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Special One back?
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José Mourinho has been strongly linked with a sensational return to Benfica just weeks after being dismissed by Fenerbahce. Benfica sacked Bruno Lage after they surrendered a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Qarabag in the Champions League on Tuesday night. Benfica supporters made their feelings clear at full-time and Lage paid the price and Mourinho has been identified as the ideal replacement.
The 62-year-old started his incredible managerial career with Benfica in 2000 but only took charge of ten games before departing and truly making his name at Porto. Mourinho famously led Porto to back-to-back European trophies with the UEFA Cup in 2003 and Champions League in 2004. And he’s now favourite to return to his native Portugal with Benfica and a reunion with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge is on the horizon with the duo set to meet in the Champions League on September 30th.
José Mourinho to return to Benfica?
Speaking after the shock defeat to Qarabag, Benfica president Rui Costa addressed Large’s dismissal and claimed Benfica would have a new manager in place for the weekend trip to AVS. Costa said: “The Benfica coach's profile must be that of a winner. A coach representing a club of this size must be one with the ability to bring this team to the levels we demand and give us the titles we desire. No coach has been appointed today, nor has any coach been mentioned today to represent Benfica in the future. Now, of course, we're making preparations so that on Saturday, Benfica will already have a coach on the bench.”
Various reputable outlets have reported that Benfica are in advanced talks with Mourinho to return almost exactly 25 years to the day that he began his managerial journey with the Lisbon club on September 20th, 2000. Mourinho was dismissed by Fenerbahce just two games into the Süper Lig season after failing to qualify for the Champions League and it’s now been ten years since he won his last league title, with Chelsea in 2015. Mourinho’s return will bring huge attention to Benfica and his main objective will be to win the Liga Portugal title but they already trail Porto by five points after five games.
