José Mourinho on Verge of Real Madrid Return 13 Years Later

José Mourinho is on the brink of a sensational return to Real Madrid, with the Portuguese coach in final negotiations to take over at the Bernabéu 13 years after his first spell in charge.

At 63, Mourinho has emerged as the overwhelming favourite for the job and, crucially, the only candidate the club are currently speaking to. Real Madrid have parked all other options. The conversation is with Mourinho or with no one.

His appointment would bring a swift end to Alvaro Arbeloa’s short reign. Arbeloa only stepped into the role in January after Xabi Alonso’s departure, but the club’s hierarchy has moved quickly once again, drawn back to a manager whose first spell left deep marks on both the club and Spanish football.

Perez turns back to an old ally

Florentino Pérez’s interest in Mourinho’s return did not appear overnight. The Real Madrid president began to seriously weigh up the possibility just two days after Alonso walked away, sounding out Mourinho’s camp in early discussions that have now accelerated into advanced talks.

For Pérez, Mourinho is a known quantity: a coach who thrives in the glare of the Bernabéu, who relishes conflict, and who has already proved he can wrest domestic power away from Barcelona. In a period of transition and rising pressure, the president has reached for the most combustible, high-profile option on the market.

Benfica present, Bernabéu future

There is still the matter of Mourinho’s current job. He has been in charge of Benfica since September, when he signed a two-year contract and returned to management in his homeland. Publicly, he has tried to keep the focus on the present.

Asked about his future only yesterday, he drew a firm line.

"There's a match against Estoril, and from Monday onwards I'll be able to answer questions about my future as a coach and Benfica's future," he said.

Saturday’s game against Estoril Praia is Benfica’s final fixture of the season. The timing is no coincidence. Real Madrid’s push has been framed around that finish line, with all sides aware that any announcement before Benfica’s last match would ignite a storm in Lisbon.

For now, Mourinho remains Benfica’s manager on paper. In reality, his next move is being shaped in Madrid’s boardrooms.

The shadow of his first reign

Mourinho’s first spell at Real Madrid, from 2010 to 2013, was anything but quiet. He arrived to break Barcelona’s dominance and did exactly that, delivering La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.

His Madrid side set records, fought battles on and off the pitch, and dragged the club back into a position of genuine power in Spain. It was intense, combustible, often divisive – but undeniably effective.

That history is precisely what now tempts Pérez back toward him. The president knows what Mourinho brings: control, confrontation, trophies, and a constant, relentless noise around the club. It is a high-risk, high-reward choice.

Real Madrid are not looking for a gentle transition. They are reaching for a storm they already know.