Jose Mourinho ‘agrees to Real Madrid return’ 13 years after leaving the Spanish giants | OneFootball

Jose Mourinho is reportedly set to make a sensational return to Real Madrid as head coach, 13 years after his initial departure from the Spanish giants.

The 63-year-old Portuguese manager is poised to take over from Alvaro Arbeloa, who stepped in after Xabi Alonso was sacked in January. Alonso was appointed the new Chelsea manager on Sunday, and now Mourinho is set to be named as his long-term replacement at Real Madrid.

Real Madrid, despite securing a guaranteed second-place finish in La Liga, currently trail champions Barcelona by 11 points with just one fixture remaining.

Mourinho's impending arrival follows weeks of intense speculation, with club president Florentino Perez reportedly keen for him to spearhead a renewed challenge against Barcelona, who have claimed back-to-back league titles and three of the last four.

The club also wants to reclaim Champions League prominence after their quarter-final exit this season to Bayern Munich, while they also went out at the same stage to Arsenal last term.

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Mourinho is set to return to Madrid (PA)

Perez has faced increasing scrutiny in recent weeks, particularly after two trophy-less seasons, leading to protests during a recent 2-0 league victory over Oviedo at the Bernabéu.

Mourinho's previous three-year tenure at the Santiago Bernabéu, between 2010 and 2013, saw him secure a league title – notably the first team to reach 100 points – and the Copa del Rey.

Most recently, Mourinho was appointed Benfica boss last September, guiding the Portuguese club to an unbeaten third-place finish in the Primeira Liga behind Porto and Sporting Lisbon.

His move back to Madrid has been facilitated by a modest release clause in his Benfica contract, allowing Real to secure his services relatively inexpensively.

Widely regarded as one of world football’s most prominent figures, Mourinho’s career began as an interpreter and assistant to Sir Bobby Robson at Sporting, Porto, and Barcelona.

His managerial journey includes two Primeira Liga successes and a Champions League triumph with Porto in 2004, followed by spells at Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma, Fenerbahce, and Benfica.

His impressive trophy cabinet boasts another European crown with Inter, alongside league titles in England, Spain, and Italy, among a glittering array of domestic and continental honours.