Benfica Confirm Real Madrid’s Appointment Of Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho is set for a sensational return to Real Madrid after Benfica confirmed the Portuguese manager will leave the club in a €15 million compensation deal to take charge of the Spanish giants.

The move ends weeks of speculation linking Mourinho with a return to the Santiago Bernabeu, where he previously spent three seasons between 2010 and 2013.

Benfica announced on Tuesday that they had informed the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) that Real Madrid had “formalised” their intention to appoint Mourinho and that the coach had “given his agreement” to the move.

The agreement will see the Primeira Liga club receive €15m in compensation.

Real Madrid also confirmed the departure of Alvaro Arbeloa on Tuesday. Arbeloa had been serving as interim head coach since January following the exit of Xabi Alonso, who later joined Chelsea.

Mourinho returns to Madrid with a strong legacy from his first spell at the club. He guided Los Blancos to the La Liga title in the 2011/12 season, with his side amassing 100 points, a club record at the time.

The 63-year-old arrives at a club eager to end a disappointing trophy drought. Real Madrid have gone two consecutive seasons without silverware, finishing behind Barcelona in domestic competitions and crashing out of this season’s UEFA Champions League at the quarter-final stage following defeat to Bayern Munich.

Mourinho leaves Benfica after overseeing an unbeaten league campaign. However, 11 draws proved costly as Sporting CP and champions FC Porto finished above his side despite Benfica collecting 80 points.

Benfica have already named Marco Silva as Mourinho’s successor.

The former Fulham boss has signed a two-year contract, with the Portuguese club holding an option to extend the deal by a further year.

Silva departs Fulham after a successful five-year spell in west London. He guided the club to the Championship title in his first season before establishing them as a stable Premier League side over the following four campaigns.