Real Madrid is preparing for a match steeped in history when the white club visits the Olympic Stadium in Rome next Wednesday. For José Mourinho, the match takes on added value: it is the first match he will play in the Italian capital after having coached Roma between 2021 and 2024, and the day marks his 1,000th match as a professional. Furthermore, the Portuguese will become the first coach to have reached the final of the Champions League, the Europa League and the Conference League, consolidating his legacy as one of the greatest strategists of contemporary football.
During his time at Roma, Mourinho left an indelible mark. In the 2021-22 season, he led the team to the historic victory of the first edition of the Conference League, beating Feyenoord 1-0 in the final. A year later, he led the Bianconera to the final of the Europa League, where the match ended 1‑1 and was decided on penalties, with José Luis Mendilibar's Sevilla taking the title. His spell ended in January 2024, when he left the Italian club to join Fenerbahçe in June.
The match with Real Madrid will also be memorable for two players from the white team. Striker Hugo Huijsen, who arrived at Roma in 2024 after a loan from Juventus, and defender David Rüdiger, who played in the Italian capital between 2015 and 2017, will return to the city where they grew up as footballers. Both players will share the day with their former teammates and with the coach who saw them flourish in Serie A.
For Real Madrid, the visit to Rome represents an opportunity to measure its level against a rival that has been part of the club's history. The team, which is in the qualifying phase of the Champions League, seeks to consolidate its position in the table and demonstrate that its squad remains competitive at the European level. The result of the match will not only have implications for the competition, but will also be a testament to Mourinho's influence on Italian football and the trajectory of Real Madrid.
With the date set, fans of both clubs can expect a duel that combines the passion of football with the commemoration of a legendary career. Mourinho's 1,000th game and the presence of former players in Rome promise a memorable encounter, as Real Madrid seeks to advance its sporting goals and the Portuguese coach celebrates a personal milestone in the stadium he once called home.