Mourinho Returns to Real Madrid in Closed-Door Presentation

Safi – Real Madrid presented José Mourinho as their new coach in a closed-door ceremony without any media present on Tuesday, a departure from the club’s usual high-profile unveilings.

Mourinho signed a contract until June 30, 2029, the club announced. Its board had agreed to the three-year appointment on June 11, and the coach joined on July 13 for the start of pre-season.

The ceremony took place in the boardroom at Ciudad Real Madrid, where president Florentino Pérez welcomed him and honorary president José Martínez Pirri attended.

Mourinho received a replica of the stadium, a watch and a shirt bearing his name. No media or the public were told in advance.

The unusual format drew comment in the Spanish press. Mundo Deportivo wrote that Mourinho had “inaugurated the almost clandestine unveilings of Real Madrid’s new signings this summer.”

According to the daily, he appeared alone alongside Pérez, without family or media, and only Real Madrid TV showed images, without a live broadcast.

It is Mourinho’s second spell at the club. He first coached Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013. He now takes over a side that has not won a major trophy in two seasons, a slump that ran through the tenures of Xabi Alonso and Álvaro Arbeloa. Pérez recalled his former coach to end it.

“The first time I arrived in Madrid was the pinnacle professionally, but now there is also an emotional dimension, which makes this period more special than the first,” Mourinho told Real Madrid TV. “To the fans, I am one of you, and I always have been since I left.”

The Portuguese completed pre-season unbeaten, with five wins and one draw in six friendlies and a run of 243 minutes without conceding.

He has settled on a 4-2-3-1 built around Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, Jude Bellingham and Yan Diomandé, AS reported.

Mourinho’s first press conference is scheduled for Friday, before Real Madrid open their LaLiga season at Espanyol on Saturday.