Real Madrid Quietly Unveils Mourinho in Surprise Low-Key Ceremony
Axios (Tổng hợp từ Al Jazeera English)
Jose Mourinho has been officially unveiled as Real Madrid head coach in a surprisingly low-key ceremony at the club's training center. The Portuguese manager, back for a second stint, signed a deal through June 2029 and emphasized the emotional weight of returning home.
Jose Mourinho's return to Real Madrid took place a few weeks ago, but it wasn't until today that the club officially confirmed it with a ceremony that was puzzlingly low-key at the team's training ground.
The second coming of "The Special One" — a nickname Mourinho coined for himself when he took charge of Chelsea in 2004 — is steeped in nostalgia, risk, and unfinished business.
The Portuguese coach, who began work with the squad when preseason kicked off on July 10, signed a contract running through June 2029 in the meeting room of the Ciudad Real Madrid facility alongside president Florentino Perez and honorary president Jose Martinez Pirri.
For a club accustomed to glitz, the silence was almost a statement in itself.
The "Galacticos" — a moniker Los Blancos reserve for stars like Cristiano Ronaldo, David Beckham, and Zinedine Zidane — are typically introduced with the fanfare of entertainment icons, and new coaches are no exception.
However, Real are heading into the new La Liga season after two consecutive trophy-less years. Perez, though recently re-elected, is no longer untouchable, facing increasing scrutiny from a restless fanbase.
Mourinho described his return as more than just a job.
"This is coming home. Emotionally, it's even better than the first time because back then I felt like I was reaching the pinnacle of the world, whereas now it's more emotional and deeper," Mourinho said on the club's official channel during this unconventional unveiling.
"I am one of you. I always have been, and you can imagine what working for Real Madrid means to me. This is the ultimate rule everyone must follow: working for Real Madrid means working for you."
Mourinho previously led Real from 2010 to 2013, winning La Liga, the Copa del Rey, and the Spanish Super Cup in a combustible spell that delivered titles, rivalry, and lasting impact at the club.
Now he returns from Benfica after Perez executed one of Real's most aggressive transfer windows in years, landing Yan Diomande, Marc Cucurella, Bernardo Silva, Ibrahima Konate, Denzel Dumfries, and Carlos Espi, while also extending winger Vinicius Jr.'s contract for multiple years.
The new signings are expected to be introduced in the coming days following the same low-key format used for Mourinho.
The approach reflects a club seeking to shield itself ahead of Saturday's La Liga opener against Espanyol in Barcelona.
Mourinho said his task is not personal glory but rebuilding standards.
"Words are not enough... because this is like a mission," he said. "I am here to help everyone improve — players, staff — and to create a culture of hard work, responsibility, ambition, and what I know well: the duty and honor of working for Real Madrid."
Mourinho returns with plenty to prove after 11 years without a league title and four trophy-less years. If he can stop Barcelona from claiming a third straight La Liga crown or secure his first Champions League as Real coach, this could rank among his most remarkable achievements.
