Former Real Madrid midfielder favourite to become Mourinho’s assistant next season | OneFootball

The arrival of Jose Mourinho has coincided with Real Madrid making multiple moves in the transfer market, with Marc Cucurella being the latest subject.

But apart from signing new players, Jose Mourinho is also looking for a new assistant who knows the Real Madrid environment very well and can help him revive the unity in the dressing room.

In recent days, Pepe and Ricardo Carvalho have been linked with roles at Real Madrid next season. But a new contender has emerged.

Sami Khedira favourite to become Mourinho’s assistant

According to Diario AS, Sami Khedira has emerged as the leading candidate to be the finishing touch on Mourinho’s new coaching staff at the Bernabeu.

Khedira has been working as a television analyst. (Photo by Alexander Hassenstein/Getty Images for BMW)

The Portuguese coach has been in talks with his former player for several days about joining the setup, with the German now weighing up his response.

Khedira fits the exact profile Mourinho was looking for. His backroom team will consist of five trusted assistants, but the Portuguese coach was determined to add a former Real Madrid player to the group.

One potential complication is Khedira’s lack of coaching experience. Since retiring as a player, the German has built a career as a leading television analyst in his homeland.

He was, in fact, at the Bernabeu, commentating on Real Madrid’s Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich.

Khedira’s Real Madrid legacy

Can Khedira thrive in a coaching role alongside Mourinho? (Photo by Sebastian Widmann/Getty Images)

The German arrived at the club in 2010, the same summer Mourinho took charge, and the pair worked together throughout the Portuguese coach’s three-year spell at the Bernabeu.

During his five seasons in the Spanish capital, Khedira established himself as a reliable and combative presence in midfield, winning a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey and a Spanish Supercup. He made 161 appearances in total.

He formed part of the side that ended Barcelona’s domestic dominance in the 2011-12 season, when Real Madrid claimed the league with a record points tally.

His understanding of both the club and Mourinho’s methods makes him a natural fit for the role.