José Mourinho, one of the most charismatic and controversial managers of the last quarter-century, is on the verge of returning to the Portuguese game. There are active negotiations for him to take over as manager of Benfica. If the reported move goes through, it will be a remarkable new chapter in the career of José Mourinho. He left Benfica 25 years ago after spending a few months in charge as Benfica manager from September to December 2000.
Mourinho’s momentous arrival in Lisbon was just the kickoff. He is to further talks about the managerial position at Benfica after being relieved of duty from Fenerbahçe last month. At Fenerbahçe, he faced many obstacles. These challenges proved too much as he was ultimately pushed out less than 14 months into his tenure. He took the unusual step of publicly lambasting the board’s inability to land the players he desired. This exit came just weeks before their important Champions League play-off against Benfica which they lost 1-0 on aggregate.
The timing of Mourinho’s prospective return aligns with Benfica’s recent struggles and the leadership transition within the club. The new president, Rui Costa, has openly expressed the need for change, stating, “I believe this is the time for a change, precisely to avoid compromising the season.” Costa emphasized the importance of appointing a winning coach, highlighting that “a coach representing a club of this size must be one with the ability to bring this team to the levels we demand and give us the titles we desire.”
And as Benfica get set to host Newcastle in December, the need for a managerial change of course is all too pressing. Liga side Sporting CP, the Turkish champion’s elimination of Mourinho’s Fenerbahçe in the play-off round securing the club’s recent advancement to the league phase of the Champions League. This defeat further underscored Fenerbahçe’s relegation to the Europa League, raising questions about Mourinho’s future and capabilities.
Although not officially announced just yet, the rumor storm surrounding Mourinho’s return to Benfica has kicked up in the last week. His previous stint at the club, although brief, left an imprint on Portuguese football, and his potential second act could significantly impact both his legacy and Benfica’s ambitions.
“It’s come full circle for Mourinho in terms of his 25 years of managerial history, and it’s become full circle in the last month because Mourinho was sacked by Fenerbahçe after he criticised the board for not bringing in the players he wanted ahead of their Champions League play-off defeat to Benfica over two legs, which they lost narrowly 1-0.” – Gary Cotterill
Mourinho is ushering in this change at 62 years old, having led elite clubs around the world, including Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur. His experience and track record of success make him a hard-to-pass-over candidate to lead Benfica through this important transitional period.
As Benfica gets set to repeat yet another round of presidential elections, the club seems to be at a crisis point. Re-hiring Mourinho would be a signal that the team is taking a different approach. They matter that they’re hungry to retake their place atop Portuguese football.
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