Real Madrid Reappoint Jose Mourinho on Three-Year Contract
Portuguese manager returns to the Bernabéu 13 years after his first spell, signing a three-year contract with the Spanish giants.
- Mourinho returns to Real Madrid on a three-year deal.
- Club paid Benfica €15 million in compensation.
- He replaces Xabi Alonso after a trophyless period.
Jose Mourinho has returned to Real Madrid as head coach after signing a three-year contract with the Spanish giants.
The 63-year-old Portuguese manager will officially begin his second spell at the Santiago Bernabéu when the squad resumes pre-season training on July 13.
Real Madrid reportedly paid €15 million (£13 million) in compensation to Benfica to secure Mourinho’s return, 13 years after he left the club following his first tenure.
The move comes after Real Madrid president Florentino Perez pledged to bring Mourinho back if re-elected. Perez secured another term in office earlier this month after defeating businessman Enrique Riquelme with 65 percent of the vote.
Mourinho first managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning one La Liga title, a Copa del Rey trophy, and a Spanish Super Cup during his three seasons in charge.
Since leaving Madrid, he has managed several top clubs, including Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, AS Roma, Fenerbahçe, and Benfica.
During his most recent spell at Benfica, Mourinho guided the Portuguese club through an unbeaten league campaign. However, the team finished third in the Portuguese top flight.
Benfica have since moved quickly to appoint former Fulham manager Marco Silva as Mourinho’s successor.
Mourinho returns to Madrid with the task of restoring the club’s fortunes after two consecutive seasons without a major trophy. The club parted ways with Xabi Alonso in January, with Álvaro Arbeloa overseeing the team until the end of the campaign.
The Portuguese coach will now be expected to lead Real Madrid back to domestic and European success as the club seeks to add to its record haul of major trophies.
