José Mourinho appointed Real Madrid head coach for second stint

José Mourinho has returned to Real Madrid as the senior team's head coach, marking his second spell at the club. The 63‑year‑old manager is expected to impose strict discipline and has been given full authority over future player signings. Within days of his appointment, four high‑profile acquisitions—Bernardo Silva, Denzel Dumfries, Marc Cucurella and Ibrahima Konaté—were confirmed, with at least two more signings still pending.

In a related development, midfielder Federico Valverde has been named club captain for the upcoming season, succeeding veteran Dani Carvajal. Valverde, a long‑serving member of the squad since 2016, will lead the team on the field as Mourinho seeks to restore Real Madrid's trophy‑winning form after two seasons without silverware. Portuguese midfielder Sidny Cabral of Benfica described Mourinho as exceptionally direct, recalling a blunt criticism after a poor performance.

Mourinho also discussed his approach to assistant coaches, emphasizing a flexible, collaborative staff structure that he likens to a “polyamorous” model, drawing on decades of experience across Europe’s top clubs.