Jose Mourinho signs contract as new Real Madrid head coach
Jose Mourinho has signed his contract to become the next head coach of Real Madrid.
Mourinho, 63, signed his terms last week and is set to complete a stunning return to the Spanish capital on a deal until June 2029.
Mourinho is the choice of Madrid president Florentino Perez. The 79-year-old triggered presidential elections at the club on May 12, which will take place on June 7. Mourinho is expected to be formally announced following those.
Perez has been challenged by renewable energy entrepreneur Enrique Riquelme, who, earlier this week, told The Athletic that Mourinho would not be his choice as the new Madrid head coach. The expectation, though, is that Perez will win the election regardless. Work has already begun on the make-up of Mourinho’s backroom staff and summer recruitment.
The Athletic reported on May 16 that Mourinho was set to meet Perez, with an expectation he would complete a deal to become the club’s new head coach.
Mourinho had been offered an extension at Benfica, he confirmed at a news conference, but wanted to wait until their final game of the season — the 3-1 win over Estoril on May 16 — before finalising his future. Sources briefed on the situation, speaking on the condition of anonymity to protect relationships, indicated Mourinho had previously already conveyed to some people at Benfica that he is leaving.
Benfica have been looking for a potential replacement for Mourinho in the last few weeks, with Fulham’s Marco Silva ahead of former Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim, who is not keen on the job.
The Athletic reported on May 8 that Madrid were in talks over appointing Mourinho, with the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager the preferred candidate of Perez, who is driving the decision over who will become the next head coach, in contrast to that which saw Xabi Alonso appointed at the end of last season. That process was led by Madrid’s general manager Jose Angel Sanchez, and then approved by Perez.
United States head coach Mauricio Pochettino and Milan boss Massimiliano Allegri are other candidates under consideration. France coach Didier Deschamps was also mentioned internally as a possible option, while ex-Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp was admired.
Mourinho won three domestic trophies during his three-year tenure in charge of Madrid between 2010 and 2013, including the 2011-12 La Liga title with a record points total.
Madrid are reeling off a second consecutive season without a major trophy. Alonso was sacked in January and Alvaro Arbeloa took over the position for the remainder of the season, promoted from Madrid’s reserve side, Real Madrid Castilla. On May 22, Arbeloa confirmed the game against Athletic Club a day later would be his last in the role.
‘Bags of belief and belligerence’ – but will it last?
Analysis by Spanish football writer Dermot Corrigan
Just a few months ago, the idea of Mourinho returning to Madrid seemed very unlikely. His long and storied coaching career appeared to be winding down towards a relatively low-key end.
Then, all the controversy around February’s Champions League meetings between Madrid and Benfica, especially Mourinho appearing to blame Vinicius Junior for racist abuse he has received at many Spanish stadiums, appeared to many to have put an end to any possibility of a return to the Bernabeu bench.
But Madrid chief Perez has found himself in a difficult situation, with a squad falling apart after a second consecutive season without a major trophy. It is a situation that calls for desperate measures, and Perez knows that Mourinho will bring bags of belief and belligerence to help fight the many enemies the 79-year-old clearly feels are assaulting the Bernabeu.
There is every chance of a short-term boost in fortunes at least. For instance, galactico egos in the dressing room might pause their feuding to take stock of a new manager who can match them for self-confidence and headline-making.
Mourinho will also surely rally the many Madridistas with him in battles against any perceived ‘anti-Madridistas’ inside or outside the club.
But it also seems almost inevitable that, sooner rather than later, it will all blow up spectacularly amid bitterness and acrimony, just as Mourinho’s first spell at Madrid did back in 2013.