MADRID, Spain — Jose Mourinho has signed a three-year contract to become the new head coach of Real Madrid, sealing a sensational return to the Santiago Bernabeu more than a decade after his departure.
As reported by BBC Sport on Friday, the Portuguese tactician has reached a firm agreement with the club hierarchy. However, his official unveiling will be delayed until after Real Madrid’s presidential election concludes on 7 June.
The 63-year-old leaves his post at Benfica, where he took charge in September and guided the Portuguese outfit to a third-place finish in the Primeira Liga this season. His return to the Spanish capital comes at a critical juncture for Los Blancos, who are reeling from a thoroughly disappointing and trophyless campaign.
Replacing Arbeloa After a Trophy Drought
Mourinho replaces his former player Alvaro Arbeloa, who was handed the managerial reins in January following the departure of Xabi Alonso but failed to steady the ship.
Real Madrid endured a miserable 2025-26 season by their own high standards, missing out on all major silverware:
- Domestic Defeat: Arch-rivals Barcelona clinched the La Liga title, compounded by a painful 2-0 El Clasico defeat for Madrid.
- European Exit: Their Champions League ambitions were cut short in the quarter-finals following a chaotic 6-4 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich.
The Madrid board will now look to Mourinho’s famously ruthless streak to immediately restore the club to the pinnacle of domestic and European football.
A Decorated History at the Bernabeu
Mourinho’s first spell in Madrid between 2010 and 2013 was defined by an intense, high-stakes rivalry with Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. During that highly successful tenure, he broke Barça’s domestic dominance by winning La Liga, alongside triumphs in the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
Since leaving Spain in 2013, the veteran manager has accumulated vast experience across Europe’s major leagues:
- Chelsea: He enjoyed a triumphant second spell at Stamford Bridge, capturing a Premier League and EFL Cup double in 2015.
- Manchester United: Moving to Old Trafford in 2016, he secured a Europa League, EFL Cup, and Community Shield treble in his debut season before exiting in 2018.
- Continental Journeys: He later took the helm at Tottenham Hotspur, led Italian side Roma to Europa Conference League glory in 2022, and managed Turkish giants Fenerbahce before his brief stint at Benfica.
With a proven track record of delivering instant silverware, Mourinho returns to Spain tasked with rebuilding a fractured squad and mounting a fierce counter-offensive against newly crowned champions Barcelona.
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