Jose Mourinho is about to join Real Madrid for two years, the newspaper reports

Jose Mourinho agreed to a two-year contract to return as head coach at Real Madrid. ESPN reported on Monday.

Mourinho, 63, has informed Portuguese side Benfica, his current club, that he is leaving, the report said.

He replaces Alvaro Arbeloa, who took over as interim coach in January after the club fired Xabi Alonso.

Real Madrid suffered a second straight season without a major trophy this year, losing to Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League. With one La Liga match remaining, Real Madrid are 11 points behind champion rivals Barcelona.

Mourinho managed Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, winning one La Liga title, one Copa del Rey and one Supercopa de Espana during that stretch.

Mourinho was under contract with Benfica until 2027, which will receive $8 million in compensation, per ESPN.

Published on May 18, 2026