News Focus
- Jose Mourinho has signed a three-year contract to become the new manager of Real Madrid
- The official unveiling is scheduled for after the club’s presidential election on 7 June
- The deal is conditional upon Florentino Perez remaining as president
- Mourinho joins from Benfica, where he managed since September and secured a third-place finish
- He previously coached Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey
Jose Mourinho is set for a dramatic return to the Bernabeu. The 63-year-old Portuguese manager has agreed to a three-year contract with Real Madrid.
His official presentation will take place after the club’s presidential election. The vote is scheduled for 7 June. However, the contract will only become valid if Florentino Perez wins another term.
Perez announced the election earlier this month. The 79-year-old has controlled the club since 2009. He also served as president between 2000 and 2006. Recently, he claimed that journalists and La Liga are running an “organised campaign” against him.
Enrique Riquelme is challenging Perez in the first contested election in 20 years. Most experts expect Perez to retain his position.
Mourinho joins from Benfica. He took charge of the Portuguese club in September. He led them to a third-place finish in the Primeira Liga this season.
This marks his second spell at Real Madrid. He previously managed the club between 2010 and 2013. During that period, he won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
He replaces Alvaro Arbeloa. The former defender became interim boss in January following Xabi Alonso’s departure.
Real Madrid finished the season without any silverware. Barcelona defeated them 2-0 in El Clasico to seal the La Liga title. Their Champions League campaign ended in the quarter-finals with a 6-4 aggregate defeat to Bayern Munich.
Since leaving Madrid in 2013, Mourinho has coached several major clubs. He enjoyed a second spell at Chelsea. He won his third Premier League title there in 2015. He also managed Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Roma. He won the Europa Conference League with the Italian side in 2022. His most recent post before Benfica was with Fenerbahce in Turkey.
The club hopes Mourinho can restore discipline to the squad. The dressing room has suffered from internal conflicts this season. High-profile stars such as Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe have faced criticism for their behaviour.
Mourinho is famous for his strict management style. He often creates a siege mentality within his teams. This approach matches Perez’s recent comments about fighting against media criticism.
Real Madrid have gone two consecutive seasons without a major trophy. The pressure will be immense for Mourinho to deliver both domestic and European success.