Real Madrid have confirmed the return of José Mourinho as manager on a three-year contract, bringing the Portuguese back to the Bernabéu 13 years after his departure. The 63-year-old joins from Benfica, where he spent the 2023-24 season, and will officially start on 13 July when pre-season training begins.
Mourinho's appointment follows a turbulent campaign for Real Madrid, which saw Xabi Alonso sacked in January amid player unrest. Álvaro Arbeloa took over as interim head coach but failed to turn around the season, with Real Madrid exiting the Champions League at the quarter-final stage to Bayern Munich and Barcelona winning La Liga comfortably. Internal discord persisted, including an incident where Fede Valverde required hospital treatment for stitches after a confrontation with teammate Aurélien Tchouaméni.
Club president Florentino Pérez, re-elected last Sunday, targeted Mourinho to restore order and success. Mourinho previously managed Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, winning La Liga in 2011-12 and the Copa del Rey in 2010-11. His earlier career includes Champions League triumphs with Porto and Inter Milan, as well as three Premier League titles across two spells at Chelsea.
Mourinho returned to Benfica last September, leading them to an unbeaten league season but only a third-place finish. He has also managed Fenerbahce in Turkey and Roma in Italy in recent years. Benfica confirmed they will receive €15m (£13m) in compensation from Real Madrid, and have agreed a two-year deal with former Fulham manager Marco Silva, who left the London club last week, to replace Mourinho.
