When José Mourinho first returned to the Santiago Bernabéu in 2026, the headlines were inevitable. The Portuguese tactician, who had already left an indelible mark a decade earlier, was back to rewrite a story that still resonates in the club's annals.
The 2011‑12 side that rewrote history
That campaign remains a benchmark in Spanish football, not only for the 100 points Real Madrid accumulated but also for the 121 goals they scored, a tally that still stands as a reference for attacking football.
Among the architects of that triumph were a constellation of talents that have become almost mythic in the years since.
Iker Casillas, the home‑grown goalkeeper whose reflexes once seemed invincible, hung up his gloves in 2015 and has since become a familiar face on television panels, often offering a critical perspective on the very return of his former mentor.
Sergio Ramos, whose defensive prowess helped the team to a record clean‑sheet tally, has not retired from the pitch but has turned his attention to business, recently joining a consortium that seeks to acquire Sevilla, a move that could reshape the landscape of Andalusian football.
His defensive partner, Pepe, remained in the capital for five more seasons before embarking on a surprisingly long twilight at Porto, where he eventually hung up his boots at the age of 41, leaving behind a legacy of resilience.
Marcelo, the attacking full‑back whose runs down the flank were a hallmark of that era, collected seven La Liga titles and five Champions League crowns before calling time on his playing days in 2024, after which he moved into coaching within the club’s youth setup.
The midfield was anchored by Sami Khedira, who left for Juventus in 2015 and later became a regular analyst on Spanish sports television, only to be summoned back to the capital in 2026 to join Mourinho’s new coaching staff, a clear signal that the Portuguese’s philosophy still values experience.
Xabi Alonso, another midfield stalwart, transformed his playing career into a managerial one, guiding Bayer Leverkusen to a historic Bundesliga title in 2023‑24 before being appointed head coach of Chelsea later that year, illustrating the seamless transition many of his former teammates have made.
Up front, Ángel Di María’s journey took him from Madrid to Manchester United, then to Paris Saint‑Germain and Benfica, before he returned to his boyhood club Rosario Central in 2025, where he finally retired, closing a chapter that began with a World Cup win in 2014.
Mesut Özil, who arrived in 2013 and helped the team to three FA Cup triumphs, later captured public attention not for his on‑field contributions but for a dramatic physical transformation after hanging up his boots, a story that underscores the varied paths former stars now pursue.
Cristiano Ronaldo, the prolific forward who netted 60 goals in that historic season, continues to rewrite records in the Saudi Pro League with Al‑Nassr, while Karim Benzema, the 2022 Ballon d’Or winner, now plies his trade in the same league with Al Hilal, both players embodying the global reach of the club’s brand.
The reverberations of that 2011‑12 squad extend beyond individual careers; they shape the narrative that the upcoming reunion of legends will attempt to revive, reminding fans that the past is never truly past.