Spanish giants Real Madrid have appointed Jose Mourinho as head coach on a three-year contract, marking the Portuguese tactician’s return to the Santiago Bernabéu 13 years after his first spell with the club.
The 63-year-old replaces Alvaro Arbeloa following a disappointing campaign in which Real Madrid ended a second successive season without a major trophy, trailing rivals FC Barcelona in domestic competitions.
In a statement on Thursday, the 15-time European champions confirmed that Mourinho had signed a contract that will keep him at the club until June 30, 2029.
“Real Madrid have agreed to appoint Jose Mourinho as the first team’s head coach for the next three seasons,” the club said.
Mourinho returns to Madrid from SL Benfica, where he oversaw an unbeaten league campaign. Benfica confirmed that Real Madrid paid €15 million to secure his services.
The Portuguese manager previously led Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning the La Liga title, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup during an era dominated by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona side.
Under Mourinho, Real Madrid became the first club to achieve 100 points in a La Liga season during the 2011-12 campaign, a record that underscored the team’s dominance at the time.
His first spell at the club, however, was marked by both success and controversy, with reports of divisions within the dressing room. While some players remained loyal to him, others frequently clashed with his management style.
Mourinho now faces the challenge of restoring stability to a squad that endured a turbulent season marked by internal tensions and inconsistent performances.
The club also struggled to find the right balance among its star players, including Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe and Jude Bellingham.
Earlier this year, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez credited Mourinho with laying the foundation for the club’s modern European success, including several UEFA Champions League triumphs achieved after his departure.
Mourinho’s return also signals a comeback to the highest level of European football after spells with clubs including Chelsea FC, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and AS Roma.
Widely regarded as one of football’s most successful managers, Mourinho won the UEFA Champions League with FC Porto in 2004 and later guided Inter Milan to a historic treble, including Champions League success, in 2010.
He also captured multiple Premier League titles with Chelsea and won the UEFA Europa League with Manchester United in 2017.
Before joining Benfica, Mourinho was dismissed by Fenerbahce SK in 2025 after failing to secure qualification for the UEFA Champions League.
Real Madrid will now look to Mourinho to restore the club’s dominance domestically and in Europe as they seek to return to winning ways.
