Real Madrid officially appoints Jose Mourinho on a contract until 2029, marking the Portuguese strategist’s return to the Bernabeu after 13 years amid the team’s trophy crisis.
Real Madrid has officially appointed Jose Mourinho as head coach on a 3-year contract. This move marks the surprise return of the Portuguese strategist to the Spanish capital after a 13-year absence. The announcement was made in June 11, officially putting an end to the media speculation that has been swirling recently about the future of “The Special One”.
The 63-year-old manager will take over the hot seat from Alvaro Arbeloa, who failed to help Real Madrid win titles in the European arena and was surpassed by Barcelona in domestic competitions. Mourinho’s ultimate mission in this return is to bring the Royal club back to its peak status, while restoring order in an increasingly unstable dressing room.
The official announcement from Real Madrid’s homepage states: “Real Madrid has reached an agreement to appoint Jose Mourinho as the first-team head coach for the next three seasons, extending until June 30, 2029. The Portuguese strategist will officially begin his work on July 13, when the whole team reunites to prepare for the new season.”
Mourinho is one of the most successful but also highly controversial managers in football history. He moves to the Bernabeu from Benfica. Despite helping the Lisbon-based team experience an undefeated domestic season, Mourinho and his players still had to bitterly finish in third place overall. To secure his services, Real Madrid had to spend 15 million euros to trigger the release clause in his contract with the Portuguese representative.
In the past, Mourinho managed Real Madrid from 2010-2013, bringing home one La Liga title, one Copa del Rey, and one Spanish Super Cup. That was an era of peak fierce competition against a great Barcelona under Pep Guardiola. Under the shaping hands of “The Special One”, Real Madrid became the first team in La Liga history to reach the 100-point milestone in the 2011-12 season.
However, his first tenure at the Bernabeu also left behind many fractures. The “Los Blancos” dressing room at that time was deeply divided. Only a few former players, including his predecessor Arbeloa himself, always showed him absolute loyalty, while many other high-profile stars continuously clashed with him publicly.
