Jose Mourinho could make a shock return to Real Madrid at the end of the 2025-26 season after 13 years, as he’s the club’s powerful president Florentino Perez’s favorite candidate to replace interim manager Álvaro Arbeloa. According to The Athletic, Arbeloa will be relieved of his duties after the end of the campaign, and Perez is driving the decision for his replacement, as he aims to rebuild the all-mighty club.
Real are likely to end a second consecutive season without a major trophy, having lost out on the Champions League in the quarter-final against Bayern Munich, and conceded an 11-point lead to Barcelona in La Liga. Mourinho, who is currently Benfica’s head coach, won’t be a manager welcomed by call, thanks to the image of being outspoken,
haughty, and overall divisive that precedes him everywhere he goes.
According to the report, the extra attention he brings is seen as a vital factor behind Perez’s pursuit of him. Still, there would be the crucial matter of managing Vinícius Júnior, who alleged he was racially abused by Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni in a Champions League match in Lisbon in February.
Mourinho had courted flak for suggesting that it was Vinícius who instigated Prestianni’s anger. The latter was recently banned for 6 matches.
Jose Mourinho’s history with Real Madrid
Mourinho was first appointed manager of Real Madrid on May 28, 2010. He arrived following a treble-winning tenure at Inter Milan, with the operational objective of challenging the domestic and European dominance of FC Barcelona.
During his first season (2010–2011), Mourinho led the club to its first Copa del Rey title in 18 years, defeating Barcelona 1-0 in the final. In La Liga, Real Madrid finished second behind Barcelona. The team also advanced to the semi-finals of the UEFA Champions League, where they were eliminated by Barcelona.
The 2011–2012 season yielded Mourinho’s primary achievement in Spain. Real Madrid won the La Liga championship, setting league records by securing 100 points and scoring 121 goals.
In European competition, the team reached the Champions League semi-finals for a second consecutive year, losing to Bayern Munich in a penalty shootout.
Mourinho’s third and final season (2012–2013) began with a victory in the Supercopa de España. The remainder of the campaign concluded without a major trophy and was characterized by publicized internal conflicts between the manager and key players, especially with the then team captain, Iker Casillas.
Real Madrid finished second in La Liga, lost the Copa del Rey final to local rivals Atlético Madrid, and exited the Champions League in the semi-finals for the third consecutive year following a defeat to Borussia Dortmund.
On May 20, 2013, Perez announced that Mourinho would leave the club by mutual agreement at the conclusion of the season. Mourinho departed having managed 178 matches, securing three trophies and restoring the club’s regular presence in the latter stages of European competition.
