Can Mourinho restore Real Madrid to former glory?

Jose Mourinho returned to Real Madrid in 2022, aiming to restore the club's former glory after two consecutive trophyless seasons. The self-proclaimed "Special One" is once again at the Bernabeu, but his return raises the question of whether the 63-year-old is still capable of achieving the heights of his past. BBC Sport spoke to those who know Mourinho best to assess his chances of success with Los Blancos.

Mourinho has only won one title since leaving Madrid in 2013, the Premier League during his second stint at Chelsea in 2015. His subsequent managerial careers at Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma, Fenerbahce and Benfica have produced moments of success in cup competitions but have also been marked by turbulence. Spanish football expert Eduardo Alvarez believes that Florentino Perez, Real Madrid's president, took inspiration from Carlo Ancelotti's successful second spell at the club when appointing Mourinho.

Ancelotti won the Champions League during his second spell at Madrid, which Alvarez sees as a reason for Perez to bet on Mourinho again.

However, former Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon warns that Mourinho will need to change his approach to succeed. Calderon believes that Mourinho needs to change the behavior and attitude of the players, gaining their respect and trust through persuasion rather than imposition. Calderon also points out that Mourinho's management style during his first spell with Madrid was characterized by protagonism, problems with clubs, rivals, and referees, and a highly volatile relationship with the media.

Portuguese football journalist Duarte Monteiro believes that Mourinho has not changed, despite his first spell at Madrid producing a La Liga title, the Copa del Rey, and three consecutive Champions League semi-final appearances. Monteiro argues that the world has changed for Mourinho, with young players, journalists, and the environment now being different.

He also highlights that Mourinho's old personality traits remained evident during his time at Benfica, where he adopted a conservative approach and exhibited public aggression towards players.

However, former Chelsea defender Robert Huth, who played under Mourinho in 2005 and 2006, believes that the Portuguese manager has the ability to convince an entire squad to buy into a common cause and mindset. Huth praises Mourinho's ability to galvanize a squad, his quality training, and preparation, and his ability to communicate honestly with players. He believes that Mourinho's greatest strength is his ability to bring a team together, which could be crucial for Real Madrid's success.

Ultimately, the question remains whether Mourinho has the ability to restore Real Madrid to its former glory or if his methods and personality will hinder his success with the club.