José Mourinho is officially coming home. The Portuguese manager has agreed to take charge of Benfica,sparking an emotional return to the club where he first started out as a coach back in 2002. That spell ended after three months on the job, but now, more than two decades later, Mourinho has the chance to rewrite those early wrongs.
Softfootball had earlier reported that Mourinho was tipped to take over at Benfica, and it’s now a done deal. The timing couldn’t be more perfect for the special one, as the 62-year-old recently parted ways with Fenerbahçe after failing to guide the Turkish giants into this season’s UEFA Champions League main competition.
Top transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano via his official X handle, confirmed the story in his trademark fashion, he said ;
BREAKING: José Mourinho to Benfica, here we go! Verbal agreement until June 2027. Mourinho has accepted Benfica proposal and the formal steps will follow in next 24h. Two year contract ready for the Special One as Benfica coach.
For Benfica, Mourinho’s arrival is a big statement of intent. After years of poor showings on the European stage, the club now has a manager whose reputation includes two Champions League titles and a knack for turning teams into serial winners. For Mourinho himself, it might feel personal, a long-awaited chance to return to where it all started and finally right the wrongs he did in 2002.
Benfica fans will see this as more than just a managerial appointment. It’s a homecoming, a shot at redemption, and perhaps the beginning of another unforgettable chapter in the Special One’s extraordinary career.
