Jose Mourinho is back where it all began. The 61-year-old has been appointed Benfica manager, signing a deal until 2027, just weeks after being dismissed by Fenerbahce. In a twist of fate, his last game in Turkey was a Champions League play-off defeat to… Benfica.
For Jose Mourinho, this is a full-circle moment. He briefly started his managerial career at the Lisbon club back in 2000. Now, 25 years later, he returns to steady the ship after Bruno Lage was sacked in the aftermath of Tuesday’s shock defeat to Qarabag.
But whether this is the start of a long chapter or just another short Mourinho stint remains unclear. His contract includes a clause allowing both sides to walk away just 10 days after the 2025/26 season ends — an unusual safety net for a club of Benfica’s stature.
Why the hesitation? The answer may lie in politics. Benfica’s presidential elections take place on October 25, and with Rui Costa under pressure, Mourinho’s appointment has already become part of the campaign narrative. Costa insists the timing wasn’t about protecting his own job.
“I’m not here to save positions,” Costa said. “This is only about Benfica’s sporting future.”
But rivals see things differently. Presidential frontrunner João Noronha Lopes has openly targeted Manchester United boss Rúben Amorim if he wins. Another candidate, Wristovao Carvalho, has gone even bigger: he wants Jürgen Klopp.
Carvalho, a 52-year-old lawyer, insists he’s already spoken to Klopp’s camp. In a bold interview with Desporto ao Minuto, he declared the door is “ajar” for the former Liverpool coach, who stepped away from management in 2024 but has admitted in the past that coaching Benfica is a dream.
“I’ll sit down with Klopp and convince him,” Carvalho said. “He once said he’d like to coach Benfica. I believe with the right project, we can win the Champions League together.”
Klopp, now serving as Head of Global Football at Red Bull, has repeatedly hinted he’s retired from management — yet his name continues to hover whenever a big job opens up.
For now, Benfica belongs to Jose Mourinho. But with elections looming and talk of Klopp in the background, the Special One may have to do more than just win matches to keep his seat.
