Jose Mourinho is back at Real Madrid, returning to the Bernabeu 13 years after his first spell ended acrimoniously. Now 63, the Portuguese coach has a chance to end his trophy drought, which stretches back to his 2014-15 Premier League win with Chelsea, by leading Madrid to Champions League glory this season. Mourinho's career peaked before his Madrid arrival, with two UCL titles at FC Porto (2004) and Inter Milan (2010), plus six domestic crowns across Porto, Chelsea, and Inter.

His three-year stint at Madrid between 2010 and 2013 yielded one La Liga and a Copa del Rey, but his reputation declined thereafter. Recent exits from Fenerbahce and Benfica preceded his rehabilitation under Real president Florentino Perez, who believes Mourinho can bring discipline to a fractious squad. Unlike peers like Pep Guardiola, Zinedine Zidane, and Jurgen Klopp—who have all left club management—Mourinho remains standing in 2026, with only Luis Enrique still active among his contemporaries.

Madrid's attacking firepower, featuring Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham, combined with Thibaut Courtois in goal, could provide the perfect platform. However, Mourinho must avoid the personality clashes that ended his spells at Chelsea, Manchester United, and Roma, as well as his previous Madrid exit involving Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas, and Cristiano Ronaldo. Only Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti have successfully managed Madrid's demanding squad dynamics through calm authority—traits not typically associated with Mourinho's fiery approach.