José Mourinho has confirmed that he is in talks with Benfica about becoming their manager, expressing keen interest in taking charge at the Estádio da Luz. The Portuguese club is seeking a new head coach after sacking Bruno Lage following a 3-2 defeat to Qarabag in the Champions League on Tuesday.
Mourinho, who left Fenerbahce last month, told journalists upon arriving in Portugal on Wednesday that Benfica had approached him. “What I can confirm is that, before I caught the plane, Benfica asked me if I was interested in coaching them,” he said. “I said yes. I said I was abroad and that when I returned to Portugal I would have all the interest in talking with them.”
The 62-year-old, who briefly managed Benfica in 2000, added: “My nature is wanting to coach. I told myself that I wanted to balance myself emotionally. I didn’t want to say yes to the wrong club, just because I am a workaholic. When asked if I wanted to coach Benfica, I did not think twice. It interests me.”
Benfica acted swiftly to part ways with Lage after the side threw away a 2-0 lead at home against Qarabag. It is understood that club president Rui Costa is keen to make a high-profile appointment before next month’s election, while rival presidential candidate João Noronha Lopes is reportedly interested in luring Ruben Amorim from Manchester United.
Mourinho left Fenerbahce after the club failed to qualify for the Champions League league phase. If talks with Benfica succeed, he could face a swift return to Chelsea in the competition on 30 September. The former Manchester United and Tottenham coach has not managed in Portugal since leaving Porto in 2004 after guiding them to Champions League glory.
Mourinho has won numerous trophies across Europe, including three Premier League titles with Chelsea and a historic treble with Inter Milan in 2010. However, his recent stints at Manchester United, Tottenham, and Roma have been less successful, and his time at Fenerbahce ended unhappily.
