José Mourinho Begins Second Era at Real Madrid
José Mourinho has never been one to wait for the official start date. While the squad’s return from holiday is set for next Monday, the Portuguese coach has already walked through the doors of Real Madrid City and gone straight to work.
He marked the moment in typically direct fashion on social media: a photo from his first day back as Real Madrid manager, captioned with just two words and a couple of exclamation marks – “Let’s go!!”. No grand speech, no manifesto. Just a clear signal that his second spell in Madrid has begun.
This is the restart of a story that once crackled with tension, trophies and controversy. Now, it opens a new chapter in Valdebebas, with Mourinho visibly energised and ready to take on a very different dressing room from the one he left.
Valdebebas wakes up on July 13
The real bustle at the training ground will arrive on Monday, July 13. That’s when the players who did not take part in the World Cup are due to report for medical tests and the first steps of pre-season.
Among those expected are Dean Huijsen, Franco Mastantuono and Trent Alexander-Arnold, names that reflect both the club’s future and its present star power. They will be the first group to work under Mourinho before the World Cup returnees drip back into the fold later on.
For some, it will be a first encounter with the Setúbal coach. For others, it will be an early chance to impress a manager known for forming tight inner circles and demanding absolute commitment from day one.
Khedira on the bench, not in midfield
Behind the scenes, the structure around Mourinho is already in place. The club has confirmed his coaching staff, a blend of trusted compatriots and a familiar former player.
Joao Tralhao and Pedro Machado will join him as assistant coaches, forming the core of the technical team on the training pitch. Alongside them, one name immediately jumps out: Sami Khedira.
The former Real Madrid midfielder, who won titles under Mourinho in his first spell, now returns in a very different role, also as an assistant coach. The German’s presence offers a direct link to the past, a bridge between the old Mourinho era and this new one, and a voice who understands both the demands of the club and the methods of the coach.
Antonio Días will take charge of fitness, a crucial position in a season that will again stretch players to their limits across multiple competitions. Nuno Santos steps in as goalkeeping coach, tasked with shaping the last line of defence in a team that will be judged as much on resilience as on flair.
The faces are set. The date is marked. Mourinho has already put his boots on the training ground at Valdebebas; on July 13, his players start to follow. The second Mourinho project at Real Madrid is no longer a promise or a headline. It has quietly, decisively, begun.
