Mourinho has never been far away from the headlines throughout his coaching career and it was no different during his first season at Madrid.
He twice received touchline bans from UEFA for incidents during the Champions League, the first for apparently instructing Sergio Ramos and Xabi Alonso to deliberately pick up bookings, and the second time following Madrid's ill-tempered semi-final defeat to arch rivals Barcelona.
New beginnings: Mourinho was announced as Real Madrid manager in May 2010 In the stands: Mourinho was sent off in Madrid's Champions League semi-final clash in 2011 Duel: Mourinho remonstrates with Barca captain Carles Puyol in the same match Different times: Mourinho was hoisted into the air after winning the Copa Del ReyMourinho was sent off in the first leg and then implied Barca were given special treatment by UEFA, with his conduct earning the Portuguese a five-match ban by European football's governing body.
On the field, Madrid were unbeaten in their opening 19 matches under Mourinho but that run came to a humiliating end as they were thrashed 5-0 by Barca at the Nou Camp.
Madrid would end up finishing second to Barca in La Liga, although they did gain some revenge by beating the Catalan club in the Copa del Rey final thanks to an extra-time goal from Cristiano Ronaldo - the first time Madrid had won the cup since 1993.
Season: 2011/12Mourinho was confident Madrid would steadily improve during his tenure and that proved the case as they won the Primera Division title in record-breaking fashion in his second term.
They became the first team ever to reach 100 points in Spain's top flight and also scored 121 goals as they ended Barcelona's three-year reign as champions.
However, they were knocked out of the Copa del Rey at the quarter-final stage by Barca and also suffered more disappointment in their bid for a 10th European Cup title as they lost out to Bayern Munich in the semi-finals following a penalty shoot-out.
Champions: Mourinho led Real to the La Liga title to end an era of Barcelona dominance Poke: Mourinho caused controversy over this scuffle with Tito Vilanova
Emotion: Cristiano Ronaldo despairs as Real are knocked out of the Champions League by Bayern Munich
Mourinho also attracted controversy after appearing to poke then Barcelona assistant manager Tito Vilanova in the eye during Madrid's Supercopa defeat at the Nou Camp at the start of the season - subsequently earning him a two-match touchline ban.
At the end of the season Mourinho signed a contract extension with Madrid, tying him to the club until 2016.
Season: 2012/13Mourinho's final season in charge started well with Madrid getting the upper hand over Barcelona to win the Spanish Supercopa, taking the trophy on away goals following a 4-4 aggregate draw. That was as good as it got for the capital club, though.
In the league Barca stormed away from Madrid to such an extent that Mourinho conceded the title race was all but over before Christmas. Madrid, who trailed by 16 points at one stage in February, went on an impressive run in the second half of the season but the damage had been done and Barca clinched the title with three games to go.
There was also more Champions League agony for the Spanish giants as they were knocked out in the semi-finals by Borussia Dortmund, going out 4-3 on aggregate after losing the first leg 4-1.
Shunned: Mourinho started to lose friends in his final season at MadridThird time unlucky: Real crashed out of the Champions League to Borussia Dortmund this season
Sidelines: Mourinho fell foul of fans for continually benching club legend Iker Casillas (second right)
Madrid had hoped to salvage something from the Copa del Rey final against local rivals Atletico, but they were beaten 2-1 at the Bernabeu in a match which saw Mourinho sent off - the first time they had lost to their neighbours in 14 years.
As well as those setbacks, there were also reports of dressing room rifts - notably over the axing of long-serving goalkeeper Iker Casillas - while Madrid fans also appeared to have turned on Mourinho as his time at the club drew to a close.
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