Real Madrid is intensifying its search for a new coach as the season nears its end without trophies. José Mourinho has emerged as the leading candidate amidst internal discussions following the team's elimination from European competition.
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LISBON, PORTUGAL - APRIL 19: Head Coach Jose Mourinho of SL Benfica gestures during the Liga Portugal Betclic match between Sporting CP and SL Benfica at Estadio Jose Alvalade on April 19, 2026 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Gualter Fatia/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Real Madrid are approaching a pivotal summer, and after a season that now appears destined to end without silverware, the club’s focus has shifted fully toward rebuilding for next year.
The aftermath of Madrid’s European elimination against Bayern Munich accelerated internal discussions that had already been taking place behind the scenes for weeks. The biggest question facing the club is straightforward: who will coach Real Madrid next season?
While Álvaro Arbeloa still retains support from some influential voices within Valdebebas, recent results — combined with growing tensions inside the dressing room — have pushed the club closer toward making a managerial change.
According to multiple reports in Spain and Portugal, Real Madrid are waiting for the league title race to become mathematically impossible before making any formal moves. That scenario could arrive as soon as this weekend if Madrid fail to beat Barcelona.
Once that happens, the expectation is that the club will move quickly.
Real Madrid historically do not allow managerial situations to drag on unnecessarily, and internally the groundwork for a transition has already been established. The shortlist has reportedly narrowed considerably in recent weeks, with only a handful of serious candidates remaining under discussion. And increasingly, one name stands above the rest: José Mourinho.
Real Madrid is seeking a new coach due to a disappointing season that is likely to end without any silverware and growing tensions within the team.
José Mourinho has emerged as the leading candidate to take over as head coach for Real Madrid next season.
Factors influencing the decision include recent poor results, the team's elimination from European competition, and internal tensions within the squad.
The elimination from Bayern Munich has accelerated discussions about a managerial change, prompting the club to focus on rebuilding for the next season.
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Florentino Pérez’s admiration for Mourinho has never faded. The relationship between president and coach remains strong years after Mourinho’s first spell at the Bernabéu, a period Florentino still views as foundational to the winning culture that followed.
Inside the club, there is a growing belief that Madrid may need a strong personality capable of restoring order to a squad that has experienced visible internal friction in recent weeks.
Clashes between players — including two physical altercations involving Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde — have only intensified the sense that the dressing room requires a firm hand. Mourinho’s supporters inside the club believe his experience managing elite-level egos and tense environments makes him uniquely suited for the challenge. His familiarity with the club also works heavily in his favor.
That said, Mourinho is not the only name being considered.
Mauricio Pochettino remains admired by Florentino Pérez, though his candidacy reportedly lacks the same excitement among supporters. Jürgen Klopp and Zinedine Zidane are viewed as dream options by large sections of the fanbase, but neither appears realistically attainable. Klopp has never seriously entered the conversation, while Zidane is still believed to be prioritizing the France national team job after the World Cup.
Didier Deschamps has also been discussed internally. His relationship with Madrid’s French core and his stature within the game make him an appealing option, though there is no indication that negotiations have advanced significantly.
Lionel Scaloni’s name has surfaced as well, largely because of his success with Argentina, but concerns remain over his lack of experience coaching at club level.
For now, the club is moving cautiously. Barcelona’s march toward the title has created a sense of inevitability around the end of Madrid’s domestic hopes, but no final decision has officially been made.
The Mourinho possibility has generated major attention beyond Spain, particularly in Portugal, where Benfica are already preparing for the possibility that their current coach could leave for Madrid.
Portuguese outlet A Bola reported that Benfica increasingly believe Mourinho could return to the Santiago Bernabéu, prompting the Lisbon club to begin identifying replacement options of their own.
Marco Silva has emerged as Benfica’s preferred candidate. The Fulham manager is highly regarded in Portugal for the work he has done in the Premier League and for his attacking football philosophy, which aligns closely with Benfica president Rui Costa’s vision for the club.
Ultimately, though, everything depends on Real Madrid taking the first step.
Until the title race is officially over, the club will continue operating carefully behind the scenes. But once the season’s failure is mathematically confirmed, the expectation is that Madrid will accelerate toward a new era.