Mourinho confirms that Benfica has contacted the coaching of vacancy after shooting low

José Mourinho confirmed on Wednesday that Benfica contacted him about the coaching vacancy and that he would be open to the Lisbon club return.

Benfica fired coach Bruno Lage after the 3-2 home loss of the team to Qarabag in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Mourinho, whose time with Fenerbahce ended last month after the Turkish club was eliminated by Benfica in a qualifying play -off of the Champions League, spoke with reporters after returning to Portugal.

«Benfica officially asked me if I was interested, and I said I was abroad and would like to talk to (Benfica’s) people when I came back,» said Mourinho. «When I was confronted with the opportunity to coach Benfica, I didn’t think twice in the sense that I was interested.»

Mourinho started his coaching career with Benfica, but only lasted three months in 2000 before he left a contract conflict with the board of directors.

Mourinho won the Champions League with Porto, Benfica’s most important rival in 2004. He also won the Top European Club competition with Inter Milan in 2010.

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However, Mourinho did not coach six seasons in the main stage of the tent competition. He won the third-layer Conference League with Roma in 2022, but his time at the Italian club of 2021-24 was characterized by arguments that appeared in his short and chaotic spell in Turkey.

Benfica President Rui Costa announced the decision to separate with low after the loss of the competition phase in which Benfica wasted a lead of two goals for his fans.

Costa recently mentioned the bad results of the club. Benfica came from a disappointing 1-1 home stretch against 10-man Santa Clara in the Portuguese League on Friday.

«We think it’s time for a change. It was a tough week for all Benfica fans after the matches against Santa Clara and Qarabag. We don’t have competition yet, but we think it’s time to change,» said Costa.

Costa said he expected to announce a new coach on time for the competition match of the team in Vila Das Aves on Saturday.

Published on September 18, 2025