Football sensation José Mourinho, the master of trophies, returns to Benfica after a quarter of a century! Will the “Special One” once again enchant Lisbon and restore glory to the Eagles in the Champions League?
José Mourinho has signed a two-year contract with Benfica, returning to the bench of the club he briefly managed between September and December 2000. The move comes just a month after he was sacked by Fenerbahçe, where he spent just over a year. Now, the 62-year-old strategist, known for his successes in England, Spain and Italy, takes over at the helm of Benfica after the dismissal of Bruno Lage, the former coach of Wolverhampton, who was dismissed after a shocking defeat to Qarabağ in the Champions League.
Mourinho will conduct his first coaching session with Benfica on Thursday, and at the end of the month he will face his former club Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on September 30 in the Champions League.
Mourinho’s circle closes
Sky Sports News’ Gary Cotterill commented on this by saying that “José Mourinho is returning to the club he left 25 years ago, where he began his managerial career. He didn’t stay long then due to a presidential election and the arrival of a new boss who wanted his own coach. Now the story is repeating itself – Benfica’s new president has already mentioned Mourinho’s name. It’s a full circle for José, especially since Fenerbahçe sacked him after criticising the board for a poor transfer window before their Champions League qualifying defeat to Benfica. Ironically, Mourinho will now manage the very team that knocked him out of the top flight, in the Champions League.”
Mourinho first came to prominence at Benfica’s rivals Porto, where he won the 2003 UEFA Cup and 2004 Champions League. He then won the Premier League at Chelsea in 2005, 2006 and 2015, while he lifted the Champions League trophy with Inter Milan in 2010. In Manchester United, he won the Europa League and the League Cup in 2017, while he triumphed in the Conference League with Roma in 2022. However, his time at Tottenham ended without a trophy, and he was sacked just days before the 2021 League Cup final.
Chelsea and Newcastle on the horizon
Mourinho’s return to Benfica brings an extra dose of intrigue due to the upcoming matches. Apart from the clash with Chelsea, Benfica will visit Newcastle in December, a club close to Mourinho’s heart due to his partnership with Sir Bobby Robson, under whom he worked for many years. Cotterill adds: “Mourinho almost ended up at Newcastle when Robson wanted to bring him in, but he was already Benfica manager by then.”
Mourinho’s controversial past
Mourinho’s departure from Fenerbahçe was marked by a clash with the board, especially after criticism of the transfer policy before the two-legged tie with Benfica, which Fenerbahçe lost 1-0 on aggregate, missing out on the Champions League. Now, Mourinho has the chance to make amends from Benfica’s perspective, as he faces challenges such as rebuilding the team and competing for domestic and European trophies.
Will Mourinho return Benfica to the top of Portuguese football and shine in the Champions League, or will rival pressure and the past cause new drama? Follow us for the latest news from Lisbon – the “Special One” is just beginning his new adventure!
