José Mourinho Returns To Benfica As New Head Coach

José Mourinho is the new manager of Benfica. He goes back to the club where he first led a team almost 25 years ago. The Portuguese coach says this job excites him more than any other in his career.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Benfica confirmed Mourinho‘s appointment on September 18. This came after Bruno Lage left the team following a surprise Champions League loss to Qarabag. Last month, Mourinho was fired by Fenerbahce after they didn’t make it to the Champions League group stage, as confirmed by a recent report. Now, he takes over Benfica at a crucial time. In his first statement, Mourinho promised to “live for Benfica.” He called the job a “tremendous honour.”

WHY THIS MOVE MATTERS

This is Mourinho’s second time leading Benfica. His first time was short but memorable in 2000. The team is trying to recover from a bad start to their Champions League campaign. Losing to Qarabag worried the fans. In the Primeira Liga, Benfica started their league season strong, with three wins and one draw and a match less than leaders Porto, who have a 100% winning record. As one of the most successful managers ever, Mourinho is expected to bring new energy to the team.