João Tralhão has officially been appointed as the assistant manager at Real Madrid, with his contract extending until June 30, 2029, as reported by Managing Madrid.

A Career Built Slowly, Then Quickly
Born in Lisbon on September 3, 1980, Tralhão holds a UEFA Pro Licence and has spent nearly two decades developing within the Benfica academy system. His rise in coaching began in 2002 as an Under-17 assistant, ultimately leading him to manage Benfica’s UEFA Youth League team from 2013 to 2018. Key highlights of this period include:

• An 11-1 victory over Galatasaray in October 2015
• A Youth League final appearance against Barcelona in April 2014

Transitioning to senior football, Tralhão gained experience through various assistant roles:

• Thierry Henry at AS Monaco (2018-19)
• Head coach at Vilafranquense for 17 matches
• Assistant to Nuri Şahin at Antalyaspor and Borussia Dortmund

The Mourinho Connection
Tralhão’s collaboration with José Mourinho began in the 2025-26 season at Fenerbahçe, though it was a brief stint. He followed Mourinho to Benfica in September 2025, contributing to 45 matches and solidifying their coaching partnership. This connection has been instrumental in Tralhão securing his position at Real Madrid.

Mourinho has been meticulously building his staff since taking charge at Madrid, favoring loyalty and familiarity in his appointments. Tralhão, represented by ISM International Soccer Management, fits perfectly into this strategy, promising a continued focus on European competition as the team prepares for future challenges.