José Mourinho is back. The 62-year-old has agreed a two-year deal to return to Benfica, marking his return to management just weeks after his Fenerbahce dismissal.
Many had tipped Mourinho for a return to English football for his next job following Fenerbahce’s failure to qualify for the Champions League, but instead, it’s a return to Portugal for the first time in over 20 years.
The Special One’s homecoming couldn’t be more perfectly timed, with Benfica set to face his former clubs Chelsea at Stamford Bridge on September 30 and FC Porto at the Estádio do Dragão on 5 October. His return to London next week promises to be one of the Champions League’s most compelling narratives this season.
Mourinho must hit the ground running
Benfica’s hierarchy acted swiftly after a humiliating 3-2 home defeat to Qarabag in their Champions League opener. Former Wolves boss Bruno Lage paid the price for the collapse, which saw Benfica squander a 2-0 lead at the Estádio da Luz before conceding a late winner.
It’s one of the biggest upsets in recent Champions League history, with a Qarabag side comprised of mainly second division Portuguese League players overcoming the odds from even the UK’s best betting sites to win at the home of the two time European champions.
Currently sitting third in the Portuguese league, Benfica desperately need Mourinho’s winning mentality to restore confidence and European credibility.
The story so far
Mourinho’s coaching story has come full circle. His first taste of management came at Benfica back in 2000, though it was only a brief spell before he truly announced himself to the world at Porto. In an astonishing two-year spell he masterminded dominance of the domestic game, steered the Dragons to a UEFA Cup win and lifted the Champions League, a run that changed his career overnight.
Chelsea came calling, and “The Special One” arrived in London with a swagger that shook English football, delivering back-to-back league titles in 2005 and 2006 before adding another in 2015 during a second stint.
From there, the trophies kept coming even if the headlines grew sharper. He conquered Europe again and won the treble with Inter Milan in 2010, then returned to England to win the Europa League and League Cup at Manchester United, even as his relationship with the board soured.
Tottenham never gave him the platform to add more silverware, parting ways just days before the 2021 League cup final, while his time at Roma brought one last European triumph in the Conference League in 2022.
His most recent stop in Istanbul followed a familiar pattern. A strong league campaign, clashes with the hierarchy, and an exit after Champions League disappointment.
For all the turbulence, though, Mourinho’s CV still reads like a masterclass in winning, and Benfica are counting on that edge to steady a side reeling from their European slip-up.
The legendary coach hasn’t managed in Portugal since leaving Porto in 2004, but his previous brief stint at Benfica provides familiarity with the club’s culture and expectations.
Despite widespread speculation about a potential return to English football - with bookmakers having priced moves to Rangers (5/2), West Ham (4/1), and even Wrexham (16/1), Mourinho opted for the familiarity of Portuguese football and a chance to rebuild his reputation closer to home.
A return to Stamford Bridge
Chelsea’s 3-1 opening defeat away to Bayern Munich means they’ll be desperate to turn their European form around when Mourinho returns to west London.
The reunion carries enormous emotional weight, given Mourinho’s transformative impact at Stamford Bridge where he delivered three Premier League titles across two spells.
For Chelsea, seeing Mourinho back in the opposite dugout will stir memories of glory and drama in equal measure. He was the man who made them believe they could dominate England, but also the manager whose reigns often ended in chaos.
That blend of brilliance and volatility is what makes his return to Stamford Bridge so compelling, and it sets up a Champions League night that could shape the season for both clubs.
Mourinho will want to make Benfica his own quickly, and while the squad already operates in his favoured 4-2-3-1 formation, he’ll be eager to implement his tactical blueprint to have any chance of winning in London.
Chelsea, after all, are reigning world champions. Despite their slip-up in Bavaria, their recent Europa Conference League triumph underlines that they know how to navigate European competition and get the job done when it matters most.
The midfield will prove crucial to his success, particularly the partnership between Richard Ríos and Enzo Barrenechea.
Ríos joined as Benfica’s record signing for £23million, turning down interest from several top European clubs. The Colombian international, capped 25 times, has barely missed a minute since arriving and is already central to the team’s plans.
Alongside him, Barrenechea is beginning to settle after a winding path from Juventus to Aston Villa and now Benfica, where he scored his first goal in the shock loss to Qarabag. His loan deal is expected to become permanent if certain conditions are met, meaning Villa may never see him in their colours.
At just 24, Barrenechea and Rios offer Mourinho a youthful but seasoned midfield pairing, one that could anchor Benfica for years under his guidance.
The Special One’s latest challenge
Mourinho’s return to Benfica marks a significant moment in the twilight of his illustrious career. He arrives with immediate pressure to deliver both in the Champions League and at home, needing to show that his methods can still thrive in modern football.
As Benfica prepare for their clash with Chelsea, it is not just a test of tactics but a statement that Mourinho’s voice still matters in the modern game.
The sport may have shifted, philosophies may have evolved, but he refuses to accept the idea that time has passed him by. For all the doubts, all the questions, there remains a stage for The Special One. He will want to seize it with the same theatre and defiance that defined his rise two decades ago.
