Comunicado oficial: The Special One is back at Bernabeu!
Reading Time: 2min | Fri. 29.05.26. | 17:35
Now it's signed and sealed, The Athletic reports. Jose Mourinho returns to Real Madrid after 13 years
The Special One is heading back to the Bernabeu. Definitely!
More than a decade after his turbulent first spell in the Spanish capital came to an end, Jose Mourinho has signed a contract to become the new head coach of Real Madrid, completing one of the most stunning managerial returns modern football has seen.
The Athletic reports that the 63-year-old agreed terms last week and is expected to officially take charge after the presidential elections scheduled for June 7, with club president Florentino Perez once again placing his faith in the Portuguese manager.
And this is very much Perez's move.
While several names circulated internally at Real Madrid - including Mauricio Pochettino, Didier Deschamps and even Jurgen Klopp - Mourinho quickly emerged as the president's preferred option as the club searched for a response to a disastrous campaign without a major trophy.
The decision also underlines Perez's desire to restore authority, edge, and a winning mentality at a club still reeling from a disappointing season that saw Xabi Alonso lose his job in January, before Alvaro Arbeloa stepped in as interim coach.
Mourinho now returns to the place where he both divided and electrified Spanish football between 2010 and 2013.
During his first spell at Real Madrid, the former Chelsea, Inter and Manchester United manager won three trophies, including the iconic 2011/12 La Liga title, in which Madrid collected a then-record points tally and finally dethroned Pep Guardiola's Barcelona.
His relationship with the club, and especially with Perez, remained complicated after his departure, but the bond clearly never disappeared completely.
Interestingly, Mourinho had recently been offered a contract extension by Benfica after guiding the Portuguese giants through a strong campaign. However, the veteran coach delayed any final decision until after the season-ending victory over Estoril earlier this month, with sources close to the situation indicating he had already privately informed people at Benfica that he intended to leave.
Now the focus shifts entirely to Madrid.
Work on Mourinho's coaching staff and recruitment plans has reportedly already begun, with Perez expected to comfortably win re-election despite a challenge from businessman Enrique Riquelme, who openly admitted Mourinho would not have been his managerial choice.
It hardly matters now.
Real Madrid wanted a figure capable of restoring fear, intensity and control at the Bernabeu. And in typical dramatic fashion, they turned back to the man who built his entire career on exactly that.