José Mourinho is back at Real Madrid. Thirteen years after walking away from the Bernabéu, the 63-year-old Portuguese manager has signed a three-year contract with the Spanish giants — and the football world is paying attention.
José Mourinho Returns to Real Madrid in Blockbuster Appointment
Real Madrid confirmed the appointment on Thursday, having already ratified the departure of Álvaro Arbeloa. Benfica announced a day earlier that Madrid had agreed to pay €15 million in compensation to release Mourinho from his contract in Portugal — a price Los Blancos clearly considered worth every cent.
This reunion did not happen by accident. Madrid president Florentino Pérez made bringing Mourinho back a central promise during his reelection campaign, and he delivered on it after winning the club members’ vote last weekend. Pérez also pledged signings of Ibrahima Konaté and Denzel Dumfries, plus a €150 million ‘galáctico’ move. True to his word, Madrid tabled a €150m offer for Atlético Madrid striker Julián Álvarez earlier this week — a bid that Atlético promptly rejected.
Mourinho’s task is stark. Two consecutive trophyless seasons — under Carlo Ancelotti first, then Xabi Alonso and Arbeloa — have left the Bernabéu restless. The fans want silverware, and they want it now. For more on how Mourinho plans to reshape the squad, check out our Real Madrid transfer plans breakdown.
A Trophy Drought and a Point to Prove
Mourinho’s first spell at Madrid, between 2010 and 2013, yielded one LaLiga title, a Copa del Rey, a Supercopa de España, and three Champions League semifinals. Impressive — but it feels like a lifetime ago.
Since leaving the Bernabéu, he has taken charge of Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Roma, Fenerbahçe, and Benfica. His last piece of silverware came four years ago — the Conference League with Roma — and his most recent league title was the Premier League with Chelsea back in 2015. Over a decade without a top-flight crown is not a statistic a man of his ego wears lightly.
Furthermore, his Benfica side finished third in the Portuguese league last season — unbeaten, but still behind Porto and Sporting. To make matters more awkward, it was Real Madrid themselves who knocked Benfica out of the Champions League knockout phase playoffs.
Nonetheless, Mourinho has never been a man who looks backwards for long. The Bernabéu is waiting. The pressure is enormous. And if there is one thing José Mourinho has never lacked, it is the belief that he can deliver.