Mourinho Promised Return to Real Madrid if Perez Wins Election

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez says he will re‑appoint José Mourinho as head coach if he is re‑elected on Sunday.

Published On 3 Jun 20263 Jun 2026

José Mourinho will return to manage Real Madrid provided Florentino Pérez secures another term as the club’s president. Pérez, who is facing renewable‑energy entrepreneur Enrique Riquelme in the first contested election in two decades, announced the promise via a short video posted on his social‑media channels, in which Mourinho simply says “Yes!”.

The clip was accompanied by the slogan “So MOUch history to be made”, a clear reference to the Portuguese coach, who led Real to a record points total in La Liga in 2012 and last won a league title with Chelsea in 2015.

The pledge comes after a disappointing domestic season in which Barcelona clinched back‑to‑back league titles, while Real, fifteen‑time Champions League winners, have been eliminated in the quarter‑finals of Europe’s premier club competition for two consecutive years. The lack of major trophies has intensified calls for change ahead of the vote.

Riquelme, appearing on the Spanish TV programme El Hormiguero, countered Pérez’s promise by saying he would sign Manchester City midfielder and Spain captain Rodri as his first acquisition if elected, and also target striker Erling Haaland and former Real forward Raúl as sports director.

Since departing Chelsea, Mourinho’s silverware tally has been modest: a League Cup and Europa League with Manchester United and a UEFA Conference League title with AS Roma. He has also managed Tottenham Hotspur, Fenerbahçe and Benfica, where he remained under contract until June 2027 and reportedly received a renewal offer.

Although some pundits argue that modern football has moved beyond Mourinho’s pragmatic approach, Pérez views him as the figure capable of reinstating discipline and intensity to a squad featuring Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Jr and Jude Bellingham.

Mourinho has previously claimed that no contact had been made with Real Madrid, despite persistent speculation linking him to a return to the Bernabéu.

If Pérez wins the election, Mourinho would return to the club 13 years after his 2013 departure. He originally joined Real Madrid in 2010, overseeing three seasons in which he captured a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey and a Spanish Super Cup.

Earlier this season, Xabi Alonso was dismissed in January during his first year in charge, with former defender Álvaro Arbeloa serving as interim coach until the season’s end.

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