Sami Khedira is heading back to Real Madrid. This time, he won’t be lacing up boots in the midfield. He’ll be standing on the touchline.

The 39-year-old former Germany international is close to joining José Mourinho’s coaching staff as an assistant coach, marking his first senior coaching appointment since retiring as a player in 2021. The move reunites two figures who shared five seasons together at the Bernabéu.

A reunion years in the making

Khedira arrived at Real Madrid in 2010, the same summer Mourinho took charge of the club for the first time. Khedira remained at the club until 2015, well after Mourinho’s departure in 2013.

Khedira’s appointment is being described as a done deal, with multiple Spanish outlets including Diario AS corroborating the move.

The anticipated start date is around July 13, 2026.

Khedira won’t be the only new face on Mourinho’s bench. The staff is also expected to include João Tralhão and Pedro Machado, both of whom worked with Mourinho during his time at Benfica.

From World Cup winner to coaching novice

Khedira retired from professional football in 2021 and hasn’t held a senior coaching position since hanging up his boots. That makes this appointment a significant leap, going from essentially zero professional coaching experience to assistant coach at one of the biggest clubs on the planet.

As a player, Khedira’s career was genuinely elite. Beyond his time in Madrid, he won the 2014 World Cup with Germany and collected Serie A titles with Juventus.