Mourinho Begins Second Real Madrid Reign with Barca in His Sights
The Portuguese coach returns after 16 years and will try to restore Madrid’s intensity while using heavy summer spending to close the gap on Barcelona.
- On Saturday, August 22, 2026, Jose Mourinho, Head Coach of Real Madrid, begins his second spell at Espanyol in La Liga, returning 16 years after his first appointment to challenge Barcelona for domestic supremacy.
- Club president Florentino Perez appointed the Portuguese manager following two seasons without a major trophy, a drought that cost Xabi Alonso his job in January. Mourinho aims to restore the intensity of his 2010-2013 tenure.
- Perez sanctioned €500 million in incomings during the club's most expensive transfer window, making Yan Diomande their record signing at €140 million. Bernardo Silva and Marc Cucurella joined as free agents to address balance issues.
- Mourinho describes his return as a "mission" to create "a culture of work, responsibility, ambition" while managing Kylian Mbappe, Jude Bellingham, and Vinicius Junior. The challenge is integrating these attacking talents without compromising defensive stability.
- Early tests include a September 20 derby against Atletico Madrid at the Riyadh Air Metropolitano and an October 25 Clasico at Camp Nou. These fixtures will reveal whether Madrid can end Barcelona's two-season domestic dominance.
11 Articles
11 Articles
Radio France Internationale
Mourinho begins second Real Madrid reign with Barca in his sights
The veteran Portuguese coach returns to the club 16 years after first being appointed but charged with a similar task, deposing Barcelona as the leading club in Spain. Mourinho is also aiming to restore some of the intensity and attitude that defined his first Madrid reign, between 2010-2013, after two seasons without winning a major trophy steered president Florentino Perez back to him. The 15-time European champions have suffered dressing room…
Galacticos 3.0 Thirteen years later, the "Special One" is back in Madrid, with a mission quite similar to that of his earlier days: to stop FC Barcelona's dominance at all costs, the reigning two-time Spanish champions, and help the Madrid club win again. Tasked with restoring order to a fractured dressing room and rebuilding a competitive team, the 63-year-old Portuguese manager, known for his fiery temperament and leadership skills, will have …
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