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Only three weeks after leaving Turkish giants Fenerbahce, Jose Mourinho is on the verge of returning to management.
The 62-year-old coach, who parted ways with the Istanbul club following their Champions League Play-Off elimination against Benfica on August 29, is now preparing to take charge of the Lisbon side.
Benfica, fresh from eliminating Fenerbahce, made a disastrous start to the group stage with a 3-2 home defeat to Qarabag.
The result intensified pressure on coach Bruno Lage and accelerated talks with Mourinho.
According to Portuguese media outlets, Rui Costa personally contacted Mourinho after the match and received a positive response.
Reports from Lisbon suggest that negotiations stretched late into the night, with Mourinho and Rui Costa shaking hands on a principal agreement.
The final details of the contract are being discussed, and an official announcement is expected in the coming days.
Speaking after the Qarabag loss, Rui Costa avoided naming Mourinho but confirmed a swift appointment was imminent: “Benfica currently does not have a head coach. What happened tonight was a meeting with Bruno Lage, which ended with his departure. Now we must prepare to have a coach on the bench for Saturday’s game against Vila das Aves.”
The coaching change comes at a sensitive time for Benfica. The club will hold presidential elections on Oct. 25, with Rui Costa under growing criticism following recent results. Opposition candidate Joao Noronho Lopes has been gaining momentum, but the prospect of Mourinho’s appointment is expected to boost Costa’s position in the campaign.
Mourinho had only been in charge of Fenerbahce since July 1, 2024. His arrival was met with huge excitement, as the club targeted European success and a long-awaited league title.
However, despite some positive moments, inconsistency in both results and style drew criticism.
The decisive blow came in the Champions League play-off round against Benfica. After the elimination, Fenerbahce president Ali Koc stated, “Being eliminated by Benfica is not the problem, but the manner of the elimination was unacceptable. We believe this squad can play better football, so we decided to part ways.”
Mourinho himself kept his farewell brief, saying, “My Fenerbahce career is over. I have nothing else to say.”
He left after just 62 matches in charge, one of the shortest managerial stints of his career. Domenico Tedesco was immediately appointed as his replacement in Istanbul.
If confirmed, the Benfica role will mark Mourinho’s return to Portugal more than two decades after his first spell with the club in 2000.
For Benfica, the appointment is not only a sporting decision but also a political move designed to restore confidence ahead of a crucial election period.
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