In addition to the squad, José Mourinho still has to finalize his coaching staff for his second spell at Real Madrid. The Portuguese manager likes to have a former player from the club by his side, and for that role, the chosen candidate could be Pepe, according to Ramón Álvarez de Mon, a contributor to Radio MARCA.
Pepe spent 10 seasons at Real Madrid, from 2007 to 2017, and was coached by Mourinho during his first stint on the Madrid bench. A fierce center-back, beloved by the fans, his time at the club was also marked by his infamous clash with Casquero, which resulted in a significant suspension from the disciplinary committee.
His honors include 3 Champions League titles, 3 La Liga trophies, 2 Copa del Rey titles, 2 Club World Cups, and 2 UEFA Super Cups. He is remembered for his leadership on the pitch and his high-level defensive ability. During his first tenure, Mourinho appointed Aitor Karanka as his assistant coach—despite not knowing him beforehand—after accepting a recommendation from Fernando Hierro. Karanka later went on to pursue his own managerial career.
Pepe has Mourinho’s full trust, who values his Madrid background and experience for the role he needs to fill. The former Real Madrid player would join Tralhão and Machado (Mourinho’s assistants), Merella (analyst), António Dias (fitness coach), and Nuno Santos (goalkeeping coach).
