Jose Mourinho is in final talks or has agreed to return as Real Madrid head coach after 13 years away from the club, sources say [1, 2, 3]. Mourinho, 63, joined Portuguese club Benfica last September on a two-year contract but will leave early to rejoin Real Madrid [1, 2].
Alvaro Arbeloa took over as Real Madrid head coach in January 2026 following Xabi Alonso’s departure [1, 2, 3]. Real Madrid finished the 2025-26 La Liga season in second place, 11 points behind champions Barcelona, and ended the season trophyless for the second year in a row [2, 3, 1].
Arbeloa said he would be happy to see Mourinho return, calling him "number one" and "one of ours." Arbeloa said, "For me, as a former [Madrid] player and as a Madridista, Jose Mourinho is number one. He's one of ours. If he comes back next year, I'll be very happy to see him back home" [1].
Despite internal incidents and criticism during the season, including disagreements involving Kylian Mbappé over playing time and dressing room disputes, Arbeloa denied the locker room is unmanageable or that his reputation has suffered. He said, "I don't share the idea of an unmanageable dressing room. That's not how I'd define the Real Madrid dressing room" and described his four months as coach as a "great experience, a learning process" [3]. He added that he spoke to Mbappé amid fan unrest following a substitution during Real Madrid’s 2-0 win over Real Oviedo on May 14, telling the striker to stay calm [1, 3].
Mourinho previously managed Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, winning La Liga with a record 100 points and the Copa del Rey [2]. He led Benfica to a third-place finish in the Portuguese league this past season while remaining undefeated [2].
Real Madrid’s official announcement on Mourinho’s appointment is expected in the coming days as the club prepares for the 2026-27 season.
