The exit marks the end of a brief but impactful chapter for Mourinho at the Estadio da Luz, where he previously served as an assistant and had a short-lived first stint as manager in 2000. Now, he returns to a club where he enjoyed immense success between 2010 and 2013, a period during which he famously broke Barcelona’s domestic dominance to win La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup.
Real have paved the way for Mourinho’s official return by announcing the exit of current head coach Alvaro Arbeloa on Tuesday night. The club said in a statement: “Real Madrid CF and Álvaro Arbeloa have reached an agreement to end his time as first team coach. Real Madrid is deeply grateful to Álvaro Arbeloa, who throughout his time at the club, from his time in our youth academy, has consistently demonstrated loyalty, commitment, and professionalism. He exemplifies the values of our club. Real Madrid, which will always be his home, wishes Álvaro Arbeloa and his entire family the best of luck in this new stage of their lives.”
