taxes Mourinho's name has been linked again with Real Madrid. The 'Special One,' who once set the Santiago Bernabéu alight, has left open the possibility of a dramatic return, according to reports.
The British tabloid The Sun reported on the 4th (Korea time) that Mourinho has not ruled out returning as Real Madrid's manager. Mourinho, who currently leads Benfica, managed Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013. At that time he brought Real back to the center of competition against Barcelona's golden era and maintained a good relationship with club president Florentino Pérez.
This is also why the story is difficult to dismiss as mere speculation. Pérez has considered reappointing Mourinho in the past. In 2016, before Manchester United appointed Mourinho, Real considered bringing him back. Although it did not lead to an official offer, links between the two sides have existed for a long time.
Mourinho is also reportedly open to a second stint with Real Madrid. There has been no official offer so far, but taking the reins again at a giant club with 15 UEFA Champions League titles is an opportunity Mourinho would find hard to refuse.
The situation is also awkward. Real Madrid has fallen short of expectations this season. They were eliminated by Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarterfinals and lost to second-division side Albacete in the Copa del Rey, bruising their pride. In La Liga, Barcelona is also close to the title. As the season approaches its end, scrutiny over the manager issue will inevitably sharpen.
In January Real handed the team to Álvaro Arbeloa following Xabi Alonso. Arbeloa is a figure who once played under Mourinho. But the length of his contract and whether this is a long-term project have not been clearly disclosed. That is the background for predictions that Real could again consider a high-profile managerial option.
Mourinho left a strong mark at Real. Over three seasons he led the team to three consecutive Champions League semifinal appearances and won the Copa del Rey. Above all, in the 2011-12 season he reached the top of La Liga and cracked Barcelona's dominance. It was the moment Real regained the league title after four years. There was much controversy, but the achievements were clear.
Mourinho is once again making his presence felt at Benfica. Since taking over in September last year he has kept an unbeaten run in the Portuguese league and put the team in second place. Although Porto secured the title, the changes Mourinho brought to Benfica have been positively evaluated locally.
Of course there are variables. Mourinho is under contract with Benfica until June 2027. He has also been consistently mentioned as a candidate for the Portugal national team job. In fact, the Portuguese Football Federation approached Mourinho in 2023, but he chose to remain at Roma at the time. If Real were to move, they would first have to resolve the contract issue with Benfica.
Still, his name carries weight. Having managed Chelsea, Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma and Fenerbahçe before Benfica, Mourinho remains one of the most influential managers in European football. If Real Madrid wants strong leadership to steady the club, the Mourinho option is sufficiently attractive.
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