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Twenty-five years after his first experience as Benfica coach, José Mourinho returns to his homeland to lead the Lisbon club again.
After being sacked by Fenerbahçe in late August following a Champions League defeat to Benfica, the "Special One" was quickly identified as the ideal successor to Bruno Lage, who was sacked following the club's surprise 3-2 defeat to Qarabag.
The move was not without controversy. Fenerbahçe president Ali Koç joked about what he called a “strange coincidence”: according to him, Mourinho had sensed Benfica’s crisis and planned his return, hinting that he had a secret agreement with former sporting director Mario Branko.
The Turkish club's number 1 has hinted that Fenerbahçe's elimination from the Champions League may have been intentional.
Mourinho has firmly denied the allegations. In an interview with Portuguese newspaper A Bola, the Setubal-born coach explained that he has never plotted against anyone and that he "always moves on" after an experience ends, adding that he did not hesitate to accept Benfica's offer when the opportunity arose.
The agreement between the 62-year-old coach and the club from Les Aguias became official on Wednesday evening: Mourinho took charge of the team on Thursday afternoon, signing a contract valid until the summer of 2027.
With an international record that ranges from successes in the Premier League and Serie A to victories in the Champions League and Europa League, the Setubal-born coach now aims to return Benfica to the top of Portuguese and European football.
This return to his homeland represents not only a symbolic moment in his career, but also the opportunity to write a glorious new chapter for the Lisbon Eagles.
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