Where Are Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid 2011-12 Title Winners Now?

Jose Mourinho’s Real Madrid La Liga Champions: Tracking Their Journeys

It has been over a decade since Jose Mourinho led Real Madrid to their memorable 2011–12 La Liga title. That season remains iconic, with the club setting records by reaching 100 points and scoring 121 goals, outshining Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona. Mourinho’s return to the Bernabéu this summer stirred memories of those days, though his first spell ended on a sour note after failing to secure trophies in his final campaign.

The following is an update on the main players from that celebrated starting eleven and what paths their careers have taken since then.

Goalkeeper: Iker Casillas

Iker Casillas featured in 37 league games that season, keeping 14 clean sheets. Despite being one of the club’s all-time appearance leaders, he parted ways with Madrid in 2015 after a public fallout with Mourinho during the manager’s last year. Casillas now serves as a pundit and ambassador but has openly expressed opposition to Mourinho’s recent return to the club, stating on social media that he did not want Mourinho back at Madrid.

Right Back: Álvaro Arbeloa

Arbeloa made 26 appearances in the title-winning season. He remained with Real Madrid until 2016 before finishing his playing days at West Ham. Transitioning into coaching, he climbed through Madrid’s youth ranks and took over the B team after Xabi Alonso’s departure. His stint as head coach was turbulent due to internal conflicts, leading him to accept the managerial role at Premier League side Fulham for the upcoming season.

Centre Back: Sergio Ramos

Sergio Ramos played 34 matches and scored three goals that season. Beyond Mourinho’s tenure, he added four Champions League trophies and two more La Liga titles to his collection. After spells at Paris Saint-Germain, Sevilla, and Monterrey in Mexico, Ramos, now 40, seems ready to shift focus towards football administration. Earlier this year, he attempted to buy a controlling stake in Sevilla, though negotiations eventually fell through.

Centre Back: Pepe

Pepe appeared 29 times, netting once. He stayed at Madrid for five more seasons post-title before moving to Besiktas in 2017. A late-career revival at Porto extended his playing days until age 41. Recently, he participated in a Real Madrid Legends match against Barcelona in Miami.

Left Back: Marcelo

Marcelo featured 32 times, scoring three goals. He went on to win three additional La Liga championships and five Champions League trophies with Madrid. Amassing 25 trophies total, only a few teammates have surpassed his haul. Marcelo left the club in 2022, spent time with Olympiacos and Fluminense, and retired in 2024. His son, Enzo Alves, is now progressing through Real Madrid’s academy as a forward.

Central Midfield: Sami Khedira

Khedira made 28 appearances, scoring twice. His influence declined after new midfield additions like Modrić and Kroos arrived. He transferred to Juventus in 2015 and faced Madrid in the 2017 Champions League final. Since retiring in 2021, Khedira has worked as a commentator and recently rejoined Real Madrid’s staff under Mourinho’s new coaching setup.

Central Midfield: Xabi Alonso

Xabi Alonso played 36 matches and scored once. He contributed significantly to Madrid’s 2014 Champions League win but missed the final due to suspension. Later moving to Bayern Munich, Alonso turned to management and led Bayer Leverkusen to an unbeaten Bundesliga title in 2023–24. After a short, challenging spell managing Real Madrid in 2025, including a public dispute with Vinícius Júnior, he accepted the Chelsea managerial job for the 2026–27 season.

Right Wing: Ángel Di María

Di María appeared 32 times and scored seven goals. Leaving Madrid in 2014 for Manchester United, he never won another league title despite later success at Paris Saint-Germain, where he remains the top assist provider. After a recent stint at Benfica, Di María returned to his childhood club Rosario Central in Argentina. At 38, he still plays professionally.

Attacking Midfield: Mesut Özil

Özil featured in 35 matches, scoring four goals, and was second only to Lionel Messi for assists in La Liga that season. His relationship with Mourinho was strained; Özil recalled being called a "crybaby" and a "coward" during heated exchanges. Transferring to Arsenal for a record fee in 2013, he won three FA Cups before retiring. Videos of his impressive physical transformation after retirement have recently gained attention.

Left Wing: Cristiano Ronaldo

Ronaldo scored an astonishing 46 league goals in 38 appearances that season, tallying 60 across all competitions. Four of his five Ballon d’Or awards came after the 2011–12 campaign. At 41, he continues to score for Al-Nassr in Saudi Arabia, although his 2026 World Cup performance was underwhelming. Portugal’s new coach, Jorge Jesus, has hinted that Ronaldo could remain part of the national squad.

Striker: Karim Benzema

Benzema scored 21 goals in 34 league games while sharing duties with Gonzalo Higuaín. After being criticized by Mourinho earlier, he later flourished as Real Madrid’s leading striker following Ronaldo’s departure, ultimately winning the 2022 Ballon d’Or. Only Ronaldo surpasses his 354 Madrid goals. Like Ronaldo, Benzema now plays in Saudi Arabia with Al Hilal.

These players’ stories reflect a mix of triumphs, challenges, and transitions both on and off the field. The echoes of that remarkable season continue to resonate through their varied careers.