Mourinho confirmed as Real Madrid head coach after Perez re-election in 2026

Jose Mourinho will officially become Real Madrid's new head coach after Florentino Perez secured re-election as club president.

Mourinho's coaching deal Jose Mourinho is set to be officially named Real Madrid's head coach after Florentino Perez was re-elected as president, extending his leadership until 2030. The Portuguese manager, aged 63, agreed to a three-year contract last month, but the deal only becomes active following Perez's victory in the election. Mourinho's last major trophy came in 2022 with Roma in the Europa Conference League. ## Perez secures another term Florentino Perez, 79, won re-election as Real Madrid president with 65% of the vote, remaining in office since 2009. He announced his victory at an extraordinary press conference the previous month and declared his commitment to continuing the club's success. Perez emphasized his ongoing dedication to Real Madrid, stating his intention to keep winning titles and pursue a historic 16th European Cup. ## Perez outlines future plans Perez outlined his future goals for the club, including securing what he called the biggest player deal in Real Madrid's history if re-elected. He also highlighted the club's ownership structure, emphasizing that Real Madrid remains fully member-owned. The president expressed pride in the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium, calling it the best in the world, and praised the club's world-class players. ## Election results and challenger Real Madrid's presidential election saw Florentino Perez win decisively with 21,741 votes, defeating challenger Enrique Riquelme, who received 11,814 votes (35%). This was the first presidential election in 20 years to feature an opponent. Perez secured 100% of the in-person and postal votes counted, reinforcing his strong mandate from club members. ## Mourinho's Benfica exit Jose Mourinho is departing his role as Benfica manager, where he started in September and guided the team to third place in the Primeira Liga this season. His departure comes after a brief spell in charge, following a previous successful tenure at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013. During that time, Mourinho won La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup. ## Real Madrid's coaching transition Mourinho will take over from Alvaro Arbeloa, who was appointed as head coach in January following Xabi Alonso's exit. Real Madrid ended the 2025-26 season without any trophies, with Barcelona claiming the La Liga title after a 2-0 victory in El Clasico.