hunger for victory."
Background: A trained engineer and politician. A
vice-president under the late president Ramon Mendoza. Seen by
many as the continuity candidate with links to Perez.
Plans: Will have former world rally champion Carlos Sainz as
his vice-president. Wants to appoint Arsene Wenger as a general
manager/coach with the power to sign players.
Possible signings: Cristiano Ronaldo (Manchester United),
Fabregas, Reyes.