Football in Spain: Benfica confirms Mourinho will coach Real Madrid

José Mourinho is returning to Real Madrid as head coach for his second stint with the Spanish giants. Benfica Lissabon announced on X that Real Madrid intends to sign the Portuguese manager for 15 million euros, a move the coach has accepted. Benfica expressed gratitude to Mourinho for his contributions.

Reports of Mourinho's potential return had circulated in sports media since late May. The 63-year-old coach previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, securing a Spanish Cup in 2011 and the league title in 2012. However, his first tenure was ultimately considered disappointing by the club's standards and was characterized by internal power struggles.

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Real Madrid wants to sign Mourinho for 15 million euros. The coach has agreed.

The confirmation of Mourinho's return follows Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez's re-election last Sunday. Pérez, a known admirer of Mourinho, faced a challenger for the first time in years but secured approximately 65% of the vote.

Mourinho replaces Alvaro Arbeloa, who failed to lead Real Madrid back to glory and ended his tenure without any titles. The club was eliminated in the Champions League quarterfinals by Bayern Munich and finished behind rivals FC Barcelona in the league. Arbeloa had announced his departure in May, with the club now making it official. Real Madrid began the season under former Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso, but he was dismissed after six months, reportedly due to disagreements with star players like Vinícius Junior.

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The 79-year-old magnate Pérez, who is considered a great admirer of the veteran coach, had to face an opponent for the first time in a long time.