Florentino Pérez, the current president of Real Madrid, has confirmed that José Mourinho will return to manage the club if he is re-elected in the upcoming presidential election on Sunday. This announcement was made on Wednesday as Pérez campaigns for another term at the helm of the Spanish giants.
Presidential Election Context
Pérez faces a challenge from Enrique Riquelme, a renewable energy entrepreneur, in what is the club's first contested election in 20 years. The sitting president delivered the campaign news through his social media channels with a short video featuring Mourinho simply saying: “Yes!” The clip was accompanied by the slogan “So MOUch history to be made,” a clear reference to the Portuguese coach who guided Madrid to a record La Liga points tally in 2012.
Mourinho's Legacy and Recent Struggles
The move for Mourinho follows a disappointing domestic campaign in which Barcelona secured back-to-back league titles. Madrid, 15-time Champions League winners, have also exited Europe’s top club competition at the quarter-final stage in the last two seasons. The absence of major silverware has prompted Pérez to call elections. Mourinho last lifted a league title with Chelsea in 2015, and his trophy haul since leaving Chelsea has been more modest, including the League Cup and Europa League with Manchester United, and the Conference League title with Roma.
Riquelme's Campaign Promises
Pérez’s announcement landed while Riquelme was appearing on the Spanish television programme El Hormiguero. Riquelme stated that Rodri, the Manchester City midfielder and Spain captain, would be his first signing if elected. He also mentioned targeting Manchester City striker Erling Haaland and that former forward and club great Raúl would be his sports director.
Mourinho's Later Career
Since leaving Chelsea, Mourinho has also managed Tottenham, Fenerbahce, and Benfica, where he was under contract until June 2027 and had previously said the Portuguese club had proposed a renewal. While pundits argue that the game has moved beyond Mourinho’s pragmatic style, Pérez appears to see him as the manager to restore discipline and edge to a squad featuring Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham.
