Real Madrid have reappointed Jose Mourinho as head coach, bringing the 63-year-old back to the Bernabeu on a three-year contract. He will begin work when the squad returns for pre-season training on July 13.
The club paid Benfica 15 million euros in compensation to secure Mourinho’s release, reuniting him with Real Madrid some 13 years after his first spell at the club ended.
The appointment follows through on a promise made by club president Florentino Perez, who had vowed to bring Mourinho back if re-elected earlier this month.
Perez, 79, won the election with 65% of the votes, beating his challenger, renewable energy magnate Enrique Riquelme. He has held the presidency since 2009.
Mourinho’s first stint at Real Madrid ran from 2010 to 2013 and produced a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey and a Spanish Super Cup. He returns now to a club that has won the Champions League a record 15 times but has gone without a trophy for the past two seasons.
After leaving Madrid, Mourinho managed Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, and later took charge of Roma, Fenerbahce and Benfica. During his most recent season at Benfica, he guided the club through an unbeaten Liga Portugal campaign, though they finished third.
Benfica have since agreed to a deal with former Fulham manager Marco Silva as his replacement.
Real Madrid parted ways with Xabi Alonso in January, with Alvaro Arbeloa taking charge for the remainder of the season.
