Jose Mourinho Returns to Benfica as New Head Coach After Disastrous Loss

Lisbon, Portugal — Jose Mourinho has been reappointed as Benfica‘s head coach, marking his return to the club where he started his managerial career 25 years ago. The announcement follows the dismissal of Bruno Lage after a shocking 3-2 defeat to Qarabag in the Champions League, a match that saw Benfica squander a 2-0 lead.

Following the loss, Benfica President Rui Costa expressed the weight of the week during a press conference, acknowledging that it had left a scar on the club. The defeat to Qarabag was particularly historic, as it marked the first time a team from Azerbaijan won a match in the Champions League proper.

“This has been a hard, heavy week for everyone,” Costa said, noting the urgency for change amid mounting pressure from fans and rival candidates. The team’s poor performance in recent seasons has raised concerns about the club’s future.

Mourinho’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to restore confidence and leadership within the team. “We won’t always win,” he stated during his unveiling, “but we won’t lose like we lost two days ago. That isn’t Benfica.”

The return to Benfica is profound for Mourinho, who last managed in Portugal in 2004. He began his career at Benfica in 2000 but left after just 11 games due to conflicts with club management. Reflecting on his previous tenure, former Benfica player Fernando Meira noted the challenging environment Mourinho faced at the time, adding, “There were problems in the boardroom and financial issues.”

As Benfica prepares for its upcoming matches, Mourinho’s challenge will be to unite the players and reinvigorate their pursuit of domestic and European success. He emphasized his eagerness to lead the team, saying, “I am hungrier than I was 25 years ago. I feel more alive than ever.”

Mourinho’s first match in charge will be against Chelsea in the Champions League on September 30, as he faces one of his former clubs. The team aims to bounce back from a dismal start and prove their competitiveness on the European stage once again.