Sami Khedira Set for Mourinho's Real Madrid Staff

sami khedira is expected to join Jose Mourinho’s coaching staff at Real Madrid, a move that would put the 39-year-old into his first senior coaching job since retiring in 2021. Khedira worked with Mourinho before, and this return to the Bernabeu would bring a former Madrid player back into the staff.

Mourinho Returns to Madrid

Mourinho was announced as Madrid’s new head coach on Thursday. Conversations between the club, Mourinho and his representatives included plans for him to bring several trusted members of his staff to the Bernabeu, with Khedira among them.

He is expected to be joined by Joao Tralhao, Pedro Machado, Roberto Merella, Antonio Dias and Nuno Santos. Pepe had also been under consideration for the coaching role at the Bernabeu, showing how heavily Madrid leaned on familiar names as Mourinho’s return took shape.

Khedira's Madrid Record

Khedira joined Madrid in 2010 and spent five years in the Spanish capital. He made 161 appearances, won the La Liga title under Mourinho in 2012-13 with a record points total, and later lifted the Champions League in 2014 and the Copa del Rey on two occasions.

He also has 77 caps for Germany and was part of the team that won the 2014 World Cup. After leaving Madrid for Juventus in 2015, he retired from playing in 2021, making this expected appointment the first senior coaching step of his post-playing career.

Madrid's Familiar Pattern

Madrid have often turned to former players for coaching roles, and that backdrop makes Khedira’s expected move easier to place. Alvaro Arbeloa and Zinedine Zidane both spent time with Castilla before moving into the first-team setup, and Khedira would now follow a similar path by returning in a staff role rather than as a player.

For Madrid, the move keeps Mourinho surrounded by people he knows well. For Khedira, it opens a new chapter at the club where he won major trophies and built the playing resume that now leads him back to the Bernabeu in a different capacity.