Jose Mourinho provides response when asked if he'd consider returning to become manager of Real Madrid

Fenerbahce boss Jose Mourinho apparently has no immediate plans of returning to Real Madrid. The Portuguese said so ahead of his side's visit to Spain to face Athletic Bilbao in the UEFA Europa League this week.

Mourinho spent a successful three-season spell at the Santiago Bernabeu between 2010 and 2013, winning one La Liga title and taking his side to three straight UEFA Champions League semi-finals.

The much-travelled Mourinho landed at Fenerbahce this summer, winning 14 of 23 matches across competitions in charge, losing four. Ahead of the clash at Bilbao on Wednesday (December 11), Mourinho dismissed his chances of returning to Los Blancos (as per Madrid Zone):

“Coming back to Real Madrid? They have the best coach in the world, my friend Carlo.”

Current Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has been at the helm since 2021, winning the La Liga-UEFA Champions League double twice. In his first stint, the Italian - widely regarded as one of the best tacticians in history - landed Madrid's much-awaited Champions League La Decima.

This season, Ancelotti's side are two points behind La Liga leaders Barcelona but have a game in hand. In the Champions League, though, they have faltered, losing three of their opening five matches to slip to 24th in the standings.

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A look at Jose Mourinho's record at Real Madrid

Jose Mourinho

Jose Mourinho arrived at Real Madrid in the summer of 2010 after leading Inter Milan to their first continental treble. It also made him one of a handful of head coaches to win the UEFA Champions League with multiple clubs.

Unfortunately, during his three-season stint at the Santiago Bernabeu, Mourinho couldn't end Madrid's La Decima drought. Nevertheless, he did provide an immediate improvement in their UEFA Champions League fortunes, ending a run of six straight Round-of-16 exits.

In his first season in charge, Mourinho's side lost 3-1 on aggregate in the semis to Barcelona. The next year, at the same stage of the competition, Los Blancos lost on penalties to Bayern Munich in the second leg at home.

In what turned out to be his final season at the club, his side lost 4-3 on aggregate to Borussia Dortmund - once again in the semis - despite a 2-0 second-leg home win. The very next year, under Ancelotti, Madrid would go all the way.

In 178 games in charge across competitions, Mourinho won 127 games at Madrid and lost 23, delivering three titles, including one in La Liga.