Where Mourinho's 2012 Real Madrid title winners are now: From Casillas to Ronaldo
José Mourinho's return to Real Madrid this summer marks a new chapter, but it also revives memories of a golden season. Thirteen years after leaving the Bernabéu under a cloud, the Portuguese manager is back. And while his final year was bitter, the 2011-12 campaign was pure magic. That team stormed to La Liga glory with a record 100 points and 121 goals, beating Pep Guardiola's Barcelona in the process. It remains one of the greatest seasons in Spanish soccer history. But what happened to the players who made it happen? Here is where the most featured XI from that title-winning side are today.
Iker Casillas: The goalkeeper who opposed Mourinho's return
The legendary goalkeeper left Real Madrid in 2015 as the club's second-highest appearance maker. But his relationship with Mourinho soured badly in the manager's final season. Now a pundit and ambassador, Casillas publicly opposed Mourinho's return earlier this year, posting on X that he did not 'want him at Madrid.' He had been considered for a senior role under presidential candidate Enrique Riquelme before Florentino Pérez's re-election.
Álvaro Arbeloa: From steady hand to nightmare at the helm
The right back stayed at Madrid until 2016, then finished his career at West Ham. He later became a manager, working his way up through Real Madrid's youth teams. When Xabi Alonso left mid-season last year, Arbeloa got the top job. But it turned into a nightmare amid constant infighting. He will take charge of Premier League side Fulham next season.
Sergio Ramos: Legend on the pitch, investor off it
One of Spanish football's most iconic figures, Ramos won five La Liga titles and four Champions Leagues with Madrid. After leaving, he played for Paris Saint-Germain, Sevilla, and most recently Monterrey in Mexico. Now 40, he has not officially retired, but his next move may be in the boardroom. He fronted an investment group's bid to buy a controlling stake in Sevilla earlier this year, though the deal collapsed.
Pepe: The ageless enforcer
Ramos's uncompromising center back partner stayed at Madrid until 2017, then moved to Besiktas. He enjoyed a late-career renaissance at Porto, playing until age 41. In May, he turned out for Real Madrid against Barcelona in the Legends Cup in Miami.
Marcelo: Trophy king and father of a rising star
Marcelo won seven La Liga titles and five Champions Leagues with Madrid. Only three players have more honors for the club. He left in 2022, played for Olympiacos and Fluminense, and retired in 2024. His teenage son, Enzo Alves, now plays as a forward in Real Madrid's academy.
Sami Khedira: From midfielder to Mourinho's coaching staff
A key Mourinho midfielder, Khedira's influence faded after Modrić and Kroos arrived. He left for Juventus in 2015 and 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 returns to Madrid as part of Mourinho's new coaching staff.
Xabi Alonso: From player to coaching prodigy
Alonso played a major role in Madrid's 2014 Champions League win, then left for Bayern Munich. He became one of the most successful young coaches of his generation, leading Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title in 2023-24. Appointed Real Madrid manager in 2025, he could not replicate that success and left after half a season, following a public fallout with Vinícius Júnior. He was appointed Chelsea manager for the 2026-27 season.
Ángel Di María: Still going at 38
Di María left Madrid for Manchester United in 2014. He later excelled at Paris Saint-Germain, where he remains the club's all-time assist provider. He was playing at Benfica until 2025. Now 38, the man who scored in the 2022 World Cup final is back at boyhood club Rosario Central.
Mesut Özil: The playmaker who clashed with Mourinho
Only Lionel Messi had more assists than Özil's 19 in La Liga that season. But the German did not have it easy under Mourinho, who once called him a 'crybaby' and a 'coward' in a locker room confrontation, according to Özil's book. He joined Arsenal for a then-club record £42.5 million in 2013 and won three FA Cups. Recently, videos of his post-retirement body transformation went viral.
Cristiano Ronaldo: Still scoring at 41
Ronaldo scored 60 goals in the 2011-12 season, a tally he has only bettered once since. Four of his five Ballon d'Or awards came after that title. Now 41, he continues to play for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League. His 2026 World Cup campaign was disappointing, though new Portugal manager Jorge Jesus has left the door open for him to continue with the national team.
Karim Benzema: From Mourinho's 'cat' to Ballon d'Or winner
Benzema shared duties with Gonzalo Higuaín that season, scoring 32 times in all competitions. It was a strong response after Mourinho compared him to a cat unfavorably. His finest work came after Ronaldo's exit in 2018, when he became Madrid's main man and won the 2022 Ballon d'Or. Only Ronaldo has more goals for Real Madrid than Benzema's 354. He now plays for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
What does Mourinho's return mean for Real Madrid?
Mourinho's return is a gamble. He brings a winning pedigree but also a history of conflict. The 2011-12 team was a perfect storm of talent and tension. Can he recreate that magic? Or will the same cracks appear again? For fans, the memories of that record-breaking season are enough to hope.
FAQ
Why did Mourinho leave Real Madrid in 2013?
Mourinho left after a trophyless final season, with tensions high between him and key players like Casillas and Ramos. The club and manager parted ways by mutual agreement.
Who was the best player in the 2011-12 Real Madrid team?
Cristiano Ronaldo was the standout, scoring 60 goals in all competitions. But the team's success was built on a collective effort, with Özil's assists and Ramos's leadership also crucial.
How many of Mourinho's title winners are still playing?
As of 2026, only Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema are still active, both in Saudi Arabia. Most others have retired or moved into coaching and punditry.