Jose Mourinho left Real Madrid in 2013 as one of the most celebrated managers in world football. Thirteen years later, the self-proclaimed 'Special One' is back at the Bernabeu, tasked with restoring a club that has had two successive seasons without a trophy. But Mourinho's return raises an intriguing question.
Is the 63-year-old still capable of reaching the heights of his past, or has Real Madrid's president Florentino Perez turned to a manager whose best days are behind him? Speaking on the More Than The Score podcast, BBC Sport spoke to those who know Mourinho best to assess whether he can make a success of his second spell with Los Blancos. Mourinho says he agreed to replace Ferguson at Man Utd New season, new boss - will Alexander-Arnold be key figure at Real Madrid?
Mourinho has won only one title since he left Madrid, the Premier League during his second stint at Chelsea in 2015. His subsequent spells at Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma, Fenerbahce and Benfica have produced moments of success in cup competitions, but also considerable turbulence. Spanish football expert Eduardo Alvarez believes Mourinho's appointment came about because club president Perez took inspiration from Carlo Ancelotti's successful second spell at the club.
"I think he's betting on a second stint with Mourinho because Ancelotti was successful during his and it's a very similar case," Alvarez told BBC Sport. "Ancelotti was coaching Everton, probably not at the top of his game anymore, 60 years old and suddenly, when he went to Real Madrid again, it worked out and he won the Champions League. "Mourinho falls into the category of Real Madrid not being a manager's club but being a player's club.
Even though Mourinho is a very prominent manager, the way he manages is not tactically intense, but more player-intense, which is what I believe Florentino needs." An iron fist joining a broken team: Inside Mourinho's Real return What now for Vinicius Jr after Mourinho signs Real Madrid deal? But there is a former Real president who believes Mourinho will have to change if he is to succeed. Ramon Calderon, who led the club from 2006 to 2009, has welcomed the appointment, but warned the Portuguese cannot simply recreate the approach of his first spell.
"He's going to need to change the behaviour and the attitude of the players," he told BBC Sport. "He showed, when he was at Real 13 years ago, a lot of protagonism. He had many problems with clubs, rivals, referees and was always blaming others for the defeats and not taking the responsibility.
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