José MourinhoCoach·José Mourinho has officially commenced his second tenure as manager of Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid, a move confirmed following the re-election of Florentino Pérez as club president on June 8, 2026. The return of the Portuguese tactician, 13 years after his initial departure, is driven by what the club and Mourinho himself perceive as "unfinished business" – specifically, the pursuit of the UEFA Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League trophy that eluded him during his first spell.
Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid concluded the 2025/26 season without securing a major trophy, marking their second consecutive campaign without silverware. The club finished second in La LigaCompetition·La Liga, with rivals BarcelonaTeam·Barcelona claiming the title. Their European aspirations ended in the Quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League, while they were runners-up in the Supercopa de España and exited the Copa del ReyCompetition·Copa del Rey in the Round of 16. This period of relative drought has intensified the club's desire for a return to glory.
Mourinho's path back to the Santiago BernabéuVenue·Santiago Bernabéu follows a season managing BenficaTeam·Benfica, where he was appointed on September 18, 2025. He guided the Portuguese side to a third-place finish in the Primeira Liga, notably achieving an unbeaten league record during his time there. Prior to BenficaTeam·Benfica, Mourinho had been dismissed by Turkish club FenerbahçeTeam·Fenerbahçe in August 2025 after failing to qualify for the Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League.
Florentino Pérez expressed his enthusiasm for the appointment, stating, "We are proud to welcome back one of the best coaches in the world, a Madridista like Jose Mourinho." This sentiment underscores the club's ambition to restore its position at the pinnacle of European football. Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid reportedly paid BenficaTeam·Benfica a €15 million release fee to secure Mourinho's services.
Mourinho had hinted at the possibility of a return in May 2026, acknowledging contacts between his agent, Jorge MendesCoach·Jorge Mendes, and Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid. The manager's personal drive to win the Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League with Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid is a significant factor in his decision, a sentiment echoed by former Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid coach Jorge Valdano, who noted Mourinho's own "drought is even deeper than that of Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid," referencing his last major European trophies being the Conference League five years prior and the Europa League ten years prior.
Looking ahead, Mourinho is reportedly set to receive greater authority over squad decisions as he aims to rebuild the team. Key positions targeted for strengthening include right-back, left-back, and center-back. Furthermore, reports suggest Mourinho is targeting a world-class midfielder, with Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City's RodriPlayer·Rodri identified as a primary target for the 2026 summer transfer window, signaling a clear intent to reshape the squad to compete for the highest honors.
Real Madrid President Florentino Perez at the UEFA Champions League Final. Photo: Shutterstock/IMAGO
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