Where Are Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid 2011-12 Title Winners Now?
It has been over a decade since Jose Mourinho led Real Madrid to their landmark La Liga title in the 2011–12 season. That campaign remains one of the most memorable in Spanish football, with Madrid setting records by reaching 100 points and scoring 121 goals, surpassing Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona.
Mourinho’s departure from the Bernabéu was stormy, marked by a trophyless final season. Yet, many fans remember the peak of that title-winning year fondly, hoping for a repeat now that Mourinho has returned to the club.
The Starting XI From That Season: Where They Are Today
Casillas played 37 league games that season, keeping 14 clean sheets. Despite being one of Madrid’s greatest ever players, his relationship with Mourinho soured during the coach’s last year. After leaving in 2015, Casillas became a pundit and club ambassador. Earlier this year, he publicly expressed opposition to Mourinho’s return, saying on X he did not "want him at Madrid." He had been considered for a senior club role before Florentino Pérez's re-election.
Arbeloa made 26 appearances without scoring. He stayed beyond Mourinho’s tenure until 2016 before finishing his career at West Ham. Transitioning into coaching, he progressed through Madrid’s youth teams and B squad, eventually taking charge of the first team after Xabi Alonso’s mid-season exit. His time was marred by internal disputes, and next season he will manage Premier League side Fulham.
Ramos featured in 34 matches, scoring three goals. The defender is a Spanish football icon, winning five league titles and four Champions Leagues with Madrid. After spells at Paris Saint-Germain, Sevilla, and Monterrey, he is 40 and yet to officially retire. Recently, he attempted to buy a controlling stake in Sevilla, but the deal collapsed.
Pepe appeared 29 times, scoring once. He stayed at Madrid for five more seasons post-title before moving to Besiktas in 2017. Later, he revived his career at Porto, playing until age 41. In May, he participated in the Real Madrid Legends match against Barcelona in Miami.
Marcelo played 32 league games with three goals in 2011–12. He went on to win seven league titles and five Champions Leagues with Madrid, totaling 25 trophies—only surpassed by Nacho, Dani Carvajal, and Luka Modrić. He left in 2022, then spent time at Olympiacos and Fluminense before retiring in 2024. His son Enzo Alves is now a forward in Madrid’s academy.
Khedira made 28 appearances, scoring twice. After losing prominence to Modrić and Kroos, he transferred to Juventus in 2015. He faced Madrid in the 2017 Champions League final, which Madrid won 4–1. Since retiring in 2021, he has worked as a commentator and analyst. This season, he joined Madrid’s coaching staff under Mourinho.
Alonso featured 36 times, scoring once. He stayed after Mourinho but eventually moved to Bayern Munich, playing a big part in their 2014 Champions League win, though suspended for the final. Now a coach, Alonso led Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title in 2023–24. Briefly managing Madrid in 2025, he clashed publicly with Vinícius Júnior and left after half a season. He took over as Chelsea manager ahead of 2026–27.
Di María played 32 games, netting 7 goals. Leaving Madrid for Manchester United in 2014, his only league title came in 2011–12. He shone at Paris Saint-Germain, becoming their top assist provider, and played at Benfica until 2025. Now 38, he returned to his boyhood club Rosario Central in Argentina.
Özil scored 4 goals in 35 appearances and provided 19 assists that season, second only to Lionel Messi. Despite his influence, he faced tough moments under Mourinho, including being called a "crybaby" and a "coward" during a heated exchange. He moved to Arsenal for a record fee in 2013 and won three FA Cups there. Since retirement, videos have surfaced showing his dramatic physical transformation.
Ronaldo's 46 league goals in 2011–12 were part of a staggering 60-goal season. Four of his five Ballon d’Ors came after Mourinho’s title. At 41, he still scores for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia but had a disappointing 2026 World Cup. Portugal’s new coach Jorge Jesus has left open the possibility of Ronaldo continuing internationally.
Benzema made 34 appearances, scoring 21 league goals and 32 in all competitions. After a rocky relationship with Mourinho, his best years came post-Ronaldo when he became Madrid’s main striker, winning the 2022 Ballon d’Or. With 354 Madrid goals, second only to Ronaldo’s 450, Benzema now plays for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
We think these players’ careers tell stories of resilience and change, shaping the legacy of that unforgettable 2011–12 season. Mourinho’s return may bring some echoes of those days, but only time will tell if a similar magic unfolds again.
