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José Mourinho is reportedly the leading candidate to return to Real Madrid as head coach if they fire Alvaro Arbeloa.
Club president Florentino Perez is reportedly driving the current Benfica manager’s quest to lift the team after a difficult campaign.
With a manageable termination clause in his contract, the ‘Special One’ could face a sensational second act at the Santiago Bernabéu.
Mourinho, in line for the Bernabéu comeback
Mourinho is heavily linked with a sensational return to Real Madrid as the club prepares for a manager change.
The potential appointment comes at a time when the club is looking for a proven winner to stabilize a project that has struggled for consistency.
Mourinho, who coached the meringues between 2010 and 2013, has maintained a close relationship with Pérez.
His availability is helped by a specific clause in his agreement with Benfica, which supposedly allows for a separation for a fee of around €3 million within ten days of the end of the season.
Pérez identifies Arbeloa’s successor
The catalyst for this search was doubts about Arbeloa’s future as the Santiago Bernabéu’s permanent coach.
Arbeloa was appointed head coach in January 2026 following the sacking of Xabi Alonso, but has struggled to turn the team around.
With Madrid set to end a second consecutive season without a major trophy, Pérez is likely to choose an elite, high-profile figure to restore the club’s competitive edge.
While Arbeloa remains a respected figure within the club’s infrastructure, the hierarchy believes that the senior team requires a more experienced hand to navigate the transition from young talent to world-class players.
Perez sees Mourinho’s psychological approach and uncompromising standards as the ideal remedy for the team’s current lack of courage.
The chairman is reportedly personally leading the recruitment process, similar to his previous interventions during periods of high pressure for the club.
Mourinho’s enduring legacy in Madrid
During his first spell in Spain, Mourinho broke the dominance of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, winning the 2011-12 La Liga title with a record 100 points and 121 goals.
His tenure was defined by a ferocious counter-attacking style and mental resilience that led Madrid to three consecutive Champions League semi-finals.
Despite a controversial exit in 2013, many fans see his era as a turning point that restored Madrid’s status as a world power.
He is not the only contender
The final decision on Real’s next coach is expected to be announced shortly after the domestic seasons conclude.
Arbeloa is expected to oversee the remaining matches before a formal announcement is made about the new leadership, although Mourinho is not universally the top choice among backroom figures.
Argentine coach Lionel Scaloni has also been linked with the job, along with Stuttgart’s Sebastian Hoeness, while The Athletic It has also been reported that the coach of the United States men’s team, Mauricio Pochettino, is being considered at the Bernabéu.
