José Mourinho Begins Second Spell as Real Madrid Manager as Pre-Season Training Gets Underway
The Portuguese tactician started work at Valdebebas with medical exams and a streamlined squad following Florentino Pérez's re-election.
José Mourinho has officially commenced his second tenure as Real Madrid manager, leading his first training session at the club’s Valdebebas training complex on Monday, 13 July 2026.
According to a report by Mundo Deportivo, the Portuguese manager began the day on Monday morning with player medical examinations at the Clínica Sanitas facility. He subsequently took charge of his opening training session at 17:00 local time.
A Streamlined Squad on Day One
The initial squad is heavily depleted due to international schedules. Players with World Cup commitments, including Jude Bellingham, Kylian Mbappé, Vinícius Jr, and Thibaut Courtois, are currently absent and will rejoin the squad on a staggered basis. Consequently, the first players to work directly under Mourinho in this new tenure include Eduardo Camavinga, Franco Mastantuono, Trent Alexander-Arnold, and Dean Huijsen. To maintain training numbers, Mourinho is utilizing players from Real Madrid’s reserve team, Castilla.
The Backdrop to Another New Era
Mourinho’s return follows a period of managerial transition at the Santiago Bernabéu. The club’s previous project under Xabi Alonso lasted approximately one year, followed by a six-month tenure under Álvaro Arbeloa, who had stepped up from youth-team duties. Mourinho’s appointment was finalized after Florentino Pérez secured re-election as club president. Football España previously reported early recruitment activity and coaching staff adjustments ahead of the pre-season launch.
No date has been confirmed for Mourinho’s formal press presentation, Mundo Deportivo reported. While the core structure of the squad is considered settled, both incoming and outgoing transfers remain possible.
Background
Mourinho first managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013. During his initial three-year tenure, he led the club to a La Liga title in the 2011–12 season, achieving a record 100 points, as well as a Copa del Rey in 2011 and a Supercopa de España in 2012. His return to Valdebebas—the club’s 1.2 million-square-meter training complex opened in 2005—marks a reunion with president Florentino Pérez, who has led the club across two distinct presidential eras (2000–2006 and 2009–present).
