Jose Mourinho has been officially appointed as the new head coach of Benfica, marking a dramatic return to Portuguese football 21 years after his last managerial role in the country.
The 62-year-old tactician, renowned for stints at Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and Manchester United, signed a contract that runs until the end of the 2026/27 season, with an option for either party to terminate the deal at the end of the current campaign.
Benfica announced the appointment on Thursday, just two days after sacking Bruno Lage, following a shocking 3-2 defeat to Qarabag in their Champions League group stage opener.
“Jose Mourinho will bring experience, pedigree, and ambition back to the dugout at Estádio da Luz,” Benfica said in an official statement.
Mourinho began his managerial journey at Benfica in September 2000, but walked away after just 11 games due to disagreements with club leadership. He went on to impress at Uniao de Leiria, before making history with rival club Porto, guiding them to back-to-back Primeira Liga titles and the UEFA Champions League trophy in 2004.
His success at Porto launched a glittering international coaching career, including:
- Chelsea (2004–2007, 2013–2015) – 3 Premier League titles
- Inter Milan (2008–2010) – Treble-winning season including Champions League
- Real Madrid (2010–2013) – La Liga and Copa del Rey titles
- Manchester United (2016–2018) – Europa League and League Cup wins
Most recently, Mourinho was coaching Turkish side Fenerbahce, but was sacked in August 2025 after a Champions League play-off defeat to Benfica—the very club he now returns to lead.
Mourinho’s first major test as Benfica coach will be a blockbuster Champions League clash against Chelsea on September 30, followed by a fiery domestic showdown against Porto on October 5.
“This is more than a job for Mourinho—it’s a return to his roots and a chance to restore Benfica’s glory both domestically and in Europe,” analysts say.
From his early days as assistant to Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal at Barcelona, to his explosive rise at Porto and dominance across Europe’s elite leagues, Mourinho’s return to Portugal’s top flight is seen as one of the most high-profile coaching comebacks in recent football history.
Fans in Lisbon welcomed the announcement with excitement, with many seeing it as a statement of intent by Benfica to reclaim supremacy in Portuguese football and reignite their Champions League campaign.
