Real Madrid is once again falling into crisis. And like many times in the past, every time the Royal Spanish team struggles, President Florentino Perez raises the same question, should Jose Mourinho be brought back?
That is not a new idea. In fact, Perez has considered reuniting with Mourinho many times since the Portuguese strategist left Bernabeu in 2013.
When Mourinho arrived in Madrid in 2010, Real was in a period of being completely overwhelmed by Barcelona under Pep Guardiola. Not only failing in achievements, Los Blancos were also often overshadowed by their age-old opponent in both playing style and image.
Perez then chose Mourinho because he was the one who had just eliminated Barcelona with Inter Milan on the journey to win the 2010 Champions League. Mourinho was expected to be a person with enough personality and pragmatism to break down Guardiola's power in Spain.
His start was not easy at all. The first El Clasico ended in a humiliating 0-5 defeat to Barcelona at Camp Nou. But Mourinho quickly changed the situation by dragging Real Madrid into a real battle with their arch-rivals from Catalunya.
Under Mourinho, El Clasico became the focus of unprecedented tensions, from the pitch to the press conference room. The feud between the two teams even affected the internal affairs of the Spanish national team when Real and Barca player groups continuously clashed.
However, in that atmosphere full of confrontation, Mourinho helped Los Blancos regain their winning spirit. He ended his three-year title drought with the 2011 Copa del Rey championship after defeating Barcelona in the final, before leading Real to win La Liga in the 2011-2012 season with a record number of points at that time, thereby ending Barca's three consecutive years of dominance.
However, Mourinho's term in Madrid gradually became chaotic. He continuously had conflicts with players, the media and many figures in the club. In the summer of 2013, Mourinho left Bernabeu in a chaotic atmosphere and almost without regret.
But there is one person who has never really given up the idea of reuniting with the "Special One", that is Perez. According to Spanish media, Perez considered bringing Mourinho back in 2015, 2016, 2018 and 2023. And now, in the context that Real Madrid continues to experience a disappointing season with a series of internal instabilities, the name Mourinho has once again appeared in discussions at the Bernabeu.
Perez sees similarities between Real Madrid's current crisis and the period of 2010 - the time he decided to hand over the team to Mourinho.
In both periods, Real Madrid faced the risk of going through two consecutive seasons without a title - something that was almost unacceptable at the Bernabeu. And like more than a decade ago, they continued to be overshadowed by a convincing Barcelona, led by a left-footed attacking star with many breakthroughs. But there is a very big difference, Mourinho is no longer the "Special One" as before.
The Portuguese strategist still creates controversy and attracts attention wherever he appears, but he no longer maintains the ability to conquer titles like at his peak. Mourinho has not won any domestic leagues in the past 11 years, and his most recent title is only the UEFA Conference League with AS Roma in 2022.
With a coach who has twice won the Champions League and is considered a symbol of victory in modern football, that reality partly reflects the decline in Mourinho's position and professional influence.
