Jose Mourinho Signs Three-Year Deal To Return As Real Madrid Manager

Jose Mourinho is set for a sensational return to Real Madrid after agreeing a three-year deal to become the club’s next head coach.

Jose Mourinho, 63, will not be officially presented until after Real Madrid’s presidential election on June 7. Mourinho’s contract is tied to Florentino Perez retaining the presidency, with the veteran football executive seeking another term in office.

Perez confirmed the election earlier this month during an extraordinary press conference where he criticised journalists and La Liga, claiming there was an “organised campaign” against him. The 79-year-old has overseen two consecutive trophyless seasons at the Bernabeu, increasing pressure ahead of the vote.

Businessman Enrique Riquelme has emerged as Perez’s challenger in the club’s first contested presidential election in two decades, although Perez remains the favourite to stay on.

Mourinho leaves Benfica after less than a year in charge. He arrived in September and guided the Lisbon side to a third-place finish in the Primeira Liga this season.

The move marks Mourinho’s second spell at Real Madrid. During his first stint between 2010 and 2013, he won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup while building one of Europe’s most feared sides.

He replaces Alvaro Arbeloa, who stepped in as manager in January after Xabi Alonso’s exit. Arbeloa failed to revive Madrid’s season as the club ended the 2025-26 campaign without silverware.

Barcelona sealed the La Liga title with a 2-0 El Clásico win over Real, while Bayern Munich knocked Los Blancos out of the Champions League quarter-finals 6-4 on aggregate.

Since leaving Madrid in 2013, Mourinho has managed some of Europe’s biggest clubs. He returned to Chelsea for a second spell and won the Premier League and EFL Cup in the 2014-15 season.

A move to Manchester United followed in 2016, where he lifted the Europa League, EFL Cup and Community Shield in his debut campaign before being dismissed in December 2018.

Mourinho later took charge of Tottenham, Roma and Fenerbahce. He led Roma to the Europa Conference League title in 2022 before moving to Turkey and eventually returning to Portugal with Benfica.