Mourinho returns to Real Madrid 13 years after 2013 exit to end two-season trophy drought

Jose Mourinho, 63, has returned to Real Madrid's Bernabeu thirteen years after leaving the club in 2013 and is charged with restoring a side that has endured two successive seasons without a trophy. BBC Sport's More Than The Score podcast spoke to people who know Mourinho well to assess whether he can make a success of a second spell with Los Blancos.

Mourinho left Real Madrid in 2013 as one of the most celebrated managers in world football and won three trophies during his first spell at the club: La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup. Since departing Madrid he has won only one title, the Premier League during his second stint at Chelsea in 2015, while subsequent spells at Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma, Fenerbahce and Benfica have produced moments of success in cup competitions alongside considerable turbulence.

Spanish football expert Eduardo Alvarez told BBC Sport that Real president Florentino Perez drew inspiration from Carlo Ancelotti's return to the club and suggested the situation was similar. "I think he's betting on a second stint with Mourinho because Ancelotti was successful during his and it's a very similar case," Alvarez said. "Ancelotti was coaching Everton, probably not at the top of his game anymore, 60 years old and suddenly, when he went to Real Madrid again, it worked out and he won the Champions League."

Alvarez added that Mourinho fits the profile of a coach who manages players more than tactics, which he believes is what Perez needs. "Mourinho falls into the category of Real Madrid not being a manager's club but being a player's club. Even though Mourinho is a very prominent manager, the way he manages is not tactically intense, but more player-intense, which is what I believe Florentino needs," he told BBC Sport.

Former Real president Ramon Calderon, who led the club from 2006 to 2009, welcomed Mourinho's appointment but warned the Portuguese must alter his methods. "He's going to need to change the behaviour and the attitude of the players," Calderon said. "He showed, when he was at Real 13 years ago, a lot of protagonism. He had many problems with clubs, rivals, referees and was always blaming others for the defeats and not taking the responsibility. "I think he has to gain the respect and trust of the players by persuasion, not by imposition. He has to show them that his methods are the best ones for whole team and not have protagonists." "I hope he can change," Calderon added. "If he insists on the same mistakes, it will be a problem."

Portuguese journalist Duarte Monteiro said Mourinho's character has not changed and argued the environment around football has. "Mourinho didn't change. His character, his personality didn't change. The problem, I think, for him is that the world changed," Monteiro said. He described Benfica's football last season as "not very sexy", saying Mourinho adopted a conservative approach and appeared to have different priorities in domestic and European competition. Benfica recorded a 4-2 victory over Real Madrid in the Champions League group phase before later losing a play-off tie, and Monteiro added: "He had two or three moments over the season where he was very publicly aggressive towards a group of players. "Not every player at Benfica was with him last season."

Former Chelsea defender Robert Huth recalled Mourinho's intensity and capacity to unite a squad but said his manner could be intimidating. "I was impressed but a bit scared as well," Huth said. "When I did interact with him, it was very brutal. Looking back now, it was basically: if you don't perform, you're gone." He added that Mourinho also showed personal support for players: "He was very hard but fair, always honest with his communication with you," and "If you had a family problem, or any kind of outside issue that might have an effect on your performance, he was always there for you. He was always a family man. Players developed a really human relationship with him." Huth stressed Mourinho's strengths in preparation and squad management: "He galvanised the squad," he said. "When you have someone leading like that, you kind of go, 'Yeah, I'm in'. "His training was pure quality, his preparation was amazing, the level of detail he brought to the club, his mentality, the coaches he brought in - they were all on the same page." Huth also offered views on specific Real players, saying: "I think Bellingham will absolutely love Jose," and warning of issues around high-profile stars: "When things don't go their way, things come out in the Press. I don't like that kind of thing." "Bellingham is that kind of guy that gives everything each game. Jose loves that."

At 63 Mourinho faces questions over whether he can adapt his approach to a different dressing room dynamic and to modern football. Huth said Mourinho still possessed "unbelievable knowledge" of the game but "now needed to convince the current players at Real Madrid to believe in him completely as those at Porto, Chelsea and Inter Milan once did in their quest for more honours."