Residents of the Alicante municipality say they are proud to see one of their own challenging for one of the most powerful positions in world football.
The Vega Baja town of Cox is watching the Real Madrid presidential race with unusual excitement, as local businessman Enrique Riquelme seeks to challenge Florentino Pérez for the leadership of the Spanish football giant.
Riquelme, born in Cox on January 9, 1989, has become a source of pride for the municipality, where residents speak warmly of his roots, his family and the ambition that has taken him from a small Alicante town to the heart of one of football’s biggest institutions.
In recent weeks, his candidacy has become the main topic of conversation in bars, cafés and public squares. Even those with little interest in football are following developments closely, while some Barcelona supporters in the town admit they are putting club rivalry aside to support a fellow local.
For many residents, the campaign is about more than football. It is about seeing the name of Cox carried onto an international stage.
“There is great joy in the town,” said Eva Guirante, one of many locals hoping Riquelme can bring change to Real Madrid. “Enrique is a wonderful person and he deserves the chance to show that great talent can come from a small town. We are behind him.”
That pride is closely tied to the Riquelme family’s long-standing reputation in Cox. In a town of around 7,000 inhabitants, family history and local relationships matter, and many residents say the Riquelmes have always been well regarded.
“I know his father, I knew his grandfather, and his grandmother is a friend of my wife,” said Vicente Bernabéu outside the Town Hall. “They are good people, a hardworking family, and they are very well liked here.”
Riquelme’s connection with Cox has remained visible despite his international business career. In 2022, he was chosen as the official speaker for the town’s patron saint festivities, a role seen locally as a sign of respect and recognition.
Residents say he has never forgotten where he came from, even as his career has taken him far beyond the Vega Baja.
“He was born here, and although he has been raised and educated in many places, he is still from Cox,” said locals Pascual Ramón and Antonio Manresa. “His parents and grandparents are from here too. If he became president of Real Madrid, we believe he would do a very good job.”
Supporters in the town describe Riquelme as intelligent, ambitious and capable of surrounding himself with strong advisers. Some believe his business background makes him a credible alternative to the current Real Madrid leadership.
“Enrique is capable of anything,” said Domingo Murcia. “He could be president of Real Madrid or even president of Spain. He has proved what he can do through his company.”
Others are more cautious, acknowledging that Florentino Pérez remains a formidable figure with a record of success and deep influence within the club. Some residents believe a strong showing would already be a victory for Riquelme, even if the presidency does not come this time.
“There are people who think 30 per cent of the vote would already be a success,” said José Francisco Sánchez, reflecting a more measured view among some locals.
Vicente Bernabéu also believes Riquelme’s moment may come, even if not immediately. “He will be president of Real Madrid one day,” he said. “Florentino will stay as long as he wants or can, but when the time comes, Enrique will do very well. He is very clever for his age.”
The campaign has also sparked a generational debate. Some residents argue that Real Madrid needs fresh leadership, new ideas and a younger profile at the top. Guirante was among those calling for change, saying the club needed “joy and youth” after years under the same leadership.
Whether Riquelme can overturn expectations remains uncertain. Real Madrid members are due to vote on Sunday at the Basketball Pavilion in Real Madrid City, where the contest will decide who leads the club for the next four years.
For Cox, however, the result is only part of the story. The town has already been drawn into the orbit of one of the most famous football clubs in the world, and residents are enjoying a rare moment in the national spotlight.
From the cafés to the town square, the message is clear: Enrique Riquelme may be taking on one of the biggest names in Spanish football, but back home in Cox, he has already won the pride of his people.
