Jose Mourinho is heading back to Real Madrid after Benfica confirmed a double agreement that will see Marco Silva take over at the Portuguese club. The move, which ends weeks of speculation, follows the departure of Alvaro Arbeloa as Real Madrid head coach after just five months in charge.
Real Madrid confirmed Arbeloa’s exit in a statement on Tuesday, thanking him for his “loyalty, commitment, and professionalism” and wishing him well. Arbeloa had been appointed in January to replace Xabi Alonso, but the Spanish giants ended the season without a trophy – finishing second in La Liga and failing to win the Copa del Rey or the Champions League.
“Jose Mourinho returns to Real Madrid after Benfica confirm Marco Silva as his replacement.”
The club’s latest change comes days after Florentino Perez won the presidential election by a landslide. During his re-election campaign, Perez explicitly promised to bring back Mourinho, calling him “one of the best coaches in the world” and a “Madridista”. In a statement after his victory, Perez said: “We have won the elections and will continue working to keep winning titles. … Proud to welcome back one of the best coaches in the world, a Madridista like Jose Mourinho.”
Benfica’s announcement that Marco Silva has agreed to succeed Mourinho clears the final obstacle, with Real Madrid having reportedly already thrashed out a deal with the Lisbon club. The exact fee paid by Real Madrid has not been disclosed, but the transfer was confirmed on the same day that Real also saw a huge bid for Atletico Madrid striker Julian Alvarez turned down by their cross-city rivals.
Mourinho previously managed Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, winning the La Liga title in 2012. He now returns to the Santiago Bernabeu with Perez promising to fight “until the end to achieve the 16th European Cup”. For Arbeloa, a club legend who came through the youth academy, his second spell as coach ends after less than six months – but Real Madrid said he will “always be his home”.