Jose Mourinho has signed a three-year deal to become Real Madrid’s new head coach, his second spell at the club after managing them from 2010 to 2013.
He won’t be made public until after the club’s presidential election, which is scheduled for June 7.
Mourinho steps down after taking over as manager of Benfica in September and guiding them to third place in the Primeira Liga this season.
During his prior tenure as Real Madrid’s manager from 2010 to 2013, the Portuguese won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.
Following his departure from Real Madrid in 2013, Mourinho returned to England for a second term with Chelsea, where he won the EFL Cup and the third of his three Premier League titles in the 2014–15 campaign.
Mourinho signed a three-year contract with Manchester United in 2016 after leaving the Blues by mutual consent in 2015.
During his first season at Old Trafford, he won the Community Shield, the Europa League, and the EFL Cup. However, a bad run of results led to his dismissal in December 2018.
Before taking over at Benfica, Mourinho previously managed Tottenham, Serie A team Roma, where he won the Europa Conference League in 2022, and Turkish club Fenerbahçe.
However, according to reports, the 63-year-old’s contract will only be in effect if Florentino Perez, the current president, continues in his position.
Earlier this month, Perez disclosed an organised campaign against him, attacked La Liga and media, and announced the election in an unprecedented press conference.
The 79-year-old, who served as president from 2000 to 2006 before taking office in 2009, has presided over two consecutive seasons without a trophy.
In the first presidential contest with a rival in 20 years, Perez is projected to defeat Renewables tycoon Enrique Riquelme.
Alvaro Arbeloa, who only took over as manager in January when Xabi Alonso left, will be replaced by Mourinho.
Real Madrid finished the 2025–26 season without a trophy as rivals Barcelona won the La Liga championship 2–0 in the El Clasico.
German champions Bayern Munich defeated Los Blancos 6-4 on aggregate in the quarterfinals, ending Los Blancos’ Champions League run.
