Jose Mourinho agrees to 2-year deal to coach Real Madrid

Published: Monday, May 18, 2026 at 3:36 pm

Mourinho Returns to Real Madrid, Signs Two-Year Deal

Real Madrid has secured the return of Jose Mourinho, who has agreed to a two-year contract to coach the Spanish La Liga franchise. Sources confirmed the agreement on Monday, marking Mourinho's second stint with the club.

Mourinho's return comes after a successful period with Benfica, where he signed a two-year contract in September. He led the team to an unbeaten record of 23-0-11, securing a third-place finish in the Portuguese Primeira Liga during the 2025-26 season.

To facilitate the move, Real Madrid is expected to pay Benfica $8 million to buy out Mourinho's contract. During his previous tenure with Real Madrid, from 2010 to 2013, Mourinho led the team to significant success, including La Liga, Copa del Rey, and Spanish Cup titles.

Mourinho will replace Alvaro Arbeloa, who took over in January after the dismissal of former coach Xabi Alonso. Mourinho's coaching career includes stints at Chelsea, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur, among other prominent clubs. He is widely recognized as one of the most successful managers in football history. His trophy collection includes three Premier League titles, two Serie A titles, and two Primeira Liga titles, in addition to his La Liga title with Real Madrid. He also won Champions League titles with Inter Milan and FC Porto. Furthermore, he has won trophies from the UEFA Cup, Europa League, Conference League, FA Cup, English Super Cup, Spanish Cup, Spanish Super Cup, Italian Cup, Italian Super Cup, Portuguese Cup, and Portuguese Super Cup.

Real Madrid is set to finish second in La Liga this season, behind Barcelona. Their final league match of the 2025-26 season will be against Athletic Club.

BNN's Perspective:

The return of Jose Mourinho to Real Madrid is a bold move that will undoubtedly generate excitement among fans. While his past success is undeniable, the modern game has evolved, and the expectations will be high. It will be interesting to see if Mourinho can replicate his previous achievements and bring Real Madrid back to the top of European football.

Keywords: Jose Mourinho, Real Madrid, La Liga, Soccer, Coaching, Contract, Benfica, Alvaro Arbeloa, Xabi Alonso, Champions League, Premier League, Serie A, Primeira Liga, Football, Manager, Transfer, Sports

Full Story