Jose Mourinho achieves best and worst record of his career as Real Madrid move edges nearer than ever

Jose Mourinho has achieved yet another record in his storied career, and is now closer than ever to a Real Madrid homecoming, but this latest feat is one he surely won’t remember too fondly.

Mourinho has quietly enjoyed a close-to-tremendous season with Benfica, amid rumours of a Real Madrid return for the 2026/27 season.

The La Liga giants endured a second successive trophyless season, losing out domestically to Barcelona and in Europe to now finalists and current Champions League holders PSG.

Mourinho achieved one of the greatest domestic feats of his career with Real Madrid, setting a host of La Liga records before relationship break-downs with a selection of players.

The Portuguese manager led Madrid to the most wins in a La Liga season with 32, and the most away victories with 16, as he set a record points total of 100 en-route to the title.

The 63-year-old achieved a similarly impossible feat with Benfica this season, however, it’s all but guaranteed that Mourinho won’t look back on this season anywhere near as fondly.

Mourinho secures invincible season and misses out on Champions League

The Mourinho-led Benfica ended their Primeira Liga season unbeaten after winning 3-1 at Estoril on the final day of the season.

That win confirmed Benfica as invincible in the 2025/26 season, but their 11 draws en-route to the label saw them miss out on Champions League qualification.

Benfica scored three in sixteen minutes to secure the victory, finishing third in the Liga Portugal table on 80 points.

Ahead of them sat reigning champions Sporting Lisbon on 82, followed by Porto as league winners on 88.

The Portuguese league gets only one direct qualification spot to the Champions League, which went to Porto, and a place in the qualifying rounds, which went to Sporting Lisbon.

Benfica, possibly with a recently departed Mourinho, will instead play Europa League football next season, as the coach that led them to invincible status is linked to a Real Madrid homecoming.

Mourinho hints at Real Madrid talk beginning Monday

The 63-year-old confirmed to reporters before the Estoril game that his future with Benfica does not hinge on whether his side qualifies to the highest level of European football.

On whether Benfica’s table position could influence him to stay or leave, Mourinho said: "I'm talking about Benfica, you're talking about Real [Madrid]. The work we've been doing won't change whether we finish second or third. That's not what will make the difference.

"Of course Benfica wants to play in the Champions League, and I'd prefer that too, but it has no bearing on the decision. The final week of the league isn't for thinking about the future or contracts… from Monday onwards, I'll be able to answer questions about my future as manager and that of Benfica's future," he continued.

The 63-year-old is tied to Benfica until June 2027, but it has been revealed that a clause in Mourinho’s contract allows either him or the club to terminate the deal once the 2025/26 season has concluded.

As the Primeira Liga campaign is now over, and Mourinho has seemingly opened the door to talks of Real Madrid from this Monday onwards, fans of the La Liga giants can expect further insight into his next club destination soon, fresh off the back of an invincible season.