Benfica confirm Jose Mourinho's lucrative departure to Real Madrid as ex-Fulham boss Marco Silva appointed successor
By Leon Imber
Updated 10/06/2026 at 13:28 GMT+1
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Benfica have confirmed that Jose Mourinho will leave the club in a €15 million (£13m) deal to become the new head coach of Real Madrid, while Marco Silva has been appointed as his replacement.
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Mourinho had been heavily linked with a return to the Bernabeu this summer, and was the preferred candidate of club president Florentino Perez, who won the club's elections earlier this week to remain in his post until 2030.
Benfica confirmed on Tuesday that they had informed the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) that Madrid had "formalised" their intention to hire Mourinho, which sees the Primeira Liga club paid €15m in compensation, and that the coach had "given his agreement".
Also on Tuesday, Madrid formally announced that Alvaro Arbeloa, who stood in as head coach since January following the departure of now-Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, has departed his role.
Mourinho is set for a stunning return to Madrid, having previously spent three years in charge between 2010-13.
He led them to a title-winning La Liga campaign in 2011/12 as his side accrued 100 points - a record tally for the club.
Mourinho enters Madrid with the club having failed to win a trophy in the past two seasons. They twice lost out to Barcelona domestically, and crashed out of the UEFA Champions League this season with a quarter-final defeat to Bayern Munich.
Former Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United boss Mourinho led Benfica to an unbeaten league season, but their 11 draws meant Sporting CP and champions FC Porto bettered his side's tally of 80 points.
Silva replaces Mourinho at the Lisbon club, following his departure from Fulham, signing a two-year contract with a further 12-month option.
The Portuguese coach has spent five years in west London in an incredibly successful tenure.
He guided Fulham out of the Championship as champions in his debut campaign, before comfortably establishing his side in the Premier League the following four seasons.
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Fulham finished 11th in 2025/26, having at one point been in the conversation for Europe, and his impressive tenure has seen him linked to the likes of Manchester United and Chelsea in recent months.
However, he will return to his home country, having spent nearly 10 years in English management.
Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna has been touted as one of the contenders to succeed Silva at Craven Cottage, while former Brentford and Spurs boss Thomas Frank appeared to rule himself out of contention.
"There have been conversations and opportunities since leaving Spurs, but I have decided not to rush into the next role," he said in a statement. "For me, this summer is not the right time to go back into management.
"When the time is right, I will look forward to my return as a manager, ready to embrace the job with great energy and dedication."
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