Ollie Whitmore, Chief Football News Correspondent

José Mourinho has officially been appointed as Real Madrid’s new head coach, marking his return to the club 13 years after his previous tenure with Los Blancos.

The 63-year-old manager has agreed to a three-year deal following his exit from Portuguese club Benfica. His departure from Benfica came through mutual consent at the end of the season, and former Fulham boss is reportedly set to take over at the Portuguese side.

During his first spell at Real Madrid, between 2010 and 2013, Mourinho guided the team to major domestic success, lifting the La Liga title and the Supercopa de España in the 2011–12 season, as well as winning the Copa del Rey in the 2010–11 campaign, before leaving the club on his own terms.

Club president Florentino Pérez had made a campaign promise to bring Mourinho back to the Santiago Bernabéu while seeking re-election to maintain his leadership role within the Real Madrid hierarchy.

The election process slightly postponed Mourinho’s return to the Spanish capital, but Real Madrid have now confirmed his appointment through an official club statement.

The statement read: “The Board of Directors of Real Madrid CF, meeting today Thursday, June 11th, and chaired by Florentino Pérez, has agreed to appoint José Mourinho as first team coach for the next three seasons, until June 30th, 2029.”

As per reports, Mourinho’s contract at Benfica contained a release clause allowing him to leave within ten days of the Liga Portugal season’s conclusion for a compensation fee of approximately £2.5 million. He now faces the challenge of restoring Real Madrid’s winning momentum after a rare season without silverware.