Jose Mourinho is considering the possibility of replacing Bruno Lage at Benfica after the Portuguese club dismissed their head coach in the wake of Tuesday’s dramatic Champions League defeat to Qarabag.
Lage’s side surrendered a two-goal advantage to lose 3-2 at Estádio da Luz, a result that proved decisive for club president Rui Costa, who confirmed Benfica intend to appoint a new manager by Saturday. He declined, however, to confirm reports that Mourinho is the leading candidate.
BBC Sport understands that Mourinho is receptive to the idea of managing in Portugal again, 21 years after leaving Benfica for Chelsea. The 61-year-old was dismissed by Fenerbahce on 29 August, just two days after the Turkish club were eliminated from the Champions League play-offs by Benfica themselves.
“The coach of Benfica must be a winner,” Rui Costa said. “This is a club that demands success, trophies and a leader capable of delivering the levels we expect. No names have been mentioned, no appointment has yet been made.”
Mourinho’s managerial journey began at Benfica in 2000, though it lasted just 10 matches before he departed following a dispute with the then-president. He later established himself at Porto, where between 2002 and 2004 he won six trophies, including the 2004 Champions League.
Since leaving Portugal in 2004, Mourinho has enjoyed one of the most high-profile managerial careers of his era, taking charge of Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Roma and most recently Fenerbahce.
A Benfica appointment would immediately reunite him with Chelsea in the Champions League on 30 September at Stamford Bridge. The group stage also includes fixtures against Newcastle United and Real Madrid.
Domestically, Benfica sit sixth in the Primeira Liga, five points behind leaders Porto but with a game in hand. They finished second last season under Lage, narrowly missing out on the title by two points to Sporting.
The timing of Lage’s dismissal coincides with the club’s upcoming presidential election on 25 October. Joao Noronha Lopes, the favourite to unseat Rui Costa, is known to favour a move for Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim and was recently spotted at the Etihad Stadium observing the Portuguese manager.
Costa has denied that the managerial change is linked to his re-election campaign. “I’m not here to save positions,” he insisted. “This decision is solely about Benfica’s sporting season. My responsibility is to ensure the best future for the club, regardless of the elections.”
