What Happened to José Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix?
José Mourinho, often dubbed 'The Special One', has continued his illustrious and often controversial managerial career, moving from AS Roma to Fenerbahçe, and then to Benfica. As of May 2026, he has just completed an unbeaten league season with Benfica, but is widely expected to return to Real Madrid for a second spell, having publicly acknowledged their interest.
Quick Answer
José Mourinho is currently the head coach of Portuguese club Benfica, where he led them to an unbeaten Primeira Liga season in 2025/26, though they finished third. He is in advanced talks to return to Real Madrid for the 2026/27 season, with reports suggesting he has already informed Benfica of his departure. Mourinho recently confirmed Real Madrid's interest and stated a decision on his future would be made in the week of May 17, 2026.
📊Key Facts
📅Complete Timeline11 events
Appointed AS Roma Manager
José Mourinho took over as the head coach of Italian Serie A club AS Roma, signing a three-year contract.
Wins UEFA Europa Conference League
Mourinho led AS Roma to victory in the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League, securing the club's first European trophy in over 60 years.
Europa League Finalist with Roma
Roma reached the UEFA Europa League final under Mourinho, where they lost to Sevilla on penalties after a controversial match.
Sacked by AS Roma
Mourinho was dismissed by Roma with immediate effect due to a poor run of results, leaving the club in ninth place in Serie A.
Reported Verbal Agreement with Al-Shabab
Days after leaving Roma, reports emerged of a verbal agreement for Mourinho to become the manager of Saudi club Al-Shabab, though the move ultimately did not materialize.
Appointed Fenerbahçe Manager
Mourinho took charge of Turkish Süper Lig club Fenerbahçe, signing a two-year contract, with thousands of fans greeting his arrival.
Fenerbahçe Finishes 2nd in Süper Lig
Under Mourinho, Fenerbahçe finished the 2024-25 Süper Lig season in second place, 11 points behind rivals Galatasaray.
Sacked by Fenerbahçe
Mourinho's contract with Fenerbahçe was mutually terminated after the club failed to qualify for the UEFA Champions League, losing a playoff to Benfica.
Appointed Benfica Manager
Less than a month after leaving Fenerbahçe, Mourinho returned to Portugal to manage Benfica, a club he briefly coached at the start of his career.
Benfica Finishes Unbeaten in Primeira Liga, Misses Champions League
Mourinho led Benfica to an unbeaten Primeira Liga season, winning 3-1 against Estoril on the final day, but 11 draws meant they finished third and missed Champions League qualification. He also received a renewal offer from Benfica.
Confirms Real Madrid Interest Amid Departure Rumors
Mourinho publicly acknowledged Real Madrid's interest in his return, stating a decision would be made in the coming week. Sources indicated he had already informed Benfica officials of his departure.
🔍Deep Dive Analysis
José Mourinho's managerial journey has remained in the spotlight, marked by both triumphs and characteristic controversies. After a successful start with AS Roma, where he delivered their first European trophy in over six decades by winning the inaugural UEFA Europa Conference League in 2022, his tenure concluded abruptly. He also guided Roma to the UEFA Europa League final in 2023, losing to Sevilla on penalties. However, a decline in Serie A performance, coupled with his frequent clashes with officials and disciplinary issues, led to his dismissal on January 16, 2024, with Roma sitting ninth in the league.
Following his departure from Rome, Mourinho was briefly linked with a move to Saudi Arabian club Al-Shabab, with reports even suggesting a verbal agreement in January 2024, though this move did not materialize. Instead, in July 2024, Mourinho took the helm at Turkish Süper Lig giants Fenerbahçe. His single season in Turkey was described as tumultuous and controversy-riddled, characterized by disputes with opposition and league officials. Despite guiding Fenerbahçe to a second-place finish in the 2024-25 Süper Lig, 11 points behind champions Galatasaray, he was dismissed at the start of the 2025-26 campaign in August 2025 after failing to qualify for the Champions League, losing a playoff to Benfica.
Less than a month after his Fenerbahçe exit, Mourinho made a swift return to his native Portugal, joining Benfica in September 2025. His time at Benfica has seen a remarkable domestic achievement: he led the club to an unbeaten Primeira Liga season in 2025/26. However, due to 11 draws, Benfica finished third in the league with 80 points, missing out on direct UEFA Champions League qualification.
As of May 2026, Mourinho's future is once again a major talking point in European football. Real Madrid, having endured a second consecutive trophyless season, are reportedly keen to bring him back for a second spell, with current coach Álvaro Arbeloa expected to depart. Mourinho has a reported €3 million release clause in his Benfica contract, valid until May 26, 2026. On May 17, 2026, Mourinho publicly confirmed Real Madrid's interest, stating, "We cannot hide our interest. There is something in the works, but I am not directly involved at the moment. I need time to decide. I believe this week will be crucial." Sources close to Mourinho suggest he has already informed Benfica officials of his intention to leave for Real Madrid in the coming days.
What If...?
Explore alternate histories. What if José Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix made different choices?