Benfica set to unveil Mourinho as new manager

Jose Mourinho is set for a return to management with Benfica after Bruno Lage was sacked following their Champions League loss to Qarabag.

Benfica let a two-goal lead slip and lost 3-2 at home to the Azerbaijani side on Tuesday.

Club president Rui Costa said they want a new manager in place by Saturday but refused to confirm whether Mourinho is their main choice.

BBC Sport understands that Mourinho is already in talks about coming back to work in Portugal, 21 years after leaving Benfica for Chelsea.

Mourinho was sacked by Fenerbahce on 29 August, just two days after his team were knocked out of the Champions League play-offs by Benfica.

Costa said:

“A Benfica coach must be a winner. Whoever leads this club has to be able to take us to the level we demand and deliver titles.”

Mourinho’s career began with Benfica in 2000, but he managed only 10 games before leaving after a disagreement with the club president.

He later rose to fame at Porto, where he won six trophies between 2002 and 2004, including the Champions League.

Since then, Mourinho has coached top clubs like Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma, and Fenerbahce.

If he joins Benfica, Mourinho would face Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on 30 September. Benfica will also play Newcastle United away and host Real Madrid during the group stage.

Currently, Benfica are sixth in the Portuguese league, five points behind leaders Porto but with a game in hand. They finished second last season under Lage, two points behind Sporting.

The decision to sack Lage comes just weeks before Benfica’s presidential election on 25 October.

Candidate Joao Noronha Lopes, the favorite to win, has been linked with interest in Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim.

Costa insisted the coaching change was not about politics:

“This is only about Benfica’s season. I’ve never put my own interests above the club, and I won’t start now.”