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Lorenzo Sanz Mancebo was a character in a novel. From a 'white' novel. From crime novel. Sandwiched between the palatial brilliance provided by the Real Madrid presidency and the suburban darkness of the courts, he moved with the familiarity of frequency in both contradictory settings.

Always equidistant from the brilliance and shadows of two socially opposed worlds, he remains the murky image of a man marked by a humble origin in a difficult time and the purpose of rising above him as it were. He was, in a way, in the similarities and differences, the Jesus Gil of Real Madrid. Without the political appetites and the crude greed for notoriety of the Soriano, he can present with the same pride and the same shame a panoply of sporting successes and legal charges.

Born in Madrid on August 9, 1943, the eldest of 10 brothers, a soccer goalkeeper in Tercera, a business debutant in a wallpaper factory, linked to the ideological extreme right of Fuerza Nueva, to whom he managed advertising, was president. Real Madrid between 1995 and 2000. Between Ramón Mendoza and Florentino Pérez . So little like each other, so few like Sanz himself, although he shared with the former horse hobbies.

It was precisely at the Hipódromo de la Zarzuela where Sanz met Mendoza, who, in 1985, incorporated him as a member of the White Board of Directors. Later he elevated it to the vice-presidency. Mendoza's resignation in November 1995 made Sanz president. In its first season it launched a revolution. He hired Fabio Capello as coach and signed Illgner, Roberto Carlos, Panucci, Seedorf, Suker and Mijatovic , who formed the great Real Madrid with Hierro, Redondo and Raúl who, 32 years later, recovered 'their' European Cup, scoring the Seventh (1998). And then the Eighth (2000), in addition to the 1996-97 League, the Spanish Super Cup in 1997 and the Intercontinental in 1998. The presidency of Sanz also contributed to the basketball section a League and a European Cup Winners' Cup.

No one can purely deny Sanz those achievements, inscribed in the best history of the club. But his problems with Justice affected the image of the entity. And in the early elections of July 2000, aimed at leading him to preside over a centennial Madrid (2002), he was defeated by a Florentino Pérez who exhibited a pristine business prestige. Sanz still ran for the 2004 elections, where he only got 5.08% of the vote compared to Pérez's 91%. His cycle at the club had ended abruptly forever.

Sanz had started in 1998, due to a real estate operation, his difficulties with Justice. From that date until 2018, he was indicted, and sometimes also acquitted, for various real estate and bank scams, and for smuggling of cultural property. In 2018, he was sentenced to three years in prison and a fine of 1.2 million euros for concealment from the Treasury, "on purpose" of almost six million euros.

Within its dark areas, few people, on the other hand, with so much, so close and so sincere relationship with Madrid. Married to María Luz Durán Muñoz , his oldest son, Lorenzo , was a basketball player for two years and, another two, technical director of the section. The second, Francisco left Castilla, ended up in Mallorca and chaired Granada. The third, Fernando , married to Ingrid Asensio , played four years in Madrid and seven in Malaga, which he chaired after the acquisition of the club by the family (today he has responsibilities in LaLiga). His daughter María Luz ('Malula'), Diana's older sister, is married to Michel Salgado , 10 seasons in Madrid.

With kidney, diabetic and circulatory problems, Lorenzo Sanz is another victim of this common nightmare called coronavirus. After several days in a very serious condition, he died this Saturday in Madrid.

My father just passed away. He did not deserve this ending and this way. One of the kindest, bravest, most hardworking people I've ever seen is leaving. His family and Real Madrid were his passion. My mother and my brothers have enjoyed all their moments with pride DEP

? lorenzosanz (@ lsanz19) March 21, 2020

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