Luz-Verein’s 2021 election saw record turnout—but who replaced Rui Costa?
The Luz-Verein, Portugal's most successful football club, held a presidential election in 2021 following Rui Costa's resignation. Despite a high turnout, the election results do not reveal who succeeded him as the 35th president.
The election process began with a first round where Rui Costa, a popular former player, secured 42.13% of the votes. His closest rival, João Noronha Lopes, received 30.26%. Neither candidate achieved an absolute majority, leading to a runoff.
The runoff saw a record-breaking turnout, with 93,081 members voting, surpassing the previous record by 7,659 votes. Rui Costa's popularity surged, and he won with an overwhelming majority of 65.89%, defeating Lopes. This was Rui Costa's second victory in a row, having previously won the presidency in 2021 with 84.48% of the vote. In 2021, he had defeated Francisco Benítez, who received 12.24% of the vote.
The 2021 Luz-Verein presidential election saw record-breaking participation, with Rui Costa securing a landslide victory in the runoff. Despite his popularity and electoral success, the election results so far do not indicate who his successor is.
