Jose Mourinho has reportedly signed a three-year contract to return as the head coach of Real Madrid for a second stint. The 63-year-old Portuguese manager has agreed to a deal that will keep him at the Spanish club until June 2029, with an annual salary of €12 million gross, according to The Athletic.
Real Madrid is expected to officially unveil Mourinho after the club's presidential elections scheduled for June 7. President Florentino Perez, who is widely anticipated to retain his position following the elections, is said to have spearheaded the campaign to bring Mourinho back to the Santiago Bernabeu. However, Perez's challenger for the presidency, Enrique Riquelme, has stated that Mourinho would not be his preferred choice as head coach, as reported by Ornstein and Cortegana.
Mourinho is currently in charge of Benfica, but he admitted in mid-May that discussions had taken place between Real Madrid and his agent, Jorge Mendes. During the 2025-26 season, he led Benfica to an unbeaten league campaign, yet the team finished third in the standings, eight points behind champions FC Porto. As a result, the squad failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League.
Alvaro Arbeloa, who took over as Real Madrid boss from Xabi Alonso in January, confirmed on May 22 that he was leaving the club. Los Blancos have experienced two consecutive seasons without winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, or the Champions League—a feat not seen since the 2008-09 and 2009-10 campaigns.
