Benfica appoints Mourinho in his return to Portugal
José Mourinho has made a return to Benfica, one of the most storied clubs in Portuguese football, with a promise to dedicate himself fully to the team and its mission. The Portuguese manager, who previously guided Benfica to a championship win in 2003, has signed a contract to manage the club until the end of the 2026/27 season.
Mourinho's coaching career began as an assistant to Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal at Barcelona, before he took the helm at Benfica for the first time in September 2000. However, his tenure was short-lived, as he quit after just 11 matches. Since then, Mourinho has had a successful career coaching Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, and more, as well as less successful stints at Tottenham, Roma, and Fenerbahce.
Mourinho's first game at the helm of Benfica will be a visit to face AVS on Saturday in the top flight. He will face reunions against former sides Chelsea and Porto in the Champions League and Primeira Liga respectively. Mourinho has expressed his excitement about returning to Benfica, stating that he feels more honored, responsible, and motivated to coach the team than any other giant club he has coached.
Benfica's last triumph in the league was in 2023, and Mourinho believes his team has the quality to win the title. The team will face stiff competition, as Sporting Lisbon, who have won the last two titles in the league, will also be contenders for the title.
Mourinho's contract with Benfica includes an option for either party to end the deal at the end of the current campaign. The manager has had a successful career, winning three Premier League titles across two spells at Chelsea, the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010, and a La Liga title with Real Madrid among other trophies. However, since 2017, Mourinho's only silverware was the Europa League with Manchester United in 2017 and the Conference League with Roma in 2022.
Mourinho has played in two European finals in the last five years, which he considers a negative part of his career. He has expressed his desire to turn things around and bring success to Benfica, stating that 'The promise is very clear: I will live for Benfica, for my mission.'
Benfica sacked Bruno Lage after a shock defeat in their Champions League opener, and Mourinho has been brought in to steady the ship and lead the team to a much-needed title win. The manager has also stated that 'Benfica have enough potential within that dressing room to be champions,' and he will be hoping to deliver on that promise.
Read also:
- United States tariffs pose a threat to India, necessitating the recruitment of adept negotiators or strategists, similar to those who had influenced Trump's decisions.
- Weekly happenings in the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)
- Southwest region's most popular posts, accompanied by an inquiry:
- Discussion between Putin and Trump in Alaska could potentially overshadow Ukraine's concerns
