World Cup Winner Sami Khedira Joins José Mourinho's Real Madrid Staff

Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid has announced the appointment of World Cup winner Sami Khedira as an assistant coach, marking a significant return to the club for the former midfielder. Khedira, a pivotal figure in Germany's 2014 World Cup triumph, will join the coaching staff under the newly reinstated head coach, José MourinhoCoach·José Mourinho.

This move represents Khedira's first foray into coaching, and it reunites him with Mourinho, who originally brought him to Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid in 2010. Their established relationship is expected to provide a strong foundation for the new technical team as they embark on a crucial period for the Spanish giants.

Mourinho's return to the Santiago Bernabéu was officially confirmed on June 11, 2026, with the Portuguese coach signing a three-year deal that extends until June 30, 2029. His appointment was a central promise of Florentino Pérez's re-election campaign, signaling a clear intent to revitalize the club's competitive standing after two consecutive trophyless seasons. Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid secured Mourinho's services by paying BenficaTeam·Benfica a €15 million release clause.

The 2025/26 season proved challenging for Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid, described as a "disastrous campaign" that saw the club finish second in La LigaCompetition·La Liga with 86 points, eight points behind champions FC BarcelonaTeam·Barcelona. They recorded 27 wins, 5 draws, and 6 losses, scoring 77 goals and conceding 35. The season also saw two managerial changes, with Xabi AlonsoCoach·Xabi Alonso departing in January and Álvaro ArbeloaCoach·Álvaro Arbeloa taking the helm before Mourinho's arrival. Despite the team's struggles, Kylian Mbappé was a standout performer, netting 42 goals across all competitions, including 25 in La LigaCompetition·La Liga.

Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid's European campaign concluded in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League, while they exited the Copa del ReyCompetition·Copa del Rey in the Round of 16 and finished as runners-up in the Supercopa de España. The club's best performance of the season was a notable 3-0 victory over Manchester CityTeam·Manchester City in the first leg of the Champions LeagueCompetition·Champions League Round of 16, a match played without an injured Mbappé.

Khedira joins a comprehensive coaching setup under Mourinho. The confirmed members of the new team include João TralhãoCoach·João Tralhão as an assistant coach, António DiasCoach·António Dias overseeing fitness, Pedro Machado as an assistant and fitness coach, Roberto Merella as an analyst, and Nuno SantosPlayer·Nuno Santos as the goalkeeping coach. Speculation regarding former Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid defender Pepe joining the staff was dismissed as social media conjecture.

Real MadridTeam·Real Madrid attacker Brahim DiazPlayer·Brahim Diaz, currently representing MoroccoTeam·Morocco at the 2026 FIFA World CupCompetition·FIFA World Cup, has already expressed his enthusiasm for the new era.

"I'm VERY EXCITED to start working with Coach José Mourinho"— Brahim Diaz.

Mourinho and his new staff, including Khedira, face the immediate tasks of comprehensive squad planning and pre-season preparation. The club has already made significant summer signings, including Trent Alexander-ArnoldPlayer·Trent Alexander-Arnold, Franco MastantuonoPlayer·Franco Mastantuono, Álvaro Carreras, and Dean HuijsenPlayer·Dean Huijsen, as they aim to re-establish their dominance in both domestic and European football.