Jose Mourinho named Benfica coach three weeks after Fenerbahce exit

Jose Mourinho has returned to Portuguese football as coach of Benfica, the club announced on Thursday.

Mourinho, 62, has signed a two-year deal with the Lisbon-based outfit less than three weeks after being sacked by Fenerbahce.

A defeat against his former club Benfica in the Champions League qualification playoffs led to Mourinho being let go. He replaces Bruno Lage, who was dismissed on Tuesday following the team's 3-2 home loss to Qarabag in their Champions League opener.

It was at Benfica that Mourinho got his first experience as first-team manager in 2000 and he now embarks on his 12th managerial role.

Mourinho recently declared his desire to return to coaching in his native Portugal while he is still "at the height" of his career.

He left Portugal in the summer of 2004 to join Chelsea shortly after guiding FC Porto to Champions League glory.

He has won 26 major honours across spells with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Roma.

He inherits a team that is sixth in the Primeira Liga standings and five points adrift of leaders FC Porto, but with a game in hand.

Mourinho's first game in charge will be at AVS in the Primeira Liga on Saturday.

He will return to Stamford Bridge on September 30 when Benfica play at Chelsea in the Champions League before visiting Porto on Oct. 5 in the domestic league.

Mourinho will also face another of his former clubs when Benfica host Real Madrid on Jan. 28, 2026, in Europe's elite club competition.

Benfica, who last won the league title in the 2022-23 campaign, will hold presidential elections on Oct. 25.