Jose Mourinho has reportedly agreed a deal to return to Real Madrid as head coach, 13 years after his departure from the Santiago Bernabeu. The 63-year-old Portuguese manager is set to replace Alvaro Arbeloa, who took over from Xabi Alonso in January and has guided the club to a guaranteed second-place finish in LaLiga, despite trailing champions Barcelona by 11 points with just one round of matches remaining.
Mourinho's Previous Stint at Real Madrid
Mourinho previously spent three years in charge at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, during which he won the LaLiga title—his team became the first to reach 100 points in a season—and the Copa del Rey. His impending return follows weeks of speculation that president Florentino Perez viewed him as the ideal candidate to lead the club forward as they seek to challenge Barcelona, who have won back-to-back league titles and three of the last four, and to restore their Champions League pedigree after a quarter-final exit to Bayern Munich this season.
Pressure on Perez
Perez has faced increasing pressure in recent weeks after two trophy-less seasons, with protests occurring during last Thursday's 2-0 league victory over Oviedo at the Bernabeu. Mourinho was appointed Benfica boss on a two-year contract in September last year and has since led the Portuguese club to a third-placed Primeira Liga finish behind Porto and Sporting Lisbon, maintaining an unbeaten record throughout the campaign.
Release Clause Facilitates Move
However, Mourinho is understood to have a modest release clause in his Benfica deal, allowing Real Madrid to secure his services relatively inexpensively. Mourinho, who has frequently been linked with the Portugal national team job, remains one of world football's most prominent figures. He began his coaching career under Sir Bobby Robson, initially serving as the Englishman's interpreter at Sporting and Porto before following him to Barcelona as an assistant.
Illustrious Career
After launching his managerial career in Portugal, where he led Porto to two Primeira Liga titles and Champions League glory in 2004, Mourinho moved to Chelsea. He has since managed Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Roma, Fenerbahce, and Benfica. He won another European crown with Inter as well as league titles in England, Spain, and Italy, among a glittering array of domestic and continental trophies.
