Real Madrid finished a second consecutive season without a major trophy. Xabi Alonso was sacked in January, with former Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa promoted from Real Madrid Castilla to take charge on an interim basis for the remainder of the campaign.
Arbeloa confirmed on May 22 that the match against Athletic Club the following day would be his final game in charge.
UK ONLY
“I want to see a great match and say goodbye to the fans by giving them a victory and a great effort. Playing the last game at home is special and different. The most important thing on a day like tomorrow is to make them enjoy it,” Arbeloa said.
“Hopefully, it’s a ‘see you later’ because I have always considered this my home. I have been part of Real Madrid for 20 years in many roles, and I will always consider it my home.
“It’s clear that this will be my last match this season as coach of Real Madrid, but I don’t know if it will be the last of my life as a Real Madrid coach. I will try to enjoy it and focus on winning.”
Just a few months ago, the prospect of Jose Mourinho returning to Madrid appeared highly unlikely. The Portuguese coach’s long managerial career seemed to be approaching a quiet conclusion.
The controversy surrounding Madrid’s Champions League clashes with Benfica in February further damaged the chances of a reunion.
Mourinho also faced criticism after appearing to blame Vinicius Junior for the racist abuse the Brazilian has suffered at several Spanish stadiums, comments that many believed ended any possibility of a return to the Bernabeu.
According to BBC Sport, Jose Mourinho has signed a three-year deal to become Real Madrid’s new head coach. The 63-year-old will not be officially unveiled until after the club’s presidential election on June 7.
Mourinho is leaving Benfica after guiding the Portuguese side to a third-place finish in the Primeira Liga following his appointment in September.
During his previous spell at Madrid between 2010 and 2013, Mourinho won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.
He will replace Arbeloa at the Santiago Bernabeu. After leaving Real Madrid in 2013, Mourinho returned to Chelsea for a second spell, winning the Premier League title and EFL Cup in the 2014-15 season.
He left the club by mutual consent in 2015 before taking charge of Manchester United in 2016. At Old Trafford, he won the Europa League, EFL Cup and Community Shield in his first season, but was dismissed in December 2018 after a poor run of form.
Mourinho later managed Tottenham Hotspur, AS Roma – where he won the Europa Conference League in 2022 – and Turkish side Fenerbahce before his brief spell at Benfica.