Real Madrid appoint Mourinho as coach on 3-year deal starting July 2026

Real Madrid named Jose Mourinho their head coach Thursday on a three-year contract running until June 30, 2029, with the club paying Benfica €15 million for his release. Mourinho, 63, returns to Madrid after 13 years away, set to join July 13 when preseason begins.

This marks Mourinho's second stint at the Bernabeu, where he previously coached from 2010-2013, winning La Liga, Copa del Rey and Spanish Super Cup amid fierce rivalry with Pep Guardiola's Barcelona. His return comes after Madrid finished trophyless for two straight seasons, falling behind Barcelona domestically.

Madrid president Florentino Perez credited Mourinho with laying groundwork for their last six Champions League wins and reappointed him after his own June reelection. The coach faces immediate task of harmonizing egos in a squad featuring Mbappe, Vinicius Junior and Jude Bellingham, following dressing room tensions that saw midfielder Valverde hospitalized after a teammate clash in May.

For Nigerian fans tracking El Clasico and UCL, will Mourinho's defensive expertise unlock consistency in Madrid's star-studded attack, or repeat past conflicts that disrupted team harmony?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/06/11/real-madrid-name-mourinho-coach-on-three-year-deal/