Jose Mourinho has signed a three-year contract to become the new head coach of Real Madrid. The veteran Portuguese manager returns to the Spanish club for a second spell in charge, succeeding the previous regime as the club establishes its technical staff for the upcoming La Liga campaign.
BBC Sport reported that the agreement ties Mourinho to the Santiago Bernabeu until June 2029. The appointment comes amid a busy period of staff restructuring in the Spanish capital, with former interim management personnel confirming departures ahead of the new coaching staff’s arrival. Former Madrid defender Alvaro Arbeloa, who managed the first team during a four-month interim spell, confirmed on Friday that he will leave the club rather than join the incoming backroom staff.
Arbeloa told reporters that Mourinho travels with a complete coaching staff and will be fully supported by his own chosen technical team. Real Madrid, recently named football’s most valuable club in annual European football financial reports, will now begin formal preparations for the pre-season schedule under the Portuguese manager.
Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid Backroom Staff Revealed
João Tralhão and Pedro Machado will serve as the primary assistant coaches in Jose Mourinho’s new Real Madrid backroom setup. The two tactical confidants are moving with the Portuguese manager from Benfica to form the core of his technical team in Spain.
The Athletic and Diario AS reported that Mourinho is installing his trusted inner circle at the Santiago Bernabeu. Tralhão, who previously managed Benfica’s youth academy and worked with Thierry Henry at Monaco, acts as Mourinho’s primary right-hand man. Machado, who joined Mourinho’s setup during his stints at Fenerbahce and Benfica, will balance the assistant duties alongside him.
Italian analyst Roberto Merella is confirmed to continue his long-standing collaboration with Mourinho as Real Madrid’s chief tactical analyst. Merella has worked continuously under the head coach since their time together at Roma in 2022. Additionally, António Dias takes over as the first-team fitness coach, while Nuno Santos is designated as the incoming goalkeeping coach.
The arrival of Mourinho’s team places immediate uncertainty over the long-term roles of existing club staff, specifically fitness coach Antonio Pintus and goalkeeping coach Luis Llopis. While neither Pintus nor Llopis is expected to be dismissed from the club entirely, their exact day-to-day responsibilities within the restructured technical department remain unassigned. Long-time Mourinho staff member Ricardo Formosinho will not be joining the group in Madrid.
