Real Madrid is falling into a period of instability. And every time this team encounters difficulties, President Florentino Perez raises the familiar question, should Jose Mourinho be brought back?
The reason is not complicated. Mourinho once helped Real Madrid escape the period of being overwhelmed by Barcelona. In 2010, when the Royal team was continuously inferior to their arch-rivals, Perez chose the "special one" when he just won the UEFA Champions League with Inter Milan.
Despite starting with a heavy defeat at El Clasico, Mourinho quickly changed the situation. He not only caused Barcelona many professional difficulties, but also pushed the tension of the match to an unprecedented high, to the point of affecting the inside of the Spanish national team.
In that atmosphere of confrontation, Mourinho's pragmatic and calculated philosophy worked effectively. He helped Real Madrid end their title drought with the 2011 Copa del Rey championship, before overthrowing Barcelona's dominance in La Liga the following season.
However, in 2013, Mourinho left after a controversial term. He had conflicts with players, the media and many members of the club. Most did not regret that departure, except for Perez.
Since then, the President of Real Madrid has repeatedly considered reappointing Mourinho, in 2015, 2016, 2018, 2023 and now, according to British media, this idea is once again being seriously put forward.
Perez seems to see similarities between the present and 2010. And to some extent, this assessment is not without basis. Real Madrid once again faces the risk of closing the season for the second consecutive season without winning any major titles - something unacceptable at the Bernabeu. They are also overshadowed by a rising Barcelona, led by a left-footed striker rich in mutations.
However, the problem is that Mourinho is no longer the "golden hand" as before. He is still a controversial name, but no longer accompanied by commensurate success. In the past decade, Mourinho has not won any national championship titles, and the most recent significant title is only the UEFA Europa Conference League title in 2022. This is clear proof of the changed position of the coach who has twice won the Champions League.
The fact that Mourinho is still on Perez's priority list shows worrying signs of deadlock in direction. As the top-level showdown between Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich at Parc des Princes has revealed, modern football is operating according to standards that Mourinho can hardly still fit.
If Perez still seriously considers this option, it further shows that Real Madrid is facing a big problem. A decision that has been controversial in the past, if repeated at the present time, is not only unconvincing but also potentially more risky than ever.
