Real Madrid Need A Good Coach, Says Perez Amid Mourinho Return Talks

Florentino Perez has stated that Real Madrid require a strong coach, as talk grows of Jose Mourinho returning. Perez faces a presidential election and addressed the issue while assessing a squad packed with high-profile stars and a club that ended 2025-26 without silverware.

Asked specifically about the Portuguese coach, Perez told Spain’s national broadcaster TVE: "[He is] a good coach, clearly." Mourinho is currently in charge of Benfica, yet reports in Spain indicate Real Madrid are preparing for a second spell on the Bernabeu bench.

Real Madrid removed Xabi Alonso in January after poor results and placed Alvaro Arbeloa in temporary control. The change did not rescue the season. Real Madrid exited the Copa del Rey early and Bayern Munich knocked the team out of the Champions League.

Domestic form also disappointed. Real Madrid finished well behind Barcelona in LaLiga, ending as distant runners-up. With no trophies in 2025-26, club leaders are evaluating options. Speculation now centres on Mourinho, who previously worked at Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013 and remains a familiar figure.

During the TVE interview, Perez highlighted the strength of Real Madrid’s current squad. "[Kylian] Mbappe, Vincius [Junior], [Jude] Bellingham, [Arda] Guler, [Federico] Valverde, [Aurelien] Tchouameni.They're the best in the world," Perez said. "A good coach, with all these players, is going to make them part of another very important era in Real Madrid history."

Mourinho’s previous stint brought one LaLiga title and strong numbers across competitions. The Portuguese coach handled 174 matches with Real Madrid and won 126 of them, giving a win percentage of 72.4%. Those figures support the view that Mourinho could stabilise Real Madrid again.

Real Madrid’s global stature remains strong off the pitch.

Perez has also called club elections, where Enrique Riquelme is challenging for the presidency, creating an important political backdrop to any coaching decision.

The search for Real Madrid’s next coach is therefore tied to both sporting and electoral issues. Perez has made clear the squad is highly rated and needs the right technical leader. Whether Mourinho is chosen or not, Real Madrid’s management faces a pivotal decision.