Jose Mourinho appointed Real Madrid head coach

Jose Mourinho has been appointed head coach of Real Madrid on a three‑year deal. The Portuguese coach left Benfica after less than a year to take the role at the Santiago Bernabeu. He will join the club on July 13, the start of preseason. The Board of Directors of Real Madrid C.F. met on Thursday, June 11, presided by Florentino Perez, and approved Mourinho’s appointment until June 30, 2029. "The Board of Directors of Real Madrid C.F., meeting today, Thursday, June 11, and presided over by Florentino Perez, has agreed to appoint Jose Mourinho as the first team's head coach for the next three seasons, until June 30, 2029. Jose Mourinho will join Real Madrid on July 13, the day preseason begins." Real Madrid finished the 2025‑26 campaign without silverware. Xabi Alonso was dismissed midway and caretaker Alvaro Arbeloa saw the side end a distant second to Barcelona in La Liga. Bayern Munich eliminated Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League quarter‑finals.

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Mourinho inherits a squad featuring Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham. He is expected to apply his defensive organization and man‑management skills to a talented group. The coach’s past spells at Tottenham Hotspur and Fenerbahce are noted in his résumé.

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Barcelona, under Hansi Flick, have secured back‑to‑back La Liga titles and pose the primary challenge. Pep Guardiola’s legendary Barcelona side often outperformed Mourinho’s Real in major trophies. Mourinho previously guided Real Madrid to one La Liga, a Spanish Cup and a Spanish Super Cup, and will aim to add another UEFA Champions League trophy to the club’s tally.