News Focus
- Jose Mourinho signs three-year contract with Real Madrid until June 2029
- Portuguese manager returns to Spanish giants 13 years after first spell ended
- Real Madrid paid €15 million compensation to Benfica for Mourinho’s release
- Benfica appoint former Fulham boss Marco Silva as Mourinho’s replacement
- Mourinho will bring five members of his backroom staff to the Bernabeu
Real Madrid have officially named Jose Mourinho as their new first-team manager. The announcement confirms the Portuguese coach’s return to the Santiago Bernabeu, thirteen years after his initial departure from the club.
Mourinho has put pen to paper on a fresh three-year deal that will keep him at the Spanish capital until the summer of 2029. He is scheduled to commence his duties on July 13th when the squad begins their pre-season preparations.
The 63-year-old leaves Benfica following an unbeaten league campaign during the previous season. The Portuguese giants confirmed they received €15 million (£12.9 million) in compensation from Real Madrid to release Mourinho from his contract. Shortly after Mourinho’s exit, Benfica unveiled former Fulham manager Marco Silva as their new head coach.
The appointment was finalised following Florentino Perez’s victory in the club’s presidential elections, which concluded last Sunday. Perez secured another term in office after defeating rival candidate Enrique Riquelme, removing the final obstacle to Mourinho’s return.
During his first tenure at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, Mourinho captured the La Liga title with a record points tally, along with the Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup. However, he faces a significant rebuilding task this time around. The club has endured two seasons without silverware, finishing second to Barcelona in the recent La Liga campaign and exiting the Champions League at the hands of Bayern Munich.
Mourinho will be joined by five members of his coaching team. These include assistant managers Joao Tralhao and Pedro Machado, fitness coach Antonio Dias, performance analyst Roberto Merella, and goalkeeping specialist Nuno Santos.
Perez expressed his delight at the appointment, describing Mourinho as “one of the best coaches in the world” and a true “Madridista”. The president reaffirmed his commitment to securing the club’s 16th European Cup title during the upcoming tenure.