Jose Mourinho will return as Real Madrid manager if Florentino Perez wins the club’s presidential election on Sunday, the incumbent president confirmed on Wednesday as he campaigns for a new term at the helm of the La Liga club.
Perez, who faced renewable energy entrepreneur Enrique Riquelme in the club’s first disputed election in two decades, made the campaign announcement via his social media channels with a short video of Mourinho simply saying: “Yes!”
The clip followed the slogan ‘So history must be written’, a not-so-subtle nod to the Portuguese coach who led Real to a record number of La Liga points in 2012, but last won the league title with Chelsea in 2015.
Mourinho’s move follows a disappointing domestic campaign in which Barcelona secured back-to-back league titles.
Real, 15-time Champions League winners, have also exited Europe’s top club competition at the quarter-finals each of the past two seasons, with the absence of major silverware prompting Perez to call an election.
Perez’s announcement came as Riquelme appeared on Spanish television program El Hormiguero, where he said the Manchester City midfielder and Spain captain Rodri would be his first signing if elected.
He said he would also target Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and that former striker and club great Raul would become his sporting director.
Since leaving Chelsea, Mourinho’s prize money has been more modest. He won the League Cup and the Europa League with Manchester United and later led AS Roma to their third Conference League title.
His managerial career has also taken him to Tottenham Hotspur, Fenerbahce and Benfica, where he is under contract until June 2027 and had previously said the Portuguese club had proposed an extension.
While pundits claim the game has moved beyond Mourinho’s pragmatic style, Perez appears to see him as the manager who must restore discipline and edge to a team featuring Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham.
Published on June 4, 2026
