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Rabat – Jose Mourinho has surfaced as the leading candidate to take over Real Madrid, with club president Florentino Perez said to be driving the push to replace current coach Alvaro Arbeloa.
Arbeloa was appointed in January after Xabi Alonso was dismissed, but Madrid are expected to part ways with him at the end of the season.
The team is set to finish its second straight campaign without a major trophy, intensifying pressure on Perez to rebuild.
Perez wants Mourinho back
According to The Athletic, Perez is personally backing Mourinho’s return, in contrast to Alonso’s appointment last year, which was led by general manager José Ángel Sánchez.
The president believes Mourinho can restore Madrid’s competitive edge, recalling their partnership between 2010 and 2013 that delivered three trophies, including the record‑breaking La Liga title in 2012.
Mourinho’s reputation as one of football’s most decorated coaches adds appeal. However, his divisive past at Madrid, marked by clashes with captain Iker Casillas, remains a concern for some within the club.
𝙄𝙈𝘼𝙂𝙄𝙉𝙀 𝙏𝙃𝙀 𝙁𝘼𝙉𝙏𝘼𝙎𝙏𝙄𝘾 𝙁𝙊𝙐𝙍 𝙐𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍 𝙈𝙊𝙐𝙍𝙄𝙉𝙃𝙊 😍
José Mourinho is Florentino Pérez’s preferred candidate to succeed Álvaro Arbeloa as Real Madrid’s new head coach after the summer 👀 pic.twitter.com/48HffpwhiM
— 433 (@433) April 28, 2026
Currently in charge of Benfica, Mourinho is under contract with the Portuguese side until 2027. However, his deal includes a clause allowing either side to walk away for around $3 million after this season. That opens the door for Madrid if Perez decides to act quickly.
Madrid have also looked at alternatives, with reports suggesting that Mauricio Pochettino, coach of the United States national team, and Didier Deschamps, France’s manager, have been mentioned as serious options.
The club admires former Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp, though he has insisted he is committed to his role with Red Bull’s global soccer project.
