Jose Mourinho, after recently facing a setback with his dismissal from Fenerbahce, is on the brink of a new chapter. The Turkish club’s management chose to part ways with him following their failure in the UEFA Champions League qualifiers.
The decision was not only influenced by missing out on qualification for the second consecutive year but also due to criticism of the team’s playing style. Mourinho’s stint in Istanbul lasted just over a year, beginning in the summer of 2024.
He spent a brief period of over two weeks without a role but appears determined to quickly return to the sidelines. Reports from CNN Portugal and A Bola suggest that he is set to join his new club as early as this weekend.
Mourinho is reportedly taking charge of Benfica, the very team that eliminated Fenerbahce from this season’s Champions League. If confirmed, this marks a significant return to Lisbon for the Portuguese tactician after 25 years.
From September to December in 2000, Mourinho had a brief tenure as Benfica’s coach, overseeing 10 matches which resulted in 5 wins, three draws, and two losses.
The shake-up in Lisbon’s coaching staff seems inevitable, especially following Benfica’s recent Champions League defeat against Qarabag Agdam (2:3). Club president Rui Costa, speaking to the press after the game, confirmed that Bruno Lage would no longer lead the team.
A Bola reports that an understanding has reportedly been reached between Mourinho and Benfica. Only minor details remain to be finalized. Everything is expected to be settled within the next several hours. The Special One might take charge of the Eagles in their upcoming match. This weekend, specifically on Saturday (September 20), they are set to face AFS in an away game.