José Mourinho has confirmed that he is in talks with Benfica about becoming their manager, expressing keen interest in taking over at the Estádio da Luz. The Portuguese club is seeking a new head coach after sacking Bruno Lage following a 2-0 Champions League defeat to Qarabag on Tuesday.
Mourinho, who left Fenerbahce last month, flew into Portugal on Wednesday and told journalists 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. I said yes,' he said. 'When asked if I wanted to coach Benfica, I did not think twice. It interests me.'
The 62-year-old briefly managed Benfica in 2000 but has not coached in Portugal since leaving Porto in 2004 after winning the Champions League. He has since managed Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma, and Fenerbahce, winning multiple league titles and European trophies.
Benfica president Rui Costa is reportedly keen to make a high-profile appointment before next month's election. Rival presidential candidate João Noronha Lopes is said to favour luring Ruben Amorim from Manchester United. If Mourinho's talks succeed, his first match could be a return to Chelsea in the Champions League on 30 September.
