Florentino Pérez Targets José Mourinho as Real Madrid’s Next Head Coach to Replace Álvaro Arbeloa

Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez has taken personal control of the club’s managerial search and is reportedly pushing for the return of José Mourinho as head coach, according to journalist Florian Plettenberg. The development comes as current manager Álvaro Arbeloa is expected to be relieved of his duties at the end of the 2025/26 season following a brief and trophy-less tenure.

According to Plettenberg’s update, Real Madrid have already opened formal channels of communication with Mourinho’s agent, Jorge Mendes. While the 63-year-old coach has publicly indicated a preference to see out his existing contract at Benfica into next season, Plettenberg reports that Mourinho remains open to a return to the Spanish capital — a move that would represent one of the more striking managerial comebacks in recent European football.

Pérez’s renewed interest in Mourinho is notable given the internal friction surrounding the club’s last coaching appointment. The president’s general manager, José Ángel Sánchez, led the process that resulted in the short-lived hiring of Xabi Alonso, which ended in an internal dressing-room collapse widely compared in tone and outcome to the circumstances that concluded Mourinho’s own first stint at the club in 2013. According to The Athletic, Pérez retains a strong personal regard for Mourinho and is prepared to proceed despite notable opposition from within the Madrid boardroom.

Mourinho’s original three-year spell at Real Madrid, from 2010 to 2013, produced three trophies: the 2010/11 Copa del Rey, the 2011/12 La Liga title — claimed with a then-record 100 points — and the 2012 Supercopa de España. He was brought in specifically to disrupt the dominance of Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, a task he accomplished with the record-breaking league triumph of that cycle.

The historical parallel is not lost on those following the story. Should Mourinho be appointed, he would once again be tasked with halting a resurgent Barcelona side, this time under Hansi Flick. Flick’s Barcelona have won back-to-back Supercopa de España titles and are reportedly on course to clinch a second consecutive La Liga championship, establishing what is increasingly described as an emerging domestic dynasty.

The proposed appointment does not come without complications. Mourinho recently drew significant public and media criticism following divisive comments related to a racism controversy involving Real Madrid winger Vinícius Júnior and Benfica attacker Gianluca Prestianni. Those remarks generated considerable scrutiny and are likely to factor into any broader discussion around his suitability for such a high-profile role.

Pérez’s decision to take direct oversight of this managerial search — sidelining the process that produced the Alonso appointment — signals a clear shift in how the club’s leadership intends to handle the transition. Whether Mourinho ultimately departs Benfica ahead of schedule or sees out his contract before any move materialises remains unclear, but the groundwork for discussions appears to have been laid.