Real Madrid confirmed on Thursday that Jose Mourinho has been appointed as the club’s head coach on a three-year contract, marking a sensational return to the Spanish capital after 13 years.
“Real Madrid have agreed to appoint Jose Mourinho as the first team’s head coach for the next three seasons, until June 30, 2029,” said the 15-time European champions in a statement. “Jose Mourinho will join Real Madrid on July 13, the day preseason begins.”
The 63-year-old Portuguese replaces Alvaro Arbeloa, after Madrid endured a second consecutive season without a major trophy, trailing domestic rivals Barcelona. Mourinho arrives from Benfica, where the club completed an unbeaten league campaign but finished third, with Real Madrid paying €15 million ($17.25m) for the transfer of the coach.
Mourinho previously managed Madrid between 2010 and 2013, claiming La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup during a period marked by intense rivalry with Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. Under his guidance, Madrid became the first team to reach 100 points in a La Liga season in 2011-12.
Despite his achievements, Mourinho’s first spell in Madrid was polarizing, with some players fiercely loyal and others clashing with him. Known for his strict management style, he is expected to bring discipline to a dressing room that has seen conflicts, including an incident between Fede Valverde and Aurelien Tchouameni in May.
Mourinho’s return also signals a comeback to the European elite after several years of mixed results. The coach rose to prominence by winning the Champions League with Porto in 2004, followed by league successes with Chelsea, Inter Milan, and later domestic trophies at Manchester United, Tottenham, and Roma.
Madrid president Florentino Perez, who credited Mourinho with laying the foundation for six subsequent Champions League titles, pledged to bring him back if reelected — a promise fulfilled earlier this month.
Mourinho faces the challenge of uniting star players Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham, while restoring Real Madrid to the pinnacle of both Spanish and European football.
