Jose Mourinho news today centres on Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig at the Bernabéu tonight, Wednesday 21 October 2026, at 8:00pm WAT. In his press conference on 20 October, Mourinho said Madrid’s goal is to qualify from the Champions League league phase, not to win the trophy yet. He also confirmed Vinícius Júnior will play. Madrid have won all three games since the international break and travel to Barcelona for El Clásico on Sunday.
TL;DR: Jose Mourinho Latest News in 30 Seconds
- Current team: Real Madrid, his second spell, on a contract until 30 June 2029.
- Tonight: Real Madrid vs RB Leipzig, Champions League matchday 3, 8:00pm WAT.
- Target: “Right now, the goal is to qualify,” Mourinho said on 20 October.
- Form: 9 wins from 11 competitive games; 6 points from 2 in Europe.
- Vinícius: starts tonight but serves a four-game LaLiga ban, so he misses the Clásico.
- Next: Barcelona vs Real Madrid, Sunday 25 October, 9:00pm WAT.
José Mourinho Latest News (October 2026)
José Mourinho is Real Madrid head coach in his second spell at the club. The board appointed him on 11 June 2026 on a three-year deal until 30 June 2029, and he started work on 13 July 2026, the first day of pre-season. By the 20 October press conference he had passed roughly 100 days in charge.
Real Madrid sit third in LaLiga with 21 points from nine games, six behind leaders Barcelona and one behind Atlético Madrid. In Europe, Madrid have a perfect 6 points from 2 games.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Current team | Real Madrid (head coach, second spell) |
| Appointed | 11 June 2026 |
| Contract | Until 30 June 2029 (three seasons) |
| Started work | 13 July 2026 (pre-season) |
| Previous clubs | Fenerbahçe (2024–25), Benfica (2025–26) |
| LaLiga | 3rd, 21 pts, 6 behind Barcelona (after matchday 9) |
| Champions League | 6 pts from 2 (2-1 Inter, 4-3 at Roma) |
| Next matches | RB Leipzig (H) 21 Oct; Barcelona (A) 25 Oct |
Information correct as of 21 October 2026, 6:00pm WAT, before kick-off against Leipzig.
What Did Mourinho Say Ahead of Real Madrid vs Leipzig?
In a press conference on 20 October 2026, Mourinho said Leipzig deserve respect despite their heavy defeat at Bayern Munich. The club published the full transcript on its official Real Madrid website.
“Leipzig is not the team that lost so badly in Munich. It’s the team that beat PSV, that has three points, and that wants to qualify.”
José Mourinho, 20 October 2026
He also warned his players against complacency after three straight wins: “Winning three games doesn’t mean we’ll win the fourth. Tomorrow, we need to play and win.” Asked about Yan Diomande, he kept his line-up secret but gave one clear answer: “What I can tell you is that Vinicius will play tomorrow.”
Mourinho praised referee István Kovács, calling him a referee “who doesn’t joke around and has exceptional quality and personality”. For tonight’s team news, check our football injury updates page.
What Are Mourinho’s Champions League Targets?
Mourinho says Real Madrid are not chasing the Champions League trophy yet. Their first aim is qualification, and their second is a top-eight finish to skip the knockout play-off round.
“Madrid, at this moment, doesn’t have the goal of winning the Champions. Right now, the goal is to qualify.”
José Mourinho, 20 October 2026
He set a number on it: “First, we need to reach the first eleven points that allow us to qualify, and then we’ll give it our all to finish among the top eight.” Madrid played the play-off last season, and Mourinho called those ties games that “can be avoided”. He added: “I have the feeling that many points will be necessary to avoid the playoff.” You can follow the race in our Champions League 2026-27 table and champsquads’ UCL table and results.
How Have Mourinho’s First 100 Days at Real Madrid Gone?
Mourinho’s first 100 days brought nine wins from 11 competitive games. Madrid have won every home match, six from six across LaLiga and the Champions League, scoring 19 goals. Away from the Bernabéu the record is weaker, with defeats at Real Betis and Atlético Madrid.
| Date | Match | Score | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 Aug | Espanyol vs Real Madrid | 1-2 | LaLiga |
| 26 Aug | Real Madrid vs Real Sociedad | 4-1 | LaLiga |
| 30 Aug | Real Madrid vs Málaga | 4-0 | LaLiga |
| 4 Sep | Real Betis vs Real Madrid | 1-0 | LaLiga |
| 8 Sep | Real Madrid vs Inter | 2-1 | Champions League |
| 12 Sep | Real Madrid vs Rayo Vallecano | 4-1 | LaLiga |
| 15 Sep | Elche vs Real Madrid | 2-3 | LaLiga |
| 20 Sep | Atlético Madrid vs Real Madrid | 2-1 | LaLiga |
| 10 Oct | Real Madrid vs Villarreal | 1-0 | LaLiga |
| 14 Oct | Roma vs Real Madrid | 3-4 | Champions League |
| 18 Oct | Real Madrid vs Sevilla | 4-1 | LaLiga |
The 4-3 win in Rome on 14 October showed Mourinho’s bench at work. Madrid trailed 3-1, and substitutes Carlos Espí and Endrick scored before Antonio Rüdiger won it in the 90th minute. Mourinho later said he would have “conceded five goals” if he had started Bernardo and Arda Güler that night.
Asked about his 100 days, he said: “I didn’t come here with the target of being here for 200 days or three years. I came here with the target of giving my best every day to build a better future.” He also admitted, “There’s still a long way to go.”
The Arda Güler Elbow Row
Sevilla wanted a red card for Arda Güler after a 22nd-minute clash with Peque in the 4-1 win on 18 October. VAR found no clear angle and did not intervene. Mourinho told ESPN nobody had shown him “any images” of the incident and he did not understand the “obsession” with the incident. Güler, Mbappé (2) and Diomande scored.
What Is Happening With Vinícius Júnior?
Vinícius Júnior plays in Europe tonight but misses the Clásico. The RFEF banned him for four LaLiga games after his red card against Villarreal on 10 October, and the Appeals Committee upheld it on 16 October. Our Vinicius ban explainer covers the rules and dates.
Mourinho made headlines on 17 October when he said that, in Vinícius’ shoes, he would have left last summer, when Arsenal chased him. “Last summer I would have forced my exit to a league, to a country, to clubs and stadiums where they’d respect him,” he said, as Goal reported. He then praised the forward’s loyalty after he signed a new deal to 2032.
On form, the Daily Mail counts one goal and three assists in ten games for Vinícius. Mourinho answered the “untouchable” question on 20 October: “The badge is untouchable. I don’t like this concept of an untouchable player. What makes a player untouchable is their performance on the pitch.” Diomande, who scored against Sevilla, offers the main competition on the wing. Arsenal fans can read more in our Arsenal breaking news and our Real Madrid transfer news covers squad moves.
When Is Mourinho’s First Clásico Back?
Mourinho’s first Clásico of his second spell is Barcelona vs Real Madrid at Spotify Camp Nou on Sunday 25 October 2026. Kick-off is 9:00pm local time, which is also 9:00pm WAT because Spain moves its clocks back that morning.
Barcelona arrive unbeaten with nine wins from nine, including a 5-2 win at Betis, which you can compare with our Real Betis vs Barcelona preview. A Madrid win would cut the gap to three points. Champsquads has the full Barcelona vs Real Madrid head-to-head, and our correct football prediction page will carry a pick.
What Is José Mourinho’s Current Team, and Which Teams Has He Coached?
José Mourinho’s current team is Real Madrid, and his contract runs to June 2029, so no next job is on the table. Real Madrid paid Benfica a reported €15m in compensation to bring him back. The table lists every senior club he has coached.
| Club | Years | Major honours |
|---|---|---|
| Benfica | 2000 | — |
| União de Leiria | 2001–02 | — |
| Porto | 2002–04 | 2 league titles, UEFA Cup, Champions League |
| Chelsea | 2004–07 | 2 Premier League, FA Cup, 2 League Cups |
| Inter | 2008–10 | 2 Serie A, Coppa Italia, Champions League |
| Real Madrid | 2010–13 | LaLiga, Copa del Rey, Supercopa |
| Chelsea | 2013–15 | Premier League, League Cup |
| Manchester United | 2016–18 | Europa League, League Cup, Community Shield |
| Tottenham | 2019–21 | — |
| Roma | 2021–24 | Europa Conference League |
| Fenerbahçe | 2024–25 | — |
| Benfica | 2025–26 | — |
| Real Madrid | 2026– | In progress |
Chelsea, Man Utd and Roma: Why the Old Clubs Still Search for Him
Chelsea fans still search for Jose Mourinho news because he won three Premier League titles across two spells at Stamford Bridge; our Chelsea news now page tracks the current squad. Manchester United won the Europa League under him in 2017, and our Man Utd news page follows Michael Carrick’s side today.
Roma still adore him. Mourinho won the Conference League there in 2022, and Roma fans saluted him on his return last week, even as his Madrid side came back to win 4-3. For another coach under the microscope, read our Man City manager guide.
18+ only. Betting carries risk, so set limits and stake only what you can afford to lose. Read our responsible gambling guide and compare reliable betting sites in Nigeria before you bet.
Related: Lionel Messi net worth · Lamine Yamal salary · Neymar net worth
Sources (2026)
Real Madrid: Mourinho press conference, 20 Oct 2026 (linked above); Real Madrid official announcement, 11 Jun 2026; ESPN, Goal, AP, BBC Sport, UEFA and LaLiga reports and standings (checked 21 Oct 2026).
FAQ
Which manager made Ronaldo cry?
Luka Modrić said he saw José Mourinho make Cristiano Ronaldo cry in the Real Madrid dressing room after Ronaldo failed to track back, ESPN reported. Rio Ferdinand has also said Sir Alex Ferguson once left a young Ronaldo in tears at Manchester United.
Which manager went 9 years unbeaten at home?
José Mourinho. His teams went 150 home league games unbeaten across Porto, Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid, from February 2002 until Sporting Gijón won 1-0 at the Bernabéu on 2 April 2011.
Who was Real Madrid’s most successful coach?
Carlo Ancelotti holds the record with 15 trophies. He passed Miguel Muñoz, who won 14, when Real Madrid won the Intercontinental Cup in December 2024.
Why did Man Utd sack Jose Mourinho?
United sacked him on 18 December 2018, two days after a 3-1 defeat at Liverpool. The team sat sixth, 19 points behind leaders Liverpool, after their worst start to a season in 28 years.
