Mourinho named Benfica head coach to succeed Lage on two-year deal

José Mourinho has been appointed head coach of Benfica, the Portuguese giants announced this week, signing a reported two-year deal through the summer of 2027 to succeed Bruno Lage after the club dismissed him following a shock 3-2 Champions League home defeat to Qarabag. The decision ends an abrupt managerial change in Lisbon and brings one of European football's most decorated coaches back to Portugal less than a month after he left Fenerbahçe.

Benfica president Rui Costa confirmed Lage's departure at the Estádio da Luz, saying the club had reached an agreement with the outgoing coach and thanking him for his efforts. Portuguese media and transfer specialist Fabrizio Romano had earlier reported advanced talks between Benfica and Mourinho, and the club moved quickly to finalise terms, with some outlets saying an official announcement was imminent before confirming the appointment.

Mourinho, 62, returns to the club where he began his managerial career in 2000 for a brief spell and arrives with a record that includes Champions League triumphs with Porto in 2004 and Inter Milan in 2010, and domestic titles across several countries. He left Fenerbahçe in August after the Turkish...