Jose Mourinho leaves Portugal job to become Real Madrid manager

Jose Mourinho abandoned a verbally‑agreed four‑year contract to coach Portugal and took over as Real Madrid head coach in June 2026. The 63‑year‑old was confirmed as Alvaro Arbeloa’s replacement, ending his previous stint with the Spanish club in 2013. Mourinho’s decision forces the Portuguese federation to find a new manager before the 2030 World Cup, which Portugal will co‑host with Morocco and Spain. The move also raises questions about Cristiano Ronaldo’s future with the national team, as the striker remains a key player under outgoing boss Roberto Martinez. Martinez has hinted he will leave after the tournament, confirming the coaching vacuum created by Mourinho’s switch.

Real Madrid’s appointment of Mourinho is seen as a major coup for the club, rekindling the former boss’s ties with the Bernabeu and potentially reshaping the team’s tactical direction ahead of upcoming domestic and European campaigns.