Sami Khedira’s major role in the Merengue dressing room

Never the star, but always indispensable. This summer, Sami Khedira returned to Real Madrid to join José Mourinho’s coaching staff, once again embracing the discreet but essential role that has defined much of his career.

Some players are made for the spotlight, while others thrive away from it. Sami Khedira has always belonged to the second category. Yet between 2010 and 2015, the German midfielder won almost everything with Real Madrid, collecting seven trophies, including La Liga and the famous Décima in 2014, across 161 appearances in the famous white shirt.

Much of that success came under José Mourinho during the Portuguese coach’s first spell at the Santiago Bernabéu. Sixteen years after Mourinho helped shape him as a player, Khedira is now back at his side for a completely different mission.

The 2014 World Cup winner returned to Madrid this summer as part of Mourinho’s staff, shortly after the Portuguese manager began his second spell in charge of Real Madrid. According to The Athletic, Khedira was one of the profiles Mourinho specifically requested during his first meetings with the club’s hierarchy.

The coach wanted someone capable of acting as a bridge between the technical staff and the dressing room — ideally a former Real Madrid player who already understood the demands, pressure and mentality of the club.

“Mourinho wanted someone charismatic, with a real presence in the dressing room,” The Athletic reported.

Khedira fitted the description perfectly. Former teammates remember him as a calm but authoritative figure, capable of giving instructions and organising those around him long before he officially became a coach. His professionalism, competitiveness and dedication to video analysis also stood out during his playing career.

Interestingly, Khedira had not always planned to work on the training ground. Speaking to AS in 2024, he explained that he saw himself more in an administrative or strategic role within a club or federation, helping to build long-term sporting projects. Coaching remained only a distant possibility despite him obtaining his coaching qualifications.

But an offer involving Mourinho and Real Madrid was almost impossible to reject.

According to The Athletic, Khedira did not hesitate when Mourinho contacted him during the 2026 World Cup, where the German was working with FIFA. Mourinho later revealed that Khedira was ready to travel to Madrid immediately, despite his responsibilities at the tournament.

His role within the staff is nevertheless different from that of Mourinho’s other assistants. Khedira is not usually the man leading training sessions. Mourinho and assistants such as João Tralhão and Pedro Machado take greater responsibility on the pitch.

🚨 REVEALED: Sami Khedira’s role at Real Madrid goes BEYOND training.

He was brought in to help improve the dressing-room DYNAMIC and maintain the club’s STANDARDS. @TheAthleticFC pic.twitter.com/WdYSwyxL2k

— Madrid Xtra (@MadridXtra) August 28, 2026

Khedira, however, plays an important role behind the scenes. He contributes to session preparation, tactical discussions and, above all, the management of the squad’s internal dynamics.

“Sami prepares a lot of things, gives his opinion and is highly respected by everyone,” The Athletic explained.

Mourinho himself praised his former player before the start of the season.

“He is a valuable asset to my staff. He has a good relationship with the players, he played here and he understands the mentality,” Mourinho said.

Khedira therefore follows a long Real Madrid tradition of former players serving as trusted links between coaches and the dressing room. Mourinho previously worked with Aitor Karanka, while Carlo Ancelotti relied on figures such as Zinedine Zidane and Fernando Hierro.

Sami Khedira now belongs to that same lineage: rarely in the spotlight, but once again indispensable behind the scenes.