Mourinho leads initial practice session after returning to coach Benfica squad
José Mourinho Returns to Benfica After 25 Years
José Mourinho, the renowned football manager, has returned to Benfica after a gap of 25 years. The Portuguese coach has signed a contract for two seasons, extending until the summer of 2027. This comes after the departure of Bruno Lage, which was communicated by the club following a comeback defeat against Qarabag in the first round of the Champions League group stage.
Mourinho's technical team at Benfica includes a mix of familiar and new faces. António Dias is the physical trainer, and Nuno Santos is the goalkeeper coach. From his assistant coaches, João Tralhão, Pedro Machado, Ricardo Formosinho, Ricardo Rocha, and analysts Roberto Merella and Rúben Soares are part of the team. Notably, Mario Branco and Mourinho have worked together in the past, at Fenerbahçe. The previous assistant of Mourinho at Benfica, Carlos Mozer, is also part of the new technical coaching staff.
The match between Benfica and AVS will mark Mourinho's debut as the coach of Benfica. This game will take place in Vila das Aves. Interestingly, the game against Rio Ave was from the inaugural round, and the game against Qarabag was the 10th game in the 2025/26 season. The game against Rio Ave will take place three days after the match against AVS on Saturday.
Benfica is currently fourth in the championship, with 10 points. FC Porto is the sole leader in the championship, five points ahead of Benfica. Mourinho previously worked at Benfica between September and December 2000. However, his tenure at other clubs, such as Fenerbahçe, was not without controversy. He was dismissed from Fenerbahçe following a defeat against Benfica in the play-off for access to the Champions League.
Benfica held an evening session at their Campus in Seixal, preparing for their sixth round championship game against AVS on Saturday. The home game against Rio Ave is pending, which will take place on Wednesday. The Setúbal coach will make his debut against Benfica in this match.
As Mourinho steps into his new role, fans and analysts alike are eager to see how he will shape the team and lead them to success. The return of the 'Special One' to Benfica promises an exciting chapter in the club's history.
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