Why do Real Madrid look to the past? Incredible record with returning coaches

For a club that prides itself on being the biggest in the world, with an ultra-futuristic stadium and unquenchable thirst for trophies; Real Madrid seem to spend a lot of time looking backwards.

Following two trophy-less seasons Madrid are set to appoint José Mourinho as head coach. Or to put it another way: re-appoint José Mourinho.

The legendary Portuguese manager has been on the periphery of soccer’s global elite in recent years. His last three posting have taken him to Roma, Fenerbahce and Benfica; clubs unlikely to compete for the game’s biggest prizes. Previously spells at Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur were broadly underwhelming. The ‘Special One’ has not won a league title since the 2014/15 season with Chelsea, more than a decade ago.

However Mourinho is poised to return to the biggest stage with Real Madrid, and become the club’s fourth two-time coach this century. He follows in the footsteps of Fabio Capello (1996–1997; 2006–2007), Zinédine Zidane (2016–2018; 2019–2021) and Carlo Ancelotti (2013–2015; 2021–2025). Surprisingly, it usually goes pretty well.

Real Madrid record for returning head coaches

They say to never go back, but at Madrid things are a little different. The club cycles through coaches with great haste and often finds success the second time around.

The first returning coach in the 21st century was Fabio Capello, who took charge in 2006. He only spent one year back at the Bernabéu but led the team to the LaLiga title, before being sacked for failing to deliver an attacking, free-flowing style of play. Nevertheless, that championship ensures that Capello’s second term in charge has to go down as a success.

The second, Zinedine Zidane, came back after an incredible run of three consecutive Champions League triumphs during his first spell at the helm. His second was less successful but he still managed to capture the club’s 34th league title in the 2019/20 season, with the club’s best defensive record in more than 30 years. However Madrid went trophyless the following season and Zidane left in may 2021.

Zidane was replaced by the most recent of the two-time coaches, Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian had clinched La Decima during his first stint at the club and he continued to find great success in Europe. Ancelotti added two more Champions Leagues (2021/22, 2023/24) and also won LaLiga in each of those campaigns. Ancelotti left last summer after a trophyless season but Madrid’s struggle to replace him is a testament to the positive impact that he had on the squad.

In short, each of those two-time managers won at least one league title during the second spell in charge. Ancelotti won two, along with a brace of Champions League triumphs. Real Madrid’s ‘back to the future’ approach may be out of step with the rest of top-level soccer but at the Bernabéu, it seems to work.

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