Key Takeaways:
- Benfica have reached a verbal agreement for José Mourinho to become their new head coach until summer 2027
- Mourinho is set to replace Bruno Lage following Benfica’s 3:2 home defeat to Qarabag
- The Portuguese manager will contest a challenging Champions League fixtures featuring Chelsea, Real Madrid, Newcastle United, Bayer Leverkusen, Ajax, Juventus, and Napoli
Mourinho’s Return to Benfica Confirmed
José Mourinho is poised to take charge at Benfica once again, having agreed to a two-season contract that will extend until the summer of 2027, transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano has reported. An official announcement of the appointment is anticipated within 24 hours, marking a significant development for both Mourinho and the Lisbon club.
Historical Context and Departure from Fenerbahçe
Mourinho returns to Estádio da Luz a quarter of a century after his brief stint with Benfica during the 2000 season, which marked the early stages of his managerial career. Since then, he has achieved a distinguished track record across Europe.
In a notable twist, Benfica’s elimination of Fenerbahçe in the Champions League playoff played a crucial role in Mourinho’s exit from the Turkish side. The defeat in that tie contributed directly to the manager’s dismissal from Fenerbahçe.
🚨🦅 BREAKING: José Mourinho to Benfica, here we go! Verbal agreement until June 2027.
Mourinho has accepted Benfica proposal and the formal steps will follow in next 24h.
Two year contract ready for the Special One as Benfica coach. ❤️🤍 pic.twitter.com/7ZUadcEr5e
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) September 17, 2025
Succession and Immediate Challenges
Mourinho will step into the role previously held by Bruno Lage, who departed after Benfica suffered a surprising 3:2 home defeat to Kazakhstan’s Qarabag. Remarkably, Benfica surrendered a two-goal lead during that match. Now, attention quickly turns to the formidable Champions League group stage challenge that awaits the incoming head coach.
| Benfica’s Champions League Opponents |
|---|
| Chelsea |
| Real Madrid |
| Newcastle United |
| Bayer Leverkusen |
| Ajax |
| Juventus |
| Napoli |
Upcoming Fixtures and Immediate Tests
Mourinho’s UEFA Champions League campaign will see him revisit Stamford Bridge, the home of former club Chelsea, as soon as the second round of the group stage. Domestically, his first match on the sidelines for Benfica could take place as early as this weekend, when the team are scheduled to play away at AFC.
