ไทย
English
中國人
Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has confirmed José Mourinho as the club's next manager, over a decade after his initial tenure at the Bernabéu came to a close.
The Spanish official took to social media to quell the speculation that has been swirling for the past month. Pérez announced Mourinho's impending return to the Spanish capital as part of his re-election campaign.
The announcement coincided with rival candidate Enrique Riquelme's planned reveal of the high-profile signing he would bring to Madrid if elected. The 37-year-old made clear that should he win, Mourinho would not be his choice to guide the team out of its current struggles.
MOUcha historia por hacer. pic.twitter.com/7wLmDk8r2M
Real Madrid have yet to officially confirm the appointment, as the anticipated deal for Mourinho will only be finalized if Pérez secures his re-election. Recent reports suggest the Portuguese coach has already put pen to paper on a three-year contract with Los Blancos, signaling the start of a new—yet familiar—chapter at the Bernabéu.
Mourinho is expected to take over from Álvaro Arbeloa in the dugout, after the former right-back failed to stabilize a side that had already begun to falter under Xabi Alonso in the first half of the campaign. Real Madrid finished the season without a trophy and embroiled in a dressing room power struggle.
The task now falls to Mourinho to drag the club out of crisis and restore silverware to the Spanish capital.
Mourinho Divides Opinions
As recently as February, Mourinho found himself at odds with Los Blancos over his defense of Benfica player Gianluca Prestianni, who had been accused of racist abuse by Vinicius Junior. Mourinho suggested that Vinicius Jr had provoked the incident. Prestianni later admitted to a homophobic slur instead, which carries a lighter penalty.
News of his potential return to the Spanish capital has split opinion. Iker Casillas was among those who clashed with Mourinho during his first stint, and the iconic goalkeeper remains opposed to his comeback—though he insists it is not personal.
"I have no issue with Mourinho," Casillas wrote on X. "I think he's a highly professional individual. I just don't want him at Real Madrid. I believe other coaches would be better suited to manage the club of my life. Personal opinion. Nothing more."
Nevertheless, the case for Mourinho rests on the fact that he, like very few others this century, possesses the ability to unite a squad around a common cause. Given the internal conflict and turmoil that has gripped Real Madrid, that kind of commanding presence—rather than a tactically sophisticated coach—may be exactly what the club requires.
Mourinho's Career Decline
The Portuguese tactician was at the peak of his career when Real Madrid first appointed him in 2010, having just claimed the Champions League as part of a treble with Inter Milan. At that point, Mourinho had collected six league titles across three countries in eight years. He added a seventh in 2011–12, guiding a Madrid side led by Cristiano Ronaldo to 100 points and 121 goals.
Since then, however, his trajectory has been less impressive. Mourinho claimed a Premier League title in his second season back at Chelsea in 2014–15, before a dramatic collapse resulted in his dismissal just months later. A stint at Manchester United followed a similar arc after some early promise, while subsequent roles at Tottenham Hotspur, Roma, Fenerbahçe, and Benfica have been notably below the highest level.
Despite this, he remains Pérez's chosen man to take charge—though whether Pérez himself will still hold the reins after the election, scheduled for June 7, is yet to be determined.