Report: Mourinho signs 3-year contract to return as Real Madrid boss

Jose Mourinho is on the verge of taking over Real Madrid for a second time after signing a contract through 2029 last week, according to The Athletic's David Ornstein and Mario Cortegana.

Real Madrid are expected to officially unveil Mourinho after the club's presidential elections on June 7. President Florentino Perez, who's widely expected to retain his role after the elections, reportedly spearheaded the campaign to bring Mourinho back to the Bernabeu.

Perez's challenger for the Real Madrid presidency, Enrique Riquelme, has said that Mourinho wouldn't be his choice as head coach, Ornstein and Cortegana report.

Mourinho is still in charge of Benfica but admitted in mid-May that there were talks between Real Madrid and his agent, Jorge Mendes. He oversaw an unbeaten 2025-26 league season with Benfica but finished third, eight points adrift of winners FC Porto. The squad didn't qualify for the Champions League.

Alvaro Arbeloa only succeeded Xabi Alonso as Real Madrid boss in January but confirmed on May 22 that he was leaving the club. Los Blancos have endured back-to-back campaigns without winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, or the Champions League for the first time since the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons.

Mourinho's previous reign at Real Madrid started in the summer of 2010. The 63-year-old won one La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, and the Supercopa de Espana over his three seasons at the helm. The team fell in the Champions League semifinals in each of those campaigns.