Jose Mourinho's Benfica are third in the Primeira Liga table.

Jose Mourinho is in final negotiations to become Real Madrid's next head coach, 13 years after his first spell at the Bernabeu. The 63-year-old is the clear favourite - and currently the only candidate Real are in talks with over the role. He would replace current head coach Alvaro Arbeloa, who only took charge in January following Xabi Alonso's departure.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez first considered the possibility of Mourinho's return two days after Xabi Alonso left the club, during initial conversations with the Portuguese coach's representatives. Mourinho has been manager of Benfica, in his native Portugal, since joining on a two-year contract last September, and only yesterday told media he did not want to talk about his future just yet. "There's a match against Estoril, and from Monday onwards I'll be able to answer questions about my future as a coach and Benfica's future," he said.

Saturday's game against Estoril Praia is Benfica's last of the season. From Sunday, Real Madrid will have a window to complete a deal for Mourinho at a relatively low cost. A clause in his contract allows him to leave for 3m euros (£2.6m) up to 10 days after Benfica play their final match of the season.

He was in charge at Real between 2010 and 2013, winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. After leaving the club he returned to England for a second stint at Chelsea, winning the third of his three Premier League titles, plus the EFL Cup, in the 2014-15 season. Following his departure from the Blues by mutual consent in 2015, Mourinho then joined Manchester United on a three-year deal in 2016. He won the Europa League, EFL Cup and Community Shield during his first season at Old Trafford but was sacked in December 2018 after a poor run of results.

Mourinho also had spells at Tottenham, Serie A side Roma, where he won the Europa Conference League in 2022, and Turkish club Fenerbahce, before taking over at Benfica last year.

Meanwhile, Real have ended their 2025-26 campaign trophyless, with rivals Barcelona sealing the La Liga title with a 2-0 El Clasico victory and by a 14-point margin. Los Blancos' Champions League run ended with a 6-4 aggregate defeat by German champions Bayern Munich in the quarter-finals.

Off the pitch, the club fined midfielders Aurelien Tchouameni and Federico Valverde a combined 1m euros this month following a dressing room row. Valverde, 27, went to hospital with a head injury after the spat with 26-year-old France international Tchouameni but denied the pair "came to blows".

The logic behind Real Madrid's decision is clear. The club were not simply searching for a tactician. They were looking for a manager capable of restoring authority, identity and emotional control to a fractured squad after a turbulent season. One of the biggest reasons behind Mourinho's appeal is the current state of the dressing room, highlighted by the spat between Tchouameni and Valverde.

Earlier this month, defender Alvaro Carreras was forced to respond to reports linking him to a disagreement with team-mate Antonio Rudiger, while there has also been growing scrutiny surrounding Kylian Mbappe after the forward travelled to Sardinia during his recovery from a hamstring injury. The trip sparked backlash among supporters, with an 'Mbappe Out' petition reportedly attracting more than 73 million signatures.

With the dressing room in turmoil and the club's reputation on the line, Real Madrid need a strong leader to steer the team back on course next season. Against that backdrop, Florentino Perez is likely to view Mourinho as the ideal figure to restore order and authority within the dressing room. The club will hope he can rebuild a side that fights collectively rather than individually, and to manage some of football's biggest personalities, several of whom have faced criticism this season for acting egotistically.

Mourinho's appointment will also come with the expectation to deliver titles. Real will finish their second consecutive season without a trophy, a rare drought by the club's high standards. They lost 2-0 to Barcelona on Sunday in a Clasico that handed the Catalan giants the title. Real had just one shot on target. The last time that happened in a league game was February 2023. The club is performing well below expectations and the pressure, therefore, on Mourinho to reclaim domestic and European dominance will be immense.

Listen to the latest Football Daily podcast.