Benfica Involved in Talks to Hire The Special One Following Dismissal of Lage
The Portuguese manager is said to be in advanced negotiations regarding a return to the Portuguese giants, shortly after the sacking of their former head coach. Mourinho once coached Benfica in a fleeting stint during 2000, and should he return, he would shortly confront a encounter against one of his former clubs in the Champions League scheduled for 30 September.
President’s Announcement Revealing Change
Rui Costa stated the firing of Lage in a press conference conducted following the team’s home defeat against the Azerbaijani side in the Champions League. Costa stated: “It is my belief now is the time for a change, precisely to avert compromising the term. As a result, the coach who takes over has to be a trophy-winning leader. A coach representing a club of such stature has to be a professional having the skill to bring this side to the standards we demand and secure the titles we long for.”
Mourinho’s Most Recent Career Developments
His previous position was at Turkey’s team Fenerbahce, who parted ways with him last month following they did not manage to advance to the league phase of the UCL.
The manager first rose to prominence during his spell at the Dragões, their domestic competitors, where he steered them to triumph in the Europa League in the 2002–03 season and the UCL in 2004. Shortly after that success, he signed with the London club and won English league crowns in the 2004–05 season and 2005–06, plus another league win in the 2014–15 season during his return.
Additionally, he guided the Nerazzurri to Champions League success in the 2009–10 season and, while he did not bring back United to greatness, he succeeded in guide them to the Europa League trophy in 2017. His spell at Tottenham ended absent a title once he was dismissed just a short time ahead of the side was set to face Manchester City in the 2021 League Cup final.
More recently, he won the UECL with the Giallorossi in the 2021–22 season before becoming manager of Fenerbahce in the summer in 2024. Interestingly that the team will conclude their Champions League league phase with a game at home facing another of Mourinho’s former clubs.
