FILE - Fenerbahce's head coach Jose Mourinho looks on prior to the Europa League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Fenerbahce and Rangers at Sukru Saracoglu stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra , File)
Benfica's head coach Bruno Lage leaves at the end of a Champions League opening phase soccer match between SL Benfica and Qarabag FK at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca)
LISBON, Portugal (AP) — José Mourinho will coach in Portugal again, two decades later.
Benfica said on Thursday it reached a deal with Mourinho, sealing his return to the country 21 years after he led rival Porto to the Champions League title in 2004.
Mourinho started his coaching career at Benfica in 2000 but lasted only three months before leaving in a contract dispute.
He will be back in the Champions League after a five-year absence, since a round-of-16 exit while coaching Tottenham in 2020. Mourinho also won the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010.
He won the third-tier Conference League with Roma in 2022, but his time at the Italian club from 2021-24 was marked by squabbles that resurfaced in his brief and chaotic spell with in Turkey.
His stint with Fenerbahce came to an end last month after the Turkish club was eliminated by Benfica in a qualifying playoff of the Champions League.
Mourinho on Wednesday that Benfica contacted him about its coaching vacancy.
“When I was confronted with the possibility of coaching Benfica, I didn’t think twice, in the sense that I was interested,†he said.
Benfica fired coach Bruno Lage on Wednesday, a day after the team’s 3-2 home loss to Qarabag in the Champions League. Benfica squandered a two-goal lead in front of its fans.
Club president Rui Costa fired Lage citing poor results recently. Benfica drew with 10-man Santa Clara 1-1 in the Portuguese league last Friday.
Benfica’s next match is on Saturday in the Portuguese league at AVS. Its next Champions League game is at Chelsea on Sept. 30.
___
AP soccer:
The ºÃÉ«tv Press. All rights reserved.
Canada is entering a new era of nation-building. From clean-energy corridors and c…
Sorry, an error occurred.
Already Subscribed!
Cancel anytime
Thank you .
Your account has been registered, and you are now logged in.
Check your email for details.
Submitting this form below will send a message to your email with a link to change your password.
An email message containing instructions on how to reset your password has been sent to the email address listed on your account.
No promotional rates found.
Secure & Encrypted
Thank you.
Your gift purchase was successful! Your purchase was successful, and you are now logged in.
| Rate: | |
| Begins: | |
| Transaction ID: |
A receipt was sent to your email.
