José Mourinho could be set for a sensational return to Real Madrid if Florentino Pérez is re-elected as club president on Sunday.
Pérez, who is seeking another term at the helm of the Spanish giants, confirmed the potential appointment while campaigning ahead of the election. He is facing competition from renewable energy entrepreneur Enrique Riquelme in what marks Real Madrid’s first contested presidential election in 20 years.
As part of his campaign messaging, Pérez released a short video on social media featuring Mourinho, who simply said: “Yes!”
The clip was accompanied by the slogan “So MOUch history to be made”, a clear reference to the Portuguese coach who previously guided Real Madrid to a record LaLiga points tally in 2012.
The announcement comes after a disappointing domestic season for Real Madrid, with Barcelona securing back-to-back league titles. The Spanish giants have also fallen short in the UEFA Champions League, exiting at the quarter-final stage in each of the last two seasons.
The lack of major silverware has increased pressure on Pérez, leading to the decision to call elections.
Meanwhile, rival candidate Enrique Riquelme appeared on Spanish television programme El Hormiguero, where he revealed Manchester City midfielder and Spain captain Rodri would be his first signing if elected. He also named Erling Haaland as another target and suggested club legend Raúl could take up a sporting director role.
Since leaving Chelsea, Mourinho has had a mixed but trophy-filled managerial journey. He won the League Cup and Europa League with Manchester United and later guided AS Roma to the UEFA Europa Conference League title.
He has also managed Tottenham Hotspur, Fenerbahçe, and most recently Benfica, where he remains under contract until June 2027.
While some analysts believe modern football has evolved beyond Mourinho’s pragmatic style, Pérez appears to value his experience and discipline as Real Madrid aim to rebuild a squad featuring stars such as Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Júnior, and Jude Bellingham.