Florentino Pérez announces José Mourinho as his Real Madrid coach if he wins Sunday's election

The announcement

Florentino Pérez, the current president and candidate for re-election at Real Madrid, made the announcement official on Wednesday night via a video posted on his campaign's social media account. The video features the slogan "MOUcha historia por hacer," a play on his campaign motto "Mucha historia por hacer" (A lot of history to be made). In the footage, a smiling José Mourinho appears wearing a Real Madrid shirt and says simply "sí" (yes).

While on TV they talk and talk and talk...

The timing was deliberate. The video was released just as rival candidate Enrique Riquelme began a live interview on the Spanish television program 'El Hormiguero', where he was expected to announce his own star signing.

The election context

Real Madrid is in the middle of an electoral process. Florentino Pérez, who served as president from 2000 to 2006 and again from 2009 until he called early elections a few weeks ago, is asking club members for their vote. The election is scheduled for Sunday, 8 June 2026, though one source (SAPO) cites the date as 7 June. If Pérez wins, Mourinho will return to the bench he left 13 years ago.

Mourinho's previous tenure

José Mourinho previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013. During that first spell, he won three trophies: one LaLiga title, one Copa del Rey, and one Spanish Super Cup. His departure in 2013 came after three turbulent seasons. The Portuguese coach's return would reportedly cost Benfica 15 million euros, with the Lisbon club already moving to appoint Marco Silva as his replacement.

Squad planning underway

Mourinho has already submitted his list of demands, accelerating a planning process that was already in motion. The coach made clear from day one that the team's defence needed immediate reconstruction. The past season exposed a back line that operated for months with emergency solutions, with the departures of Carvajal and Alaba, plus prolonged absences of Militão and Mendy, taking their toll.

Two defensive targets have been identified. Ibrahima Konaté, the 26-year-old French centre-back, is out of contract with Liverpool and available on a free transfer — an operation the club considers one of the most efficient of the European summer. Mourinho values Konaté's defensive style and his ability to organise the back line, where he would join Huijsen and Rüdiger while awaiting Militão's return. The second name is Denzel Dumfries, the Inter Milan right-back, who can leave the Italian club via a release clause close to 20 million euros. The Dutch international offers physical power, constant attacking runs, and experience — exactly what Mourinho wants for a right flank left exposed during the previous campaign. His arrival would also put pressure on Trent Alexander-Arnold, whose first season at Real Madrid fell short of expectations.