Jose Mourinho is expected to return to Real Madrid on an initial two-year contract after the club's final match against Athletic Club on May 24. The important part is not the nostalgia. Madrid have gone two consecutive seasons without a major trophy, and that explains why they are turning back to a coach with a history of imposing order when a project starts to drift.

This would be Mourinho's second spell at Real Madrid, after three years in charge between 2010 and 2013. Reports still differ slightly on the timing and language around the move, with some describing a full or verbal agreement and others stopping short of an official appointment. What seems clear is that the deal is advanced and the club are moving toward a formal change.

Why Madrid are making this move now

The easy version of this story is that Madrid are bringing back a familiar name. The more convincing one is that the club have decided the current situation needs authority and a reset.

Real Madrid are second in La Liga with 83 points. Their league record stands at 26 wins, 5 draws and 6 defeats from 37 matches. That is not the profile of a team in freefall, and it matters because it rules out the lazy idea that this is a panic move caused by a collapse in the table.

It is more demanding than that. Madrid have still fallen short where it counts most for them, and two straight seasons without a major trophy is enough to make any internal tension feel much bigger. Their recent league form, WWLWD, underlines a team that has remained competitive without quite looking settled enough.

That is why Mourinho makes sense here. Not because he is a sentimental choice, but because clubs in this position often want a manager who can impose structure quickly and take control of the dressing room noise.

There is also a wider sign of instability. Madrid are making a managerial change for the second summer in a row, with Alvaro Arbeloa not being kept on. That is rarely how a club behaves when it believes the existing plan only needs minor tweaks.

Mourinho's first spell also gives Madrid something concrete to point to. He won three domestic trophies in that period: La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. That does not guarantee anything now, but it does explain why the club would see him as more than a symbolic appointment.

What is still unresolved about the appointment

The main uncertainty is not whether Mourinho is seriously in the frame. It is whether the process is complete enough to call it done.

Some reports frame the move as an agreement already in place. Others describe it as set to be finalised, with the signing expected after the Athletic Club game on May 24 or early next week. In practical terms, that is a small gap. In reporting terms, it matters, because there is still a difference between an expected contract and an official appointment.

That distinction should stop the story being overstated. Mourinho is not back in the dugout yet. He is, though, close enough to the role that the conversation has already shifted from whether Madrid want him to what his second spell would look like.

There is one other detail worth handling carefully. Some of the noise around Mourinho's recent work at Benfica has been inconsistent. The available reporting supports that Benfica had an unbeaten league campaign but still finished third, so any claim that he led them to a title does not hold up.

What Mourinho's second spell could look like

The first clue may be in midfield. Mourinho is already being linked with Rodri as an early signing target, which fits the broader idea of this appointment. If Madrid want more control and leadership, Rodri is an obvious name to surface.

The problem is that interest is one thing and a deal is another. Pete O'Rourke told givemesport.com: "It's obviously not going to be easy, because Manchester City do not want to lose such a key player as Rodri."

That resistance is backed up by his numbers. Rodri has a 7.44 Premier League rating, along with 20 appearances and 1423 minutes. Those are not the numbers of a player drifting out of the picture at Manchester City.

Rodri has also left some room for long-term speculation. Speaking to goal.com, he said: "There have been many players who've gone down that path. Not immediately, but over time. For me, you can't turn down the best clubs in the world."

That does not make a transfer imminent, and Madrid should not be treated as if they are already building around him. What it does suggest is the type of player Mourinho would want if this second spell is going to be about restoring authority on the pitch as much as off it.

For now, the key date remains May 24. If the expected signing follows Real Madrid's final game, Mourinho's return will move from advanced talks to formal appointment, and Madrid will have made their verdict on the last two seasons unmistakably clear.

FAQ

Why are Real Madrid turning back to Jose Mourinho now?

The move looks like a response to pressure rather than a nostalgia hire. Real Madrid have gone two consecutive seasons without a major trophy and are making a managerial change for the second summer in a row. Their league season has still been strong enough for second place and 83 points, which suggests the club sees a need for a reset, not a rescue from collapse.

Has Jose Mourinho officially been appointed by Real Madrid?

Not yet. Reports point to an agreement and say Mourinho is expected to sign an initial two-year contract, but the appointment has not been officially announced. The timing is also not fully settled, with reports ranging from after the final match against Athletic Club on May 24 to early next week.

When could Jose Mourinho sign his new Real Madrid contract?

The clearest reporting says Mourinho is expected to sign an initial two-year contract after Real Madrid's final match against Athletic Club on May 24. Other reports use slightly different timing, suggesting the formal step could come early next week, so the agreement looks advanced even if the exact announcement date is still fluid.

Is Rodri really a target for Mourinho at Real Madrid?

He is being linked as an early target, but there is no certainty over a deal. Rodri has been mentioned as a midfielder who would bring control and leadership, yet [Manchester City](club:manchester-city) are not expected to make any move easy. Pete O'Rourke told givemesport.com: "It's obviously not going to be easy, because Manchester City do not want to lose such a key player as Rodri."

Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 7 outlets. How we work →