José Mourinho Expresses Desire in Sport Lisboa e Benfica Head Coach Position
José Mourinho is reportedly keen in assuming as the new head coach of Benfica, following the departure of Bruno Lage.
Context of the Situation
Lage was dismissed after the Portuguese club experienced a surprising 3-2 defeat to Qarabağ in the Champions League.
Team president Rui Costa mentioned that the club aims to appoint a new coach before Saturday, though he refused to comment on specific candidates.
Reports suggest that the Portuguese manager is open to a return to Portugal's football, over 20 years after he left for Chelsea.
The Special One's History with Benfica
José Mourinho started his coaching career with Benfica in the year 2000, though his stay was short-lived, lasting only ten matches.
He later gained prominence with FC Porto, guiding them to six trophies, including the UEFA Champions League in 2004.
Since then, he has managed top clubs across Europe, including Chelsea, Inter, Real Madrid, Man Utd, Spurs, AS Roma, and Fenerbahce.
Possible Challenges and Fixtures
If hired, he would face his former club Chelsea FC in the Champions League on September 30.
Benfica is also set to meet Newcastle and Real Madrid in the group phase.
Currently, the club sits sixth in the Liga Portugal, 5 points behind table-toppers FC Porto.
Political Context
The move to change Lage aligns with forthcoming club votes on October 25.
João Noronha Lopes, the favorite, has allegedly shown interest in Ruben Amorim of Man United.
The president emphasized that the choice was taken exclusively for football reasons and not for election gains.
"I'm not here to protect any positions," Costa said. "My aim is to secure the optimal outcome for Benfica."
