Renowned Portuguese manager Jose Mourinho has officially agreed to a two-year contract to become the new head coach of Benfica, marking a swift return to management and a homecoming to the club where he first began his senior coaching career. The 62-year-old was introduced on Thursday and will take charge of his first training session with the squad.
The appointment comes just weeks after Mourinho’s departure from Turkish club Fenerbahce, a relationship that ended abruptly following his public criticism of the board’s transfer strategy. In a dramatic turn of events, it was a Champions League play-off match against Benfica that played a part in his exit from Fenerbahce.
Mourinho replaces Bruno Lage, who was dismissed in the wake of Benfica’s shocking 3-2 home defeat to Qarabag of Azerbaijan in the Champions League on Tuesday. According to Benfica President Rui Costa, the club sought a “winning coach” to turn their fortunes around.
This new chapter for Mourinho brings an immediate and intriguing reunion. His fourth game in charge is set to be a Champions League clash against his former club, Chelsea, at Stamford Bridge on September 30.
This marks a return to the Estádio da Luz for Mourinho, who had a brief but memorable stint at the club in 2000. While his last several years have been characterized by short-lived roles at clubs like Tottenham, Roma, and Fenerbahce, Mourinho’s legacy of two Champions League titles and multiple domestic league crowns across England, Spain, and Italy remains formidable.
The move to Benfica includes a unique break clause that would allow either party to end the deal at the close of the current campaign. Mourinho indicated this was included to account for the club’s upcoming presidential elections in October. Despite this, his public comments have conveyed a deep sense of motivation and honor to be back at the helm of a club he considers among the world’s greatest.
Source: Sky Sports
