Where Are Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid 2011–12 Title Winners Now?
Jose Mourinho's return to Real Madrid this summer stirred memories of the incredible 2011–12 La Liga season. That campaign, where Madrid claimed the title with a record 100 points and 121 goals, remains one of the finest in Spanish football history. It was a high point that came just before Mourinho's tense departure from the Bernabéu.
Let's take a look at what happened to the key players from that unforgettable title-winning team.
Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas
The legendary goalkeeper appeared 37 times that season, keeping 14 clean sheets. Casillas left Real Madrid in 2015 as the club’s second-most capped player. His final year saw a public falling out with Mourinho. Since retiring, Casillas has become a pundit and ambassador but made it clear on X that he did not want Mourinho back at Madrid. He was once tipped for a senior role under presidential hopeful Enrique Riquelme, though that never materialized.
Right Back: Álvaro Arbeloa
Arbeloa played 26 league games during the title-winning season. He remained at Madrid until 2016 before finishing his playing career at West Ham. Moving into coaching, Arbeloa climbed the ranks at Real Madrid, managing youth teams and the B squad. Last season, after Xabi Alonso’s departure, he took over the first team but faced intense challenges amid internal conflicts. Arbeloa will manage Premier League side Fulham next season.
Center Back: Sergio Ramos
Ramos made 34 appearances and scored 3 goals that season. He is one of Spain’s football icons, winning five La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies with Madrid. After spells at Paris Saint-Germain, Sevilla, and Monterrey, Ramos has yet to officially retire. Recently, he attempted to buy a stake in Sevilla, but the deal fell through. The 40-year-old seems poised for a future off the pitch.
Center Back: Pepe
Pepe featured in 29 league matches and scored once in the title season. He stayed at Madrid for five more years before moving to Besiktas in 2017. He revived his career at Porto, playing fiercely until age 41. Earlier this year, Pepe took part in the Real Madrid Legends match against Barcelona in Miami.
Left Back: Marcelo
Marcelo contributed 3 goals in 32 appearances. His success extended beyond Mourinho’s tenure with three more La Liga titles and five Champions Leagues, totaling 25 trophies. He departed Madrid in 2022, later playing for Olympiacos and Fluminense before retiring in 2024. His son, Enzo Alves, now develops as a forward in Madrid’s academy.
Central Midfield: Sami Khedira
Khedira played 28 games and scored twice in the title run. His role diminished after the arrivals of Modrić and Kroos. He left for Juventus in 2015 and faced Madrid in the 2017 Champions League final. Since retiring in 2021, Khedira has worked as a commentator and recently joined Mourinho’s coaching staff at Madrid.
Central Midfield: Xabi Alonso
Alonso featured in 36 matches, scoring once. He stayed post-Mourinho, contributing significantly to Madrid’s 2014 Champions League win before moving to Bayern Munich. As a coach, Alonso led Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title in 2023–24. He managed Real Madrid briefly in 2025 but left amid conflicts, notably with Vinícius Júnior. Ahead of the 2026–27 season, Alonso became Chelsea’s manager.
Right Wing: Ángel Di María
Di María played 32 games, scoring 7 goals during the championship season. He moved to Manchester United in 2014, claiming only one league title with Madrid. He flourished at Paris Saint-Germain as their top assist provider. Until 2025, he was with Benfica and has since returned to Argentina to play for Rosario Central at 38 years old.
Attacking Midfield: Mesut Özil
Özil appeared 35 times, netting 4 goals and providing 19 assists, second only to Messi that season. Despite his contributions, tensions with Mourinho were evident, with Özil recalling harsh words from the coach. Transferred to Arsenal in 2013 for a record fee, he won three FA Cups there. Post-retirement, videos have showcased his surprising physical transformation.
Left Wing: Cristiano Ronaldo
Ronaldo scored a staggering 46 league goals in 38 appearances that season and totaled 60 goals across all competitions. Four of his five Ballon d’Or awards came after this campaign. At 41, he continues scoring for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia. His 2026 World Cup was underwhelming despite early promise, but Portugal’s new coach Jorge Jesus hinted Ronaldo might still play internationally.
Striker: Karim Benzema
Benzema scored 21 league goals in 34 appearances, sharing striking duties with Higuaín. His peak came after Ronaldo’s departure, winning the 2022 Ballon d’Or and becoming Madrid’s second-highest scorer behind Ronaldo. Today, Benzema plays for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.
These players’ journeys reveal the layers beneath a historic team, many continuing to impact football in various ways.
