The prospect of Jose Mourinho being the frontrunner for the managerial role at Real Madrid, as suggested by Florentino Perez, has evidently raised eyebrows among some fans and pundits.
The charismatic coach, known as The Special One, had a dramatic tenure at the Santiago Bernabeu from 2010 to 2013, and Perez appears to believe that the 63-year-old has the charisma necessary to galvanise the current squad.
Real Madrid’s Struggles This Season
With a squad that has significantly underperformed over the past two seasons, Real Madrid has only managed to collect the UEFA Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup during this timeframe.
Even after bringing Kylian Mbappe into a roster filled with superstars, Los Blancos have slipped behind Barcelona domestically and have faced challenges in the Champions League.
Interestingly, it was Mourinho’s Benfica who played a significant role in preventing Real from automatically qualifying for this season’s UCL, culminating in a dramatic late goal by goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin.
This spectacular moment was the stuff of football folklore, and it’s a narrative thread that Mourinho thrives on.
Benfica’s Unbeaten Run
Let’s not forget that beneath his headline-grabbing persona, Mourinho remains one of the finest football managers around, currently steering Benfica toward an unprecedented unbeaten season in the Portuguese league.
His track record certainly warrants attention, as he ranks third in all-time Premier League matches managed, following Arsene Wenger (828) and Pep Guardiola (375), with 363 games under his belt.
In European competition, only Sir Alex Ferguson’s 273 games and Carlo Ancelotti’s 267 surpass Mourinho’s 261 matches managed.
Record Win Percentage with Real Madrid
From Real Madrid’s standpoint, it’s worth noting that among managers with over 100 matches at the helm, Mourinho boasts the highest win percentage at 71.91%.
During his time leading Los Blancos, he managed 178 games, securing 128 wins, 28 draws, and suffering just 22 losses.
Even though Ancelotti presided over more games, he achieved a slightly lower win percentage of 70.82%. When focusing solely on match victory rates, only Manuel Pellegrini surpasses Mourinho with 75% from his 48 matches in charge.
His Offensive Legacy
A common misconception about Mourinho is that he prefers a defensive style of play, often accused of ‘parking the bus.’
However, his 2011/12 squad was the highest-scoring Real Madrid side of the 21st century, averaging three goals per game, a feat no other team in the last 25 years has accomplished.
Throughout his career, Mourinho has faced Barcelona and Liverpool 27 times; however, his biggest rivals remain West Ham and Everton, whom his teams have triumphed over 11 times.
On the flip side, Pep Guardiola and Jurgen Klopp have proved challenging opponents. Against Guardiola, Mourinho has secured only six victories out of 24 encounters (25%), alongside seven draws (29.17%) and 11 losses (45.83%).
Klopp’s record is even tighter; in their 13 meetings, Klopp has come out on top seven times (53.85%), with four draws (30.77%) and just two losses (15.38%).
Mourinho’s Commanding Presence
The list of candidates who could gain the same level of respect in the dressing room as Mourinho is rather short. His formidable presence is likely to keep any dissenting voices—whether from the board or the players—in check.
Well-versed in managing star personalities, having previously worked with Cristiano Ronaldo, Karim Benzema, Kaka, Sergio Ramos, and others, he has the experience to handle any situation.
It’s worth noting that current Real manager Alvaro Arbeloa and former manager Xabi Alonso were part of Mourinho’s inaugural squad at the club 16 years ago.
For a club with such a rich heritage and distinct way of operating, only the most exceptional candidates can endure the pressure of the role.
If Mourinho can be persuaded to return, it won’t simply be a desperate attempt by the club to regain past glories, especially with potential new managers like Mauricio Pochettino or Didier Deschamps becoming available after the World Cup.
Ultimately, when it comes to Florentino Perez, he typically gets what he desires, indicating that the coming season in LaLiga and beyond could become quite intriguing…
Compiled by SportArena.au
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