José Mourinho will not be sitting on the bench at the Santiago Bernabéu this Wednesday — and, barring a major twist, he won’t be doing so in the near future either.
His absence this week is the direct result of his own actions: repeated, largely unjustified protests during the first leg of the Champions League Playoff, which earned him a suspension. As for the long‑term picture, the reality is simple: Real Madrid isn’t considering Mourinho as a future head coach.
Many fans believe that everything that happened during and after the first leg between Benfica and Real Madrid effectively closed the door on a Mourinho return. But the truth is that such a possibility hasn’t been on the table for weeks. The club’s leadership has a very different vision for the future of the Madrid bench.
According to reporting from this newspaper, Real Madrid’s priority is Álvaro Arbeloa. His true test will come later, but confidence in him took a hit after Saturday’s loss in Pamplona. The club acknowledges that it has adjusted some decisions to better align players with their natural positions, but those tweaks weren’t enough against Osasuna.
Madrid is watching the market — but not thinking about Mourinho
Of course, Real Madrid is monitoring the coaching market, but that’s as far as things have gone. Mourinho has not been considered a candidate, a rumor he himself shut down emphatically before Tuesday’s match. “There is no possibility,” he said. The club also hasn’t explored the idea of Unai Emery as a future option.
Mourinho did confirm that both he and Benfica have the ability to terminate his contract at any time — a clause previously reported by AS. Still, he’s happy in Lisbon after overcoming early challenges in his return to Portuguese soccer. For now, he isn’t thinking about leaving, and he continues to remind everyone that Real Madrid was never an option.
The first leg at Da Luz changed the mood
After the heated first leg of the playoff that determines entry into the Champions League round of 16, Mourinho’s relationship with a large portion of the Real Madrid fanbase has cooled. His stance on the incident involving Pestrianni and Vinícius Jr. didn’t sit well — not with Madrid supporters, nor with many professionals in the sport. His suspension keeps him away from the Bernabéu spotlight, which may actually work in his favor at this moment.
Mourinho and club president Florentino Pérez maintain a cordial, even friendly relationship through occasional messages. But that hasn’t translated into any real possibility of a professional reunion. For now, both continue on separate paths.
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