Jose Mourinho Returns to Real Madrid Manager's Seat after 13 Years
JAKARTA - Real Madrid has confirmed the appointment of Jose Mourinho for a second period as the club's coach after confirming the departure of Alvaro Arbeloa.
The LaLiga club confirmed in a statement on Thursday, June 11, 2026, local time, that Mourinho had signed a three-year contract at the Santiago Bernabeu.
The 63-year-old coach returned to Real Madrid after one season coaching Benfica, who on Wednesday, June 10, 2026, confirmed that Los Blancos were willing to pay a compensation of 15 million euros to release him from his contract at the Portuguese club.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez made Mourinho's return, who left the club in 2013, one of the promises of his campaign ahead of his victory in the club's members' election last weekend.
Perez also promised the recruitment of Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries, as well as promising to make an offer of 150 million euros to recruit a star player.
To honor the promise, Los Blancos announced earlier this week that they had offered 150 million euros for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez, who was then rejected.
Mourinho returned to Real Madrid with the task of getting the team back on track after two consecutive seasons without a trophy under the leadership of Carlo Ancelotti, then Xabi Alonso and Arbeloa.
The Portuguese coach last led Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning one LaLiga title, one Copa del Rey, and one Supercopa de Espana. He also reached three Champions League semi-finals.
Since his last time at the Bernabeu, he has coached Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Roma, Fenerbahce, and Benfica.
It has been four years since he last won a trophy - the UEFA Conference League with Roma - and more than a decade since his last league title, the English League with Chelsea in 2015.
At Benfica, he was unbeaten in the Portuguese League last season. However, it only resulted in third place behind Porto and Sporting.
Mourinho's Benfica team was also eliminated by Real Madrid in the 2025/2026 Champions League knockout phase playoff.