Benfica has officially named Jose Mourinho as their new manager, signing a contract that will last until the summer of 2027.
The 62-year-old takes over from Bruno Lage, who was dismissed following an unexpected Champions League loss to Qarabag on Tuesday.
This marks Mourinho’s return to management less than a month after he was let go by Fenerbahce due to a defeat in the Champions League playoffs against Benfica.
Mourinho began his managerial journey with Benfica in 2000 but only managed 10 games before leaving due to a disagreement with the club’s president.
His new contract includes an option for both Benfica and Mourinho to mutually decide against extending it for another season up to 10 days after the conclusion of the 2025-26 season.
Lage was fired despite having lost only one match in all competitions this season, and Mourinho steps into a team currently sitting sixth in the Primeira Liga, five points behind leaders Porto, although they have a game in hand.
Mourinho’s first match back at the Lisbon club is scheduled for Saturday at 18:00 BST, where they will face 17th-placed AVS.
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He gained prominence during his time with Porto from 2002 to 2004, where he secured six trophies, including the Champions League in 2003-04.
Since leaving Portugal in 2004, Mourinho has managed several clubs, including Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Roma, and Fenerbahce.
After sacking Lage, Benfica president Rui Costa stated that the new manager needed to have a “winner’s profile.”
Mourinho certainly meets that criterion, having won 21 major trophies, with his latest victory coming in the Conference League with Roma in 2022.
The Portuguese manager, who famously dubbed himself ‘the special one’ in 2004, will return to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea in the Champions League on September 30.
Benfica will also visit Newcastle and host another of Mourinho’s former clubs, Real Madrid, later in the league phase of the competition.
Last season, Benfica finished second in the Portuguese league and claimed the title in 2022-23.
Mourinho’s time in Turkey was tumultuous, often marked by disagreements over officiating standards.
In November, he criticized Fenerbahce for only revealing “half of the truth” regarding the quality of refereeing and labeled referee Atilla Karaoglan as “man of the match” after his team scored a late victory against Trabzonspor.
He also filed a lawsuit against rival club Galatasaray in February after they accused him of making racist remarks.
