Breaking: Real Madrid appoint Mourinho as manager on three-year deal

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By Adegboyega Adeleye

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Real Madrid have appointed Jose Mourinho as the club’s new manager on a three-year deal, marking the Portuguese coach’s dramatic return to the Santiago Bernabeu more than a decade after his first spell in charge.

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According to BBC Sport on Friday, Mourinho will officially resume duties after the club’s presidential election scheduled for June 7, replacing Alvaro Arbeloa, who took temporary charge in January following Xabi Alonso’s departure.

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The appointment comes after a disappointing 2025/26 campaign in which Real Madrid ended the season without a trophy, while rivals Barcelona clinched the La Liga title and Bayern Munich knocked Los Blancos out of the UEFA Champions League quarter-finals.

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Mourinho, 63, leaves Portuguese side Benfica after guiding them to a third-place finish in the Primeira Liga during his short stint at the club.

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The former Chelsea, Manchester United and Roma boss previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning the La Liga title, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup during an intense era dominated by the rivalry with Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.

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His return signals another major rebuild at the Spanish giants as the club attempts to recover from a turbulent campaign that saw them fall behind Barcelona domestically and struggle in Europe.

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During his first spell at Madrid, Mourinho became known for transforming the club into one of Europe’s most competitive sides, while also ending Barcelona’s dominance in Spain by winning the 2011/12 La Liga title with a then-record 100 points.

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After leaving Madrid in 2013, Mourinho returned to Chelsea and won another Premier League title before later managing Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Roma and Fenerbahce.

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He also guided Roma to the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League title in 2022, adding another European trophy to his managerial career.

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Arbeloa, who only took over earlier this year, leaves after failing to revive Madrid’s campaign following Alonso’s exit. Reports linking Mourinho with a sensational return had intensified in recent weeks before Friday’s confirmation.

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Mourinho now returns to one of football’s most demanding environments with the expectation of restoring Real Madrid’s dominance in both Spain and Europe.

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