According to The Athletic, Sami Khedira has rejoined Real Madrid's coaching staff as an assistant to Mourinho, responsible for organizing training sessions and improving the team's atmosphere and standards.

On May 23, 2015, Sami Khedira emotionally departed Real Madrid.

Following an outstanding performance for Germany at the 2010 World Cup, Khedira joined Real Madrid from German club Stuttgart at Mourinho's invitation. Mourinho was preparing for his first season as Real Madrid's manager at the time.

This summer, Mourinho returned to Real Madrid and again invited Khedira to join him. The 39-year-old former midfielder has returned to the Santiago Bernabéu as part of the coaching staff, once again at the invitation of the 63-year-old manager.

In May, during his first meeting with Real Madrid's board of directors, Mourinho stated that he wanted to bring someone who could serve as a bridge between him and the playing squad. The ideal candidate needed to understand how the club functioned and what Real Madrid demands of its players.

This choice was particularly important given the deteriorating atmosphere in Real Madrid's dressing room last season. Tensions escalated further following a confrontation between Aurélien Tchouaméni and Federico Valverde in the dressing room before the Clásico against Barcelona in May.

A source familiar with the situation said: "Mourinho wanted to find someone charismatic with a strong presence in the dressing room." The source, who was not authorized to speak publicly, requested anonymity, as did other sources mentioned in this article.

Khedira spent five years at Real Madrid, winning seven trophies, including La Liga, the 2013-14 Champions League, and two Copa del Rey titles. He made 161 official appearances for Real Madrid and was a regular starter for three seasons under Mourinho.

A player who worked with Khedira during that period recalled that he "carried himself calmly" and added: "He already had those leadership qualities, the ability to command and organize the team."

Khedira was the type of player who went the extra mile for self-improvement. He particularly valued tactical briefings and opposition reports at a time when such practices were less common than today. A source close to Mourinho said the manager appreciated Khedira's "strong character and winning mentality."

Khedira's current role at Real Madrid is his first coaching position. In a 2024 interview with AS, Khedira stated that although he had obtained his coaching license, he believed football management—developing long-term strategies at a club or football association—was more suited to him.

However, a source close to Khedira said: "You can't say no when it's Mourinho and Real Madrid. He didn't hesitate for a second."

Mourinho has also brought other assistant coaches from his former team at Benfica, including João Tiraçõ and Pedro Machado. Khedira's primary role is supportive; he actively participates in organizing training sessions and developing training drills.

Additionally, he is responsible for improving the team's atmosphere and internal standards.

Khedira is well aware of the pressure Real Madrid players face. He discussed this in a 2017 interview with German media outlet Kicker when Juventus was preparing to face Real Madrid in the Champions League final. Real Madrid ultimately won that final 4-1.

Khedira said at the time: "At Real Madrid, coaches recognized me and treated me fairly, but publicly I never received that recognition."

"If I played 10 good matches in a row, it was taken for granted; but if I had a poor performance in the 11th, criticism would immediately emerge, and people would start questioning whether I was good enough, whether I deserved to be at Real Madrid. That was really difficult."

At a press conference before the first match of the new season on August 21, Mourinho said that Khedira is "very valuable to the team." This press conference also served as an informal public introduction of Mourinho following his return as Real Madrid's manager, despite the club's long-standing tradition of holding official unveiling ceremonies—though no official ceremony took place on this occasion.

Mourinho also said: "He has a good relationship with the players, he played here before, and he understands the club's mentality. He has a connection with the players—I wouldn't say a friendly connection, but the type of relationship an assistant coach should build with players."

A Real Madrid first-team player told The Athletic: "While the coach leads most of the training, Sami prepares a lot of material, offers his opinions, and commands great respect from everyone."

Other sources close to players described Khedira as an "advisor" to the squad. One said: "When he needs to show his character, he does."

A source familiar with Real Madrid's training situation said: "Because he's still in good physical condition, he participates in some training sessions. Some players joke with him that he could still play for the team."

After leaving Real Madrid, Khedira joined Juventus, where he played for five and a half seasons before retiring after the 2020-21 season at Hertha Berlin. He did not work with Mourinho during his time at Juventus, but they remained in contact. Khedira also frequently expressed his affection for Real Madrid and Mourinho on social media.

After retiring, Khedira worked as a football commentator and pundit in Germany for several years. At the August 21 press conference, Mourinho revealed that during a conversation at the World Cup, Khedira told him that if Real Madrid needed him—even if he was officially working for FIFA at the World Cup in North America—he would be ready to start work at Real Madrid the very next day.

Khedira began work at Real Madrid in early July. Players not participating in the World Cup were to return on July 13, while other players returned in stages depending on their national teams' progress in the tournament.

With Khedira's return, Mourinho has revived a position he first introduced at Real Madrid. When he managed Real Madrid in 2010, former Real Madrid defender Aitor Karanka joined his coaching staff. Karanka is now the technical director of development for the Spanish Football Federation.

This arrangement continued after Ancelotti took over in 2013. In his first season, the Italian had Zinedine Zidane as an assistant coach, and in his second season, another club legend, Fernando Hierro, served as an assistant coach.

In a 2021 interview with Marca, Khedira recalled that after the 2010 World Cup, when someone told him Mourinho wanted to call him, he thought it was a joke. He also called Mourinho "the best thing that ever happened in my life."

Now, after the 2026 World Cup, they are working together again.

Переведено ИИ.

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