Where Are Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid 2011–12 Title Winners Today?

Jose Mourinho's return to Real Madrid this summer brings back memories of his successful 2011–12 season, when Los Blancos clinched the La Liga title with a record-breaking 100 points and 121 goals. That campaign remains one of the finest in Spanish football history, achieved by overcoming Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. Although Mourinho left the club 13 years ago amid controversy, the impact of that team lingers. Let’s explore where the key players from that squad have ended up.

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas

Casillas, a legendary figure for Real Madrid, featured in 37 league matches that season, keeping 14 clean sheets. He departed the club in 2015 as its second-most capped player but not without tension, notably clashing with Mourinho in his final year. Now retired, Casillas acts as a pundit and ambassador but expressed his opposition to Mourinho’s recent return via social media.

Right Back: Álvaro Arbeloa

Arbeloa made 26 appearances in the title-winning season and stayed at Madrid until 2016 before finishing his playing career at West Ham. Transitioning into management, he advanced through Real Madrid’s youth teams and briefly managed the B team. After a difficult tenure marked by internal conflicts, he accepted the managerial role at Premier League club Fulham for the upcoming season.

Centre Backs: Sergio Ramos and Pepe

Sergio Ramos played 34 times, scoring three goals, and went on to become a Real Madrid icon, winning five La Liga titles and four Champions League trophies. After stints at Paris Saint-Germain, Sevilla, and Monterrey, the 40-year-old is eyeing a future in football administration, having led an unsuccessful bid to purchase Sevilla.

Pepe featured in 29 matches, netting once, and remained with Real Madrid for five more seasons before moving to Besiktas and then Porto, where he played until age 41. Recently, he appeared in the Real Madrid Legends match against Barcelona.

Left Back: Marcelo

Marcelo played 32 league games, scoring three goals during the championship season. He extended his success at Madrid with multiple domestic and European trophies, retiring in 2024 after spells at Olympiacos and Fluminense. His son, Enzo Alves, now follows in his footsteps within Real Madrid’s academy.

Midfielders: Sami Khedira and Xabi Alonso

Khedira appeared 28 times, scoring twice, but lost prominence after new signings arrived. Leaving for Juventus in 2015, he retired in 2021 and now serves as part of Mourinho’s coaching staff at Madrid.

Xabi Alonso, who played 36 matches scoring once, continued post-Mourinho and was integral to Madrid’s 2014 Champions League win despite missing the final due to suspension. After Bayern Munich, he began coaching, leading Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title in 2023–24. He briefly managed Real Madrid in 2025 before taking over Chelsea for the 2026–27 season.

Wingers: Ángel Di María and Mesut Özil

Di María contributed 7 goals in 32 games during the title run. He moved on to Manchester United and later excelled at Paris Saint-Germain as their top assist provider. In his late 30s, he currently plays for Rosario Central in Argentina.

Özil, who scored 4 goals in 35 matches, was crucial to Madrid’s attack. His relationship with Mourinho was strained; he recalled being called a “crybaby” and “coward.” Transferring to Arsenal in 2013 for a record fee, he won three FA Cups before retiring. Videos of his post-retirement fitness journey recently caught attention online.

Forwards: Cristiano Ronaldo and Karim Benzema

Cristiano Ronaldo’s 46 league goals in 38 games helped secure the title. He scored 60 goals across all competitions that season. Since then, he claimed four Ballon d’Or awards and continues to play for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia at age 41. His 2026 World Cup showed glimpses of brilliance but was overall disappointing. Portugal’s new coach has left open the possibility of Ronaldo continuing internationally.

Benzema, scoring 21 times in 34 appearances, shared the striking duties with Gonzalo Higuaín. He peaked after Ronaldo’s departure, winning the 2022 Ballon d’Or and becoming Real Madrid’s second-highest scorer. Currently, he plays for Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.