Jose Mourinho is poised to be announced as Real Madrid's new head coach following Florentino Perez's successful re-election as club president until 2030.
Perez secured a decisive victory in Madrid's first competitive presidential election in 20 years, polling 65 percent of the vote. His challenger, 37-year-old Enrique Riquelme, received 35 percent support after a total of 33,555 club members participated in the ballot. The election results were initially delayed when Riquelme contested the validity of around 1,000 postal votes, though over 400 were subsequently disqualified.
Perez has served as Real Madrid president for 23 years across two separate spells, having first held the position between 2000 and 2006 before returning to the role in 2009. His re-election victory extends his tenure for another six years.
The confirmation of Mourinho's appointment is expected to be formally announced on Monday, with Madrid set to pay Benfica a 15 million euro release fee to secure the 63-year-old Portuguese coach. Mourinho will return to the Bernabéu for a second spell, more than a decade after his first stint at the club ended.
Mourinho joined Benfica last September but will now move on to one of European football's elite clubs. His appointment represents a significant move in the managerial landscape, particularly given his extensive pedigree managing top European sides including Chelsea and Manchester United.
The change at Madrid's helm comes as Perez also outlined ambitious plans for the club's future. The president has pledged to make a bid of at least 150 million euros on Tuesday for an unnamed "galactico" player, widely understood to be Michael Olise.
Perez's electoral victory means his vision for the club can proceed without the disruption of a change in presidency. His opponent had promised a notably different direction, proposing to appoint Raul Gonzalez Blanco as sporting director and attempting to recruit Jurgen Klopp as manager.
The stability provided by Perez's re-election through 2030 gives Real Madrid a clear leadership framework as the club moves into its next chapter. With Mourinho confirmed as the new head coach and significant investment planned for the squad, Madrid appears positioned to pursue an ambitious agenda in both domestic and European competition.