Jose Mourinho Officially Becomes Benfica Coach, Three Weeks After Fenerbahce Fired

Jose Mourinho returned to Portugal, coaching Benfica after being sacked by Fenerbahce (Instagram/@josemourinho).

JAKARTA - Jose Mourinho has returned to Portuguese football as coach of Benfica. The 62-year-old coach has signed a temporary two-year contract with the Lisbon-based club less than three weeks after being sacked by Fenerbahce.

Interestingly, the sacking came after Mourinho suffered defeat against Benfica in the Champions League playoffs and failed to bring Fenerbahce to the elite European tournament.

Benfica confirmed on Thursday, September 18, 2025, that Mourinho's contract contained a clause stating 10 days after the final match of the 2025/2026 season, with the same provisions, both Benfica and the coach could choose not to continue the contract for the 2026/2027 season.

He replaced Bruno Lage, who was sacked on Tuesday, September 16, 2025, following a 2-3 home defeat to Qarabag in the Champions League opener.

At Benfica, Mourinho gained his first experience as first-team manager in 2000 and is now starting his 12th managerial role.

Mourinho recently expressed his desire to return to training in his home country while he was still at the peak of his career.

Mourinho, who arrived at Benfica's training ground by driving his black Ferrari, returned to Portuguese football after 21 years from FC Porto.

"I have so much emotion, but experience helped me control it. I want to thank you for your trust."

"As a Portuguese, of course no one knows Benfica's history and culture, but I want to emphasize that I must be able to suppress all these emotions and view Benfica in a very simple way."

"I am the coach of one of the biggest clubs in the world. I want to focus on this mission, not on its difficulties, but on the pleasure of being a coach, focusing on something interesting."

"It's been 25 years, but I'm not here to celebrate my career. It's been 25 years since I've had the opportunity to work for the biggest clubs in the world."

"I want to let you know, as a representative of Benfica fans, that there is no club I have ever trained that motivates me more than being coach of Benfica."

"The promise is clear, I will live for Benfica, for my mission. This is an extraordinary honor," Mourinho said at the introduction.

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

He has won 26 major awards during his career with Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Roma. He also spent 17 months coaching Tottenham Hotspur.

Seeing the row of trophies, Mourinho has ambitions to bring Benfica to success like the clubs he previously controlled.

"I want to complete a two-year contract successfully so that the club can renew its contract with me," said Mourinho.

Mourinho briefly led Benfica - about 10 months - early in his 2000 training. He also emphasized that his return to Estadio and Luz this time was much different from before.

"These are two different phases. Previously, it was the beginning of my career. Now, I am at an extraordinary point of maturity."

"I'm just going to finish it when I feel something is changing. Today, I feel the change is that I'm more hungry than 25 years ago."

"I'm very happy to be here. I feel more alive than ever. I'm at a stage where I'm more altruistic, not selfish, and focused on the happiness I can give to others."

"I am not important, important Benfica fans. I am here to serve, to make Benfica win."

"DNA Benfica is a win. A lot of things have been done well by my predecessor," said Mourinho again.

He inherited a team that is in sixth place in the Primeira Liga (Private League) standings - five points adrift of leaders FC Porto - but has one more game.

Mourinho's first match as coach was against AVS in Primeira Liga on Saturday, September 20, 2025.

He will return to Stamford Bridge on September 30, 2025 when Benfica plays Chelsea in the Champions League before traveling to Porto on October 5, 2025 in the domestic league.

Mourinho will also face other former clubs when Benfica host Real Madrid on January 28, 2026 in the Champions League.

Benfica, who last won the league title in the 2022/2023 season, will hold a presidential election on October 25, 2025.