Mourinho set to return as Real Madrid manager after Florentino Perez wins eighth presidential term

Jose Mourinho is poised to return as Real Madrid head coach after Florentino Perez secured an eighth term as club president, defeating challenger Enrique Riquelme in Sunday’s election at the Santiago Bernabeu. Reports indicate Mourinho has agreed a three-year deal to replace Alvaro Arbeloa, who took charge in January following Xabi Alonso’s departure.

Perez had made no secret of his intentions during the campaign, openly promising to appoint Mourinho if elected. In his victory statement on the club’s official website, the president confirmed as much: “Proud to have the best players in the world, proud to welcome back one of the best coaches in the world, a Madridista like Jose Mourinho. And rest assured, with me as president, Real Madrid has been, is, and will always remain owned by its members.”

Perez also pledged to spend €150m on an unnamed player — a figure that would represent a new club record — with the signing set to be announced on Tuesday. He additionally named defenders Ibrahima Konate and Denzel Dumfries as his first transfer targets.

Mourinho previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey during that spell. However, the 63-year-old has not claimed a domestic league title since guiding Chelsea to the Premier League in 2014-15. His most recent post at Benfica ended with the club finishing third in the Primeira Liga last season, eight points behind champions Porto, after drawing 11 of their 34 matches.

Perez first became Real Madrid president in 2000 and had run unopposed for each renewal since 2009 before facing a contest this time around. His re-election sets the stage for one of the most high-profile managerial appointments in European football this summer.