Sources indicate that Real Madrid is set to confirm José Mourinho’s return as head coach this coming Sunday or Monday, after the conclusion of the LaLiga season.
The team will play their final match of the 2025-26 season against Athletic Club on Saturday at the Bernabéu, kicking off at 9 p.m. local time.
As reported by ESPN on Monday, Mourinho, who previously managed the club from 2010 to 2013, has agreed to a two-year contract to return to Madrid and is reportedly saying his farewells to his current squad at Benfica.
This season has not been kind to Madrid, as they finished second to Barcelona in LaLiga and were knocked out of the UEFA Champions League quarterfinals. This marks two consecutive years without a significant trophy for the club.
In January, Álvaro Arbeloa was appointed to replace Xabi Alonso, but neither coach was able to achieve the desired results.
Club president Florentino Pérez has decided to bring Mourinho back, after previously commending him for enhancing Madrid’s competitiveness and laying the groundwork for future success during his first tenure.
Sources reveal that Pérez is determined to bring back Mourinho, irrespective of any delays caused by the upcoming presidential elections at the club.
Last week, Pérez announced the elections, with potential candidates required to declare their intentions by Saturday, May 23.
Pérez has already confirmed he will seek re-election, while businessman Enrique Riquelme is expected to decide within the next few days whether he will join the race.
If Pérez faces no challengers, he will be re-elected automatically. Should Riquelme enter the contest and meet the necessary requirements outlined by the club’s statutes, a two-week campaign would ensue.
According to ESPN, Pérez is contemplating adding a clause to Mourinho’s contract that would permit Riquelme, if he wins the elections, to choose not to retain the Portuguese manager and select a different candidate.
Mourinho has reportedly reached a verbal agreement to take over the reins at Madrid, although final documentation has yet to be completed.
Since leaving the Bernabéu in 2013, Mourinho has managed Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, AS Roma, and Fenerbahce, before taking the helm at Benfica last September.