Mourinho returns to Real Madrid 13 years later: what has changed

José Mourinho is back at the Santiago Bernabéu. The Portuguese coach was officially confirmed as Real Madrid’s manager for the 2026-2027 season, ending a thirteen-year gap since his first spell at the Spanish club. The reason, according to him, is simple: love for the club. But the scenario awaiting him is anything but simple.

What made him say yes

Mourinho made no attempt to hide it. Facing journalists, he was direct: “I love Real Madrid, and that’s why I’m coming back. I don’t hide it.” At 63, the coach once dubbed “The Special One” – and who embraced the nickname wholeheartedly – returns to one of the world’s biggest clubs with the same confidence as ever. The emotional attachment was decisive. But that wasn’t all.

Mourinho has a solid track record in Europe’s major leagues. He has been through Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Manchester United, among others. At Real Madrid itself, between 2010 and 2013, he won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Super Cup, at a club accustomed to winning La Liga and the Champions League regularly. The Merengue board chose to bet on experience and character, rather than seeking a younger or more tactical profile.

Mourinho inherits a squad that needs an identity. The club is going through a generational renewal, with some veteran pieces leaving and prospects still being built. It’s the kind of challenge the Portuguese has always sought. Difficult. With high pressure. And with the spotlight on him at all times.

The weight of expectations

Repeating what he did in his first spell won’t be simple. European football has changed a lot since 2013. Mourinho’s style has also evolved, but not always in the same direction as modern tactical trends. His most recent stint on the touchline produced inconsistent results – which doesn’t mean he has lost the ability to build competitive teams.

Real Madrid is betting on the impact a name of such weight can have in the dressing room and on the squad’s competitiveness. Mourinho knows how to win. He knows how to manage pressure. And he knows, better than almost anyone, what it means to wear the white shirt of the Bernabéu. Whether that will translate into trophies, only the season will tell.