Jose Mourinho has officially returned to Portugal after being appointed as Benfica’s new head coach, marking his comeback to the club he briefly led 24 years ago. The 62-year-old takes charge just weeks after parting ways with Turkish side Fenerbahce, who were eliminated from the Champions League by Benfica in August.
What does Mourinho’s Benfica contract include?
In its official statement, Benfica confirmed that Mourinho has signed a deal running until the end of the 2026/27 season, though both parties have the option to terminate it at the close of the current campaign. His arrival follows the sacking of Bruno Lage, who was dismissed after a shocking 1-0 loss to Azerbaijani side Qarabag in their Champions League opener.
Which challenges lie ahead for Mourinho at Benfica?
Mourinho’s return promises high-stakes reunions almost immediately. Benfica will meet Chelsea in the Champions League on September 30, followed by a Primeira Liga clash with Porto on October 5. Both fixtures set the stage for the Portuguese tactician to face clubs that defined key moments of his managerial journey.
Mourinho first stepped into head coaching with Benfica in September 2000, though he quit after just 11 matches. Success soon followed at Porto, where he secured back-to-back league titles and lifted the Champions League in 2004. That triumph catapulted him to Chelsea, then to trophy-laden spells with Inter Milan and Real Madrid.
In more recent years, however, his fortunes have fluctuated. After leaving Manchester United in 2018, he endured mixed tenures at Tottenham, Roma, and Fenerbahce. Benfica now offers him a chance to reset in familiar territory and potentially close his career where it began.
Mourinho’s return is being hailed as both a homecoming and an opportunity for Benfica to reclaim dominance in Portugal and on Europe’s biggest stage.
By Yockshard Enyendi