Coach Jose Mourinho has returned to Real Madrid and is once again mentioned as a candidate for the Champions League title. However, at the age of 63, after more than a decade without winning major domestic titles or the Champions League, the "Special One" must prove that he can still make a difference in a changed football world.
Mourinho's coaching career can be divided into two stages before and after his time leading Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013. Before coming to Bernabeu, he won the Champions League with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010, along with 6 domestic championships in 7 seasons with Porto, Chelsea and Inter.
But after 3 years at Real Madrid, Mourinho only had the additional La Liga and Spanish King's Cup titles. Since then, his career has not maintained its previous position.
The only major title in more than a decade has been the Premier League 2014-2015 with Chelsea. He still won the League Cup and Europa League with Manchester United, Conference League with AS Roma, but these successes could not bring Mourinho back to the top European coaching group.
Being sacked by Fenerbahce in the 2024-2025 season once made Mourinho's future uncertain. After a short time at Benfica, he was unexpectedly given the opportunity by Florentino Perez to return to Real Madrid.
Recently, Mourinho has been overshadowed by names like Pep Guardiola, Zinedine Zidane, Carlo Ancelotti and Jurgen Klopp. However, by 2026, Guardiola, Zidane, Ancelotti and Klopp have all left club football. Among his colleagues of the same generation, only Luis Enrique of Paris Saint-Germain still has Champions League achievements enough to compete with Mourinho.
Los Blancos also possess a squad capable of helping Mourinho think about the European championship. Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, Yan Diomande and Jude Bellingham are all capable of shining in big matches. Behind them is Thibaut Courtois, who is considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world.
That formula is consistent with Mourinho's philosophy: the attack has the ability to decide the match, while the defense system is tightly organized. However, the most difficult problem may lie in the dressing room.
Mourinho once left Real Madrid after conflicts with Sergio Ramos, Iker Casillas and Cristiano Ronaldo. In many subsequent clubs, Mourinho's relationship with star players also often became a problem. Real Madrid is a special environment, where top players have a very big voice.
Zidane and Ancelotti once controlled the dressing room thanks to their position, personality and achievements. Mourinho will have to prove that he has become more "mature" than when he first worked at the Bernabeu and can connect a team of many stars.
The challenge is even greater when Xabi Alonso only stayed for about 6 months last season after disagreements with key players. Mourinho needs to avoid repeating that scenario if he wants to bring Real Madrid back to the top.
Real Madrid is giving Mourinho the opportunity to rewrite the unfinished story. He cannot turn back time, but another Champions League title will be the strongest affirmation that the "Special One" still has the ability to create special things.
