Portuguese giants Benfica have appointed Jose Mourinho as their new manager on a contract running until the summer of 2027.
The 62-year-old was sacked last month by Fenerbahce after just over a year in charge but has secured a swift return to management at the club where he was briefly in charge between September and December 2000.
Mourinho returns to the club he left 25 years ago, which was his first job in management, and is set to take charge of his first training session on Thursday.
Mourinho replaces ex-Wolves boss Bruno Lage, who was dismissed following Tuesday’s shock Champions League home defeat to Qarabag of Azerbaijan.
The three-time Premier League champion was sacked by Fenerbahce after publicly criticising the board over their transfer business ahead of their Champions League play-off against Benfica.
Now, three weeks later, he takes charge of the side that played a part in ending his spell in Turkey.
Mourinho will face one of his former clubs later this month, with Benfica travelling to Stamford Bridge to meet Chelsea on 30 September in the Champions League.
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The Portuguese coach first came to prominence at Porto, where he won the UEFA Cup in 2003 and the Champions League in 2004.
Jose Mourinho. Photo Credit: Getty Images
He then joined Chelsea, winning Premier League titles in 2005 and 2006, and later returned to the club to add a third in 2015.
He went on to win the Champions League again with Inter Milan in 2010 before spells with Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma and most recently Fenerbahce.
At United, Mourinho delivered the Europa League and League Cup in 2017, while at Roma he won the inaugural Europa Conference League in 2022.
His time at Tottenham ended without silverware after he was sacked days before the club’s League Cup final against Manchester City in 2021.
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Mourinho inherits a Benfica side sitting sixth in the Primeira Liga, five points behind leaders Porto but with a game in hand. His first league match back in charge will be on Saturday at 18:00 BST away to AVS.
