It was Benfica that handed Mourinho his very first managerial role in 2000. He lasted just 10 games back then, with his resignation being offered following a change of leadership at the top of the club.
Mourinho went on to thrive with Porto, Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid, while also spending time in England with Manchester United and Tottenham. He has agreed to take over from ex-Wolves boss Bruno Lage at Benfica.
Fabrizio Romano is among those to report that Mourinho has agreed a deal through to 2027, with that paperwork being completed after flying in from Barcelona. He was giving nothing away when arriving in Portugal, telling reporters: “I have nothing to tell you. Before I got on the plane, they asked me if I might be interested. I said yes, I might be interested.
“Benfica officially asked me if I would be interested and said that when I returned to Portugal, I would be happy to speak with people. If I return to Benfica, it won’t be a career celebration, nor 25 years later, nor a return home.
“I left my previous club four weeks ago. If you ask me if I expected to stay until the end of the season without coaching, that’s not in my nature. I wanted to join. I didn’t want to say yes to a club that wasn’t the right one, just because I’m a workaholic.
“When I was faced with the possibility of coaching Benfica, I didn’t think twice about it, saying, ‘I’m interested, I’d like it’.”
Mourinho, who also landed major silverware during his time in charge of Roma, will be taking charge of a Benfica side that sit sixth in the Portuguese top-flight – five points adrift of leaders Porto. They will be back in action on Saturday when facing Vila das Aves.
