Portuguese sensational football manager José Mourinho has been unveiled as the new head coach of Benfica, marking his return to management in his homeland 21 years after he first left Portugal with FC Porto for Chelsea.
The 62-year-old tactician, who has previously managed top European clubs including Real Madrid, Inter Milan, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, was dismissed by Turkish side Fenerbahce in August after Benfica knocked them out of the UEFA Champions League play-offs.
According to an official statement released by the club on Thursday, Mourinho signed a contract that runs until the end of the 2026/27 season, though either side may choose to terminate the deal at the close of the current campaign.
Benfica, two-time European champions, parted ways with Bruno Lage earlier in the week following a shock Champions League opening-game defeat to Azerbaijani underdogs Qarabag.
Mourinho is set for high-profile reunions almost immediately with Benfica set to face his former club Chelsea in the Champions League on September 30, before meeting his old side Porto in a Primeira Liga clash on October 5.
Mourinho’s managerial journey began as an assistant to the legendary Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal at Barcelona, before taking his first head coach role at Benfica in September 2000. He resigned after just 11 matches but soon impressed at Uniao de Leiria, earning a move to Porto, where he led the club to consecutive league titles and the 2004 Champions League crown.
That triumph launched a glittering career across Europe, including trophy-laden spells at Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid. However, his fortunes dipped after his 2016 appointment at Manchester United, followed by more modest stints at Tottenham Hotspur, AS Roma and most recently Fenerbahce.
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