Jose Mourinho has officially put pen to paper on a three-year contract to become the new head coach of Real Madrid, marking his highly anticipated return to the Santiago Bernabeu after more than a decade. The Portuguese tactician, who guided the club to a La Liga title, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Super Cup during his previous tenure from 2010 to 2013, will step into the role following the recent dismissal of Alvaro Arbeloa.
According to sources, Mourinho’s appointment will not be publicly announced until after Real Madrid’s presidential election on June 7, but the agreement has been finalized. The 63-year-old leaves Benfica, where he took charge in September and led the team to a third-place finish in the Primeira Liga, to take over the reins at the Spanish capital.
Mourinho inherits a squad that endured a disappointing 2025-26 season, finishing without any silverware as rivals Barcelona clinched the La Liga title with a 2-0 victory in El Clasico. Real Madrid also suffered a heavy 6-4 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals. The veteran manager is expected to bring his trademark intensity and tactical acumen to restore the club’s fortunes.