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Jose Mourinho returns to Benfica as head coach, signing “to run until the end of the 2026/27 season.”
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The former United manager replaces Bruno Lage after a poor Champions League start.
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Mourinho now faces early tests against Chelsea and Porto as he aims to revive Benfica’s campaign.
Benfica announced on Thursday that Jose Mourinho has returned as their coach, a homecoming after he left for Chelsea 21 years ago.
Also Read: Jose Mourinho Eyes Benfica Return
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He signed a contract “to run until the end of the 2026/27 season”, – Benfica said, with an option for either side to end the deal after this campaign.
The 62-year-old comes back after Fenerbahçe sacked him following their Champions League play-off loss to Benfica.
He takes over from Bruno Lage, whom the club dismissed after a shock 3-2 defeat to Qarabag in their opening Champions League match.
Naturally, this change puts immediate pressure on the dugout.
Jose Mourinho faces tough tests straight away: Benfica meet Chelsea in the Champions League on September 30, then travel to Porto in the Primeira Liga on October 5.
Those two games will show quickly how he wants the team to play and whether he can lift the mood.
He began his coaching work as an assistant at Barcelona, then took charge of Benfica in 2000 before moving to Porto.
Mourinho helped Porto win back-to-back league titles plus the Champions League victory in 2004.
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2025/09/jose-mourinho-appointed-as-benfica-coach/
Since then, he has led top clubs across Europe and now returns to Portugal with a record built on trophies and tactical know-how.
Benfica view the appointment as both symbolic and useful as they have a well-known coach with experience in Portuguese football who they believe can help a team that faltered early.
It is an obvious opportunity for Jose Mourinho to start over where his management career started and pursue more success in Europe.
