FC Barcelona president Joan Laporta has officially stepped down today, Monday, February 9, in order to begin his campaign to run again for the club’s presidency ahead of the general elections scheduled for March 2026.
According to a club statement, vice-president Rafa Yuste will assume leadership responsibilities on an interim basis until the electoral process is completed. Laporta’s decision to resign is intended to allow the election campaign to proceed transparently and in accordance with the club’s constitutional regulations.
Laporta enters the race with a long history of leadership at Barcelona. During his first term (2003–2010), he guided the club to major trophies including La Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League, a period widely regarded as one of the most successful eras in the club’s history.
He returned to office in 2021 when Barcelona was facing significant financial and administrative challenges. Since then, he has led efforts to strengthen the playing squad, restructure the club’s finances, and launch the Camp Nou redevelopment project. Furthermore, under his leadership, the technical bench has achieved renewed success under head coach Hansi Flick, with the team showing signs of returning to top-level competitiveness.
However, his presidency has also faced several challenges, including financial constraints related to La Liga regulations and issues surrounding player registrations.
The March 2026 election is expected to be highly competitive, with Laporta considered one of the leading candidates due to his experience and contributions to the club. Barcelona members will have the opportunity to decide the future leadership of the club in the upcoming term.
