Mourinho Returns to Roma — Now in the Real Madrid Dugout
When Real Madrid travel to the Stadio Olimpico for Matchday 2, José Mourinho will walk into a stadium he knows intimately — just not from the away technical area. It's his first competitive return to Roma since leaving the club in January 2024, and this time he's on the opposite bench.
Two and a Half Years, One European Trophy
Mourinho managed Roma from 2021 until his sacking in January 2024. The high point came in his first season: a 1-0 win over Feyenoord in the 2022 final gave Roma — and Mourinho — the inaugural Europa Conference League title, the club's first major European trophy in decades. He took Roma back to a European final the following year too, losing the 2023 Europa League final to Sevilla on penalties.
An Emotional Reunion, From the Other Bench
Current Roma manager Gian Piero Gasperini has acknowledged the reunion carries obvious emotional weight for both sides. Mourinho returns not as a visitor but as a direct opponent — in charge of a Real Madrid side he took over for the 2026/27 season, looking to build on a Matchday 1 win over Inter Milan.
Kickoff Details
AS Roma host Real Madrid on Wednesday, October 14, at the Stadio Olimpico — one of the standout fixtures of Matchday 2 alongside Manchester City vs PSG and Galatasaray vs Barcelona.