José Mourinho’s backroom staff: Who is he bringing to Real Madrid?
João Tralhao, Pedro Machado and analyst Roberto Merella expected to join Mourinho at the Bernabéu as Madrid prepares to activate his release clause.
The move is essentially done. Only the formal signature remains, expected later depending on the timing of the electoral process. But inside the club, the understanding is clear. Jose Mourinho is going back to Real Madrid.
And he is not coming alone.
He will arrive at Real Madrid with a tightly knit group of trusted staff, the same inner circle he has relied on in recent years. João Tralhão and Pedro Machado, both part of his coaching setup at Benfica, are set to join him in Madrid. So is analyst Roberto Merella. A familiar core is forming around him ahead of his return to the Bernabéu.
João Tralhão, Mourinho’s right-hand man
João Tralhão is widely viewed as Mourinho’s most trusted assistant, effectively his right-hand man.
For context, he was the one who handled a press conference at the Bernabéu earlier this season in a Champions League knockout tie when Mourinho was serving a suspension. Mourinho chose not to speak at all and stayed out of the spotlight on matchday. Tralhão stepped in quietly and efficiently.
He is known for being reserved and understated, the opposite of a traditional sideline presence who dominates attention. But his coaching résumé runs deep.
Tralhão joined Benfica’s academy in 2002 and spent 16 years developing through the system. He eventually led their youth team to two UEFA Youth League finals, both ending in defeat, losing 3-0 to Barcelona in 2014 and 2-1 to RB Salzburg in 2017.
During that time, he helped develop several elite talents, including Bernardo Silva, Renato Sanches, João Felix and Gonçalo Guedes.
After leaving Benfica in 2018, his career became something of a global coaching tour. He worked briefly as Thierry Henry’s assistant at Monaco before taking over as head coach of Vilafranquense in Portugal’s second division in 2020.
From Sahin’s staff to Mourinho’s inner circle
Tralhão’s next chapter came alongside former Real Madrid midfielder Nuri Sahin. In 2023, he joined Sahin’s staff at Antalyaspor in Turkey, then followed him to Borussia Dortmund in 2024.
Those short stints eventually led him to Mourinho’s orbit. By 2025, he was part of Mourinho’s staff at Fenerbahce, before continuing with him to Benfica this season.
His connection to Real Madrid is not new either. He has previously taught on a master’s program in football coaching and sporting direction run by the club’s educational academy, giving him familiarity with the environment he is now rejoining in a much bigger role.
Pedro Machado, assistant and physical coach
Pedro Machado will serve as another key Mourinho lieutenant, often described as the balance to Tralhão’s tactical role.
His career path has been less linear but equally rooted in coaching variety. He began in youth football at Paredes and Freamunde before moving into physical preparation roles across multiple Portuguese clubs, including Espinho, Santa Clara, Paços Ferreira and Coimbra.
He later returned to assistant coaching roles at clubs such as Famalicao, Leixoes and Chaves.
A notable twist came in March 2021, when he effectively replaced Tralhão at Vilafranquense, though in a different role. From there, he built a run of head coaching positions across Portugal’s lower divisions before stepping away for nearly a year in 2024.
Mourinho brought him back into top-level football in 2025. Machado joined his staff at Fenerbahce and later followed him to Benfica. He will now complete the move to Real Madrid.
Roberto Merella, the tactical analyst
The third confirmed member of the group is Roberto Merella, an Italian analyst who has become a long-standing Mourinho collaborator.
Now 37, Merella has worked across several Serie A environments, including Inter Milan and Hellas Verona. He first linked up with Mourinho at Roma in 2022 and has remained part of his technical staff ever since.
He followed Mourinho to Fenerbahce, then Benfica, and is now set to continue at Real Madrid.
Together, Tralhão, Machado and Merella represent the core of Mourinho’s modern coaching structure, a group he has refined since his time at Fenerbahce.
The expectation is that they will form the backbone of his staff at the Bernabéu for at least two seasons, with the contract believed to include an option for a third.
When will Real Madrid announce Mourinho as their new coach?
Real Madrid are expected to trigger his release clause, reported at around €7 million, roughly $8.1 million.
The announcement timeline will depend largely on the progress of the club’s internal electoral process. But the direction of travel is already clear.
Mourinho is coming back to Real Madrid. And he is bringing his people with him.
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