Ancelotti & Zidane 

©TM/IMAGO

José Mourinho is the most box-office manager in the history of football and the self-titled ‘Special One’ could yet add another chapter to his incredible career. According to various reputable reports, Mourinho is the preferred candidate of Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez to become their new permanent manager. The long-standing president yields incredible power at Los Blancos and his conviction could ensure Mourinho’s return, despite objections from other members of Madrid’s hierarchy.

Madrid’s general manager Jose Angel Sanchez oversaw the process to appoint Xabi Alonso but it’s now understood that Perez will take control. Mourinho is currently contracted at Benfica until 2027 and on course for an invincible season but a parting of the ways was already on the cards this summer, before Madrid’s interest accelerated. The 63-year-old would relish a return to the Santiago Bernabeu 13 years after departing in 2013 and we’ve compared his record against his successors.

Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid record compared to successors

Mourinho’s first spell at Madrid spanned 178 games across three years and was relatively successful but he failed to deliver the elusive La Decima – Madrid’s 10th European Cup/Champions League. The legendary Portuguese manager won the LaLiga title in 2012 but departed at the end of the following season after failing to win a major trophy. That said, Mourinho actually boasts a better points per game record (2.30) of any of the managers to follow him in the Madrid dugout.

As the graphic above illustrates, Carlo Ancelotti boasted a superior ppg record (2.36) during his first spell in charge but when you combine both the Italian’s spells, it sits at 2.29. Zinédine Zidane equalled Mourinho’s ppg record in his first spell, but again that dropped to 2.19 when you measure it across both his tenures as Madrid boss. Zidane and Ancelotti both delivered multiple Champions League titles with the Spanish giants and despite all his achievements in football, Mourinho hasn’t won a league title in 11 years but could he return to greatness at Madrid?