Jose Mourinho has been formally unveiled as Real Madrid’s new head coach, returning to the Spanish club 13 years after ending his first spell in charge.
The Portuguese manager signed a three-year contract at a private ceremony in the boardroom of Ciudad Real Madrid on Tuesday. The agreement will keep him at the club until 30 June 2029.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez welcomed Mourinho at the presentation, which was also attended by honorary president Jose Martinez Pirri. Mourinho was presented with a replica of the stadium, a watch and a Real Madrid shirt carrying his name.
The appointment marks Mourinho’s return to the club where he worked between 2010 and 2013. He said the significance of coming back was greater than when he first arrived in the Spanish capital.
“I feel this is a mission. It goes beyond words. I am here to help everyone become better and to create a culture of work, responsibility, and ambition. I also want to instill the responsibility and honour of working for Real Madrid,” he said.
Mourinho also spoke about his enduring relationship with Real Madrid and its supporters, describing himself as a “Madridista” and stressing that his identification with the club had continued since his departure.
“I am a Madridista. I have always been, even since I left… I am one of you, Madridistas,” he said.
The 61-year-old, addressing the club’s fans, recalled the welcome he received after Real Madrid’s victory over Borussia Dortmund at Wembley and said he had always considered himself part of the Madridismo community.
“I am one of you. But not just today; I have always been, since the day I was presented in 2010, the day I left in 2013. I have a fantastic memory of Wembley when we beat Dortmund, and the affection that was shown to me that day. I really am one of you.”
Mourinho said he wanted the same level of dedication to be shared by everyone working at the club, from the first-team squad to staff based at the training ground in Valdebebas.
“I am here to work for Real Madrid. Everyone should follow this way. I want everyone who enters Valdebebas to feel it, that we are working for Real Madrid,” he said.
His first priority will be preparing Real Madrid for the new LaLiga campaign. The club are scheduled to begin their league season against Espanyol on Saturday.
Mourinho’s previous tenure at Real Madrid lasted three seasons, from 2010 until 2013. His return now gives him the opportunity to lead the club again after more than a decade away, with his contract extending through June 2029.
