Before Jose Mourinho prepares for his first El Clasico since 2013, Planet Football looked back at the Real Madrid XI from his final Clasico in March 2013, a 2-1 win over Barcelona. Karim Benzema and Sergio Ramos scored for Madrid in that match, with Lionel Messi getting Barcelona's goal.
Goalkeeper and defence
Lopez retired after a season with Rayo Vallecano and later linked up with Madrid again as a goalkeeping coach for the Castilla side. Mourinho then promoted Lopez to the first-team staff temporarily when their usual goalkeeping coach was suspended.
Ramos left Monterrey in December and has been without a club ever since. Angel Torres said Ramos was on Getafe's list of potential signings. Club president Angel Torres told Radio Nacional: "He could come, because it is something we have been looking into for some time. He is on the list of potential signings."
Varane played once for Como before injury ended his playing career. Como kept him on after retirement in a board role focused on youth and development. He said at the time: "Transitioning from the field to the boardroom isn’t the end of my football journey; it’s a new beginning that I’m looking forward to. Joining the board of Como allows me to continue contributing to the sport while shaping its future."
Pepe retired in 2024 after a five-year second spell with Porto. Mourinho spoke with Pepe in the summer about joining his coaching staff, but nothing has been finalised yet.
Wide players and midfield
Coentrao became a full-time fisherman and shipowner after retiring. He explained in 2021: "My father had a boat, he used to fish and I always went with him as a child. My life was the sea… the sea and fishing. Of course, I knew that football would one day end and that I should take a new direction in my life. And my happiness is this boat and this is the life I want to lead." Portuguese authorities seized more than a ton of shellfish in 2025 after accusing Coentrao of running an unlicensed business.
Essien has been an assistant coach for Nordsjaelland since 2020. Modric moved to Milan in 2025 after more than a decade at Madrid. Ruben Amorim has used Modric in all seven of Milan's league games so far this season.
After retiring in 2017, Kaka has worked in ambassadorial roles with FIFA. As he alluded to in an interview with Gazzetta Dello Sport earlier this year, he said: "Today, I work in sports marketing, and who knows what the future holds. My relationship with Milan has always been, and will always remain, special to me." Kaka also said in 2025: "I stopped playing in 2017. Since then, I have wanted to prepare myself. I took sports business courses at Harvard in the United States, I took a coaching course at the CBF, I have experience with the national team, the World Cup. If the opportunity arises, I am ready to return to serve the Brazilian national team."
Forwards
Callejon retired in 2025 after a season with Marbella, then briefly made a lower-league comeback with Puerto Motril.
Another forward is on loan at Leganes from Como. He scored once in 30 games for Como last season, has yet to score for Leganes, and was sent off for two bookings in his most recent outing.
Benzema agreed to rip up his contract with Al Hilal in the summer after scoring 10 goals from 16 games for them. Lyon sporting director Matthieu Louis-Jean said: "No, it was not close to happening. Of course, like you, I heard what was said on social networks. I know there was an issue getting out of his contract in Saudi Arabia, but no, it was more noise than reality. I don’t think it was feasible in any case." Planet Football said Benzema is still contractually tied until 2030.