Real
Madrid

2000-2001 Season
 

Lorenzo Sanz tried to take advantage of the fans' euphoria afterFlorentino Pérez, new Real Madrid president lifting the Eighth European Cup by calling a presidential election for July 16th. however, the Real Madrid members decided a change was needed at the top and voted in Florentino P�rez, an engineer with business interests in the construction industry. His victory, by 16,469 votes to Sanz's 13,302 made him Real's fourteenth president. During the election campaign, Florentino P�rez made several pledges as to how he intended to run the club, but the one that caused the most impact (and probably won him the election) was his commitment to bring the Barcelona midfielder, Luis Figo to the club, or, if unsuccessful, to pay all members' fees for the upcoming season. On July 24th, Florentino kept his word and left Barcelona without one of their best players. A few days earlier, Nicolas Anelka, last season's star signing, left the club for Paris St. Germain, in a deal which seemed to suit all parties involved. However, in a move that surprised many fans, Fernando Redondo, probably Real's most influential player in the Champions League win of the previous season, was sold to AC Milan. Real also made several other signings during the summer, and consequently had to let go several players in order to undertake a season with five trophies up for grabs.

The first of these trophies, the European Supercup, does not seem to suit Real Madrid, who lost to Chelsea two years ago. This time it was the current UEFA cup champions, Galatasaray, showing better match fitness and greater hunger to score, who beat Real with a Jardel golden goal in extra time. It was a shame that the trophy could not end up in Real's crowded cabinet, the only European title (apart from the now defunct Cup Winners' Cup) it still has not won.

There was no better luck in the Intercontinental Cup, where Boca Juniors beat Real by two goals to one. Real could not overcome the two goals scored by Mart�n Palermo in the opening 6 minutes, even after Roberto Carlos' splendid effort and having the greater possession thoughout the game.

Real Madrid disappointed once again in the Copa del Rey, after being knocked out by Second Division Toledo in the first round. The competition's new format, where the first two rounds are played over a single leg in the lower category club's ground, clearly did not sit well with Real.

 The year 2000 ended on a positive note for Real Madrid, who was awarded the title of "Club of the Century" by FIFA in its annual gala night on December 11th. Luis Figo was second to Zinedine Zidane in the vote for Player of the Year, but a few days later, saw the result reversed, as he was awarded the prestigious Ballon d'Or (European Footballer of the Year) by France Football magazine. The portuguese midfielder thus becomes the third player in Real Madrid's history to receive this award, after Alfredo Di St�fano, who won it twice (1957 and 1959), and Raymond Kopa (1958).








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