Sami Khedira joins Mourinho's coaching staff at Real Madrid

Return to the Royals

Mourinho had lured Khedira from VfB Stuttgart to Madrid in the summer of 2010, where the then German international quickly developed into a key performer in central midfield. Khedira made a total of 126 appearances for Real under the Portuguese, known as "The Special One." After Mourinho's departure in 2013, Khedira triumphed under new Real coach Carlo Ancelotti in the Champions League and shortly afterwards with the German national team at the 2014 World Cup title in Brazil.

After five years in Madrid, Khedira moved to Juventus Turin in 2015, where he played for another six years. In the winter of 2021, he returned to the Bundesliga and joined Hertha BSC, but ended his playing career after half a year in Berlin. Since then, he had worked as a TV pundit for DAZN and shared his experiences with football fans.

"DAZN gave me the opportunity to experience football from a new perspective after my playing career and to share my experiences with the fans," Khedira said about his previous role. Alice Mascia, DAZN's Germany chief, explicitly praised her former colleague: "Sami Khedira embodies exactly that outstanding expertise and authentic credibility that we want to offer our fans."

Farewell to DAZN

The fact that he is now joining Real Madrid's coaching staff under one of the most successful coaches in history is "a clear testament to his exceptional quality and his deep understanding of the game," according to a statement. With the appointment of Khedira, Mourinho is evidently banking on a trusted figure who knows the workings of the club and the demands of professional football from personal experience.

Khedira is not the only prominent new addition in the coaching staff environment. The name Alvaro Arbeloa has also come up in connection with the new constellation at Real Madrid. The club, whose squad has a reported total value of 1.37 billion euros and comprises 30 players, is currently preparing for the new LaLiga season. The most recent signing recorded was Denzel Dumfries.

An experienced confidant of Mourinho

For Khedira, born on April 4, 1987, the move to Real Madrid brings things full circle. The club where he spent what were probably his most formative years as a professional, between 2010 and 2015, will now also be the place of his second sporting chapter. Mourinho, who is now 63 and regarded as one of the most flamboyant coaching figures in world football, had personally championed Khedira as one of his assistants, according to the announcement.

Khedira's appointment is being interpreted in the Spanish and German sports press as a signal of Mourinho's desire for stability and experience in his coaching staff. After all, the Portuguese knows the German from their shared years in Madrid and is aware of his abilities as a midfield strategist. The fact that a 2014 World Cup winner of all people is now part of the coaching staff gives the project additional weight.

From a German perspective, the personnel move is also interesting because Khedira is another former national team player taking the plunge into a coaching career at a top European club. After stints in Stuttgart, Madrid, Turin and Berlin, the Stuttgart native brings a broad range of experience spanning from the Bundesliga to Serie A and the Primera División.

Duties on the coaching staff

With the coming LaLiga season in mind, Khedira is likely to be a regular presence on the bench alongside Mourinho. His main task will be to support the team at a tactical level and pass on his experience from hundreds of professional matches to the players. The step from the TV studio back to the pitch is a logical next career move for Khedira.

Reactions on social media and fan platforms were overwhelmingly positive. Many supporters of the Royals recalled Khedira's performances from the era between 2010 and 2015 and welcomed the return of a familiar figure. In Stuttgart, Turin and Berlin as well, where Khedira had left his mark, the news was received favorably.

For Real Madrid, the signing of Khedira also marks the beginning of a period of personnel reorganization within the coaching staff. Mourinho, who previously coached the club once before and has now embarked on a second stint, is shaping his team according to his own ideas. Khedira is evidently set to play a central role as a link between coach and squad.

Outlook on the new season

Overall, the personnel move shows that Real Madrid is deliberately turning to former players who know the club and its culture from firsthand experience when filling out its coaching staff. Khedira brings not only tactical knowledge but also the credibility of a World Cup winner who has already reached the highest goals in football. For Mourinho, he is therefore an assistant who can serve as a role model both on the pitch and in the dressing room.

With the official announcement on July 10, 2026, the move is complete. Khedira is expected to take up his new role on Real Madrid's coaching staff immediately and prepare the team for the new LaLiga season. The 2014 World Cup winner is thus returning to his former club – and at one of the most glamorous clubs in the world.