According to The Athletic, a formal announcement is expected following presidential elections at the club on 7 June – elections triggered by president Florentino Perez on 12 May.
Perez, who is driving the appointment personally, is expected to win regardless of the challenge from renewable energy entrepreneur Enrique Riquelme, who has already publicly stated Mourinho would not be his preferred choice.
Work on Mourinho’s backroom staff and summer recruitment has already begun.
🚨 Jose Mourinho has signed his contract to become the next head coach of Real Madrid.
Mourinho signed his terms last week and is set to complete a return to the Spanish capital on a deal until June 2029.
Mourinho is the choice of Madrid president Florentino Perez. The… pic.twitter.com/bU8gZpGBSc
— The Athletic | Football (@TheAthleticFC) May 29, 2026
The Portuguese coach departed Benfica after their final game of the season – a 3-1 win over Estoril on 16 May – having been offered a contract extension he ultimately declined. Sources close to the situation indicate Mourinho had already privately communicated his intention to leave before the season ended. Benfica have since identified Fulham’s Marco Silva as their leading replacement target.
Mourinho returns to Madrid 13 years after a three-year tenure that delivered three major trophies – the Copa del Rey, the 2012 Supercopa de Espana and a record-breaking La Liga title in 2011-12 in which Madrid accumulated 100 points and scored 121 goals.
He inherits a club that has gone two consecutive seasons without a major trophy. Xabi Alonso was sacked in January after seven months in charge with Alvaro Arbeloa serving as caretaker for the remainder of the season.
Photo: Alex Pantling/Getty Images
