Mourinho's Real Madrid Legacy: Does He Stack Up Against the Greatest Managers in History?

José Mourinho's name is increasingly being mentioned as a candidate for the Real Madrid managerial position.

With Álvaro Arbeloa's tenure in the technical area appearing to be coming to an end, speculation has shifted toward who might step in to fill the most coveted role in club football. Names such as Jürgen Klopp, Didier Deschamps and Mauricio Pochettino have all been floated as possibilities, with Mourinho also emerging as a potential returnee.

The 63-year-old Portuguese tactician, who had a three-year stint at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, is considered by many to be an unlikely but plausible candidate for a return to the Bernabéu, though he does have notable supporters. Mourinho is widely believed to enjoy a strong relationship with club president Florentino Pérez, while a viral Instagram 'like' from Kylian Mbappé indicated the French star would welcome the two-time Champions League winner's return to the Spanish capital.

For a club as sentimental as Real Madrid, the prospect of a triumphant Mourinho homecoming undeniably carries a certain allure.

At a recent press conference, Mourinho acknowledged to journalists that he cannot be certain he will continue as manager of his current club Benfica beyond this season.

How Does Mourinho's Real Madrid Record Stack Up?

During an action-packed three-year tenure in Madrid, the "Special One" claimed one league championship (2011–12) and one Copa del Rey (2010–11), along with the 2012 Supercopa.

While his silverware collection falls short of Madrid's legendary figures, Mourinho's overall win rate rivals that of virtually any manager in the club's history. Only his predecessor Manuel Pellegrini can claim a higher figure than the 71.91% Mourinho recorded throughout his time at the club.

Across 178 appearances as Real Madrid's head coach in all competitions, he secured 127 victories, drew 28 and suffered 23 defeats.

What Went Wrong for Mourinho at Madrid?

Mourinho got off to a solid start in Madrid, lifting the Copa del Rey in his debut season, although Pep Guardiola's Barcelona still swept both La Liga and the Champions League that campaign.

In his second year, Mourinho guided Real Madrid to the league title, surpassing Barcelona with a record-setting 100 points, yet the side came up short on the continental stage, being eliminated by Jürgen Klopp's Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League semi-finals.

His third and final season then fell apart, amid off-pitch friction with the likes of Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas and even Cristiano Ronaldo, compounded by repeated complaints about refereeing decisions and confrontations with the club's leadership.

Of Ronaldo he remarked: "Maybe thinks that he knows everything and that the coach cannot improve him anymore". He also took aim at Karim Benzema with the now-famous line: "If I can't hunt with a dog, I will hunt with a cat."

The nadir of a turbulent 2012–13 campaign—which Mourinho himself called "the worst of my career"—arrived when he deliberately jabbed Barcelona assistant coach Tito Vilanova in the eye during the Supercopa clash. He departed by mutual agreement after Madrid ended the season 15 points adrift of Barça.

In the 13 years since his departure from Madrid, Mourinho has added just one further domestic trophy to his collection—with Chelsea in 2015.