Article by Mihai Șovei – Published Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 3:37 p.m. / Updated Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 3:38 p.m.
Benfica coach Jose Mourinho (63) is set to take over at Real Madrid at the end of this season, according to the publication The Telegraph.
It would be the Portuguese's second term on the “galacticos” bench, after the one between 2010 and 2013.
Jose Mourinho returns to Real Madrid
The current Benfica coach is the first choice of Real Madrid and its president Florentino Perez, who hit out at his critics on Tuesday night and called for a new mandate from the club's members. Mourinho, 63, has one more game in charge of Benfica this season, still unbeaten in the Portuguese top flight but currently placed third.
The Portuguese will likely negotiate directly with the Real president over the terms of his appointment. An agreement will have to be reached with Benfica, who have Jose Mourinho under contract until the summer of 2027. According to the aforementioned source, no problems are expected in this regard.
Mourinho's return 13 years after the last of his 3 seasons at the club is a significant moment in Real's history, with some of the club's legends from his previous era expressing outrage at the decision. Among them is goalkeeper Iker Casillas, who believes his former team-mate Xabi Alonso, sacked in January, should still be in charge.
Jose Mourinho, in the period in acre coached Real Madrid
In his first tenure, Jose Mourinho coached Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, during which they won the La Liga title, the Spanish Cup and the Spanish Super Cup.
Real Madrid have three league games left this season, the first of which is at home to Real Oviedo on Thursday, where fans are expected to express their displeasure at their failed season. After a trip to Sevilla on Sunday, threatened with relegation, the last match of the “galacticos” is at home, against Athletic Bilbao, in 10 days.
