The rumor mill is spinning at top speed around the club, suggesting a seismic shift could happen this very Wednesday. José Mourinho, the renowned coach, is reportedly close to becoming Benfica’s new manager. While conversations have taken place, an official agreement has not yet been reached. Mourinho is currently out of the country for personal reasons.
This potential move comes hot on the heels of a surprising loss. Yesterday, Benfica suffered a 3-2 defeat to Qarabag at home, a result that left Bruno Lage’s position as coach completely untenable. He quickly parted ways with the club through a mutual agreement with president Rui Costa. Almost immediately, the whispers about Mourinho grew louder among the club’s leadership. It’s worth remembering that Mourinho left Fenerbahçe after his team lost to Benfica in the Champions League playoff.
This isn’t the first time the Lisbon-based Eagles have considered the coach from Setúbal. He was on their radar at the end of last season too, but they ultimately decided to stick with Bruno Lage. Now, with club elections set for October 25th, a little over a month away, “The Special One” stands out as the strongest candidate among available coaches. His official announcement could just be hours away. The upcoming elections, where Rui Costa faces five other challengers, put significant pressure on the current president to make a decisive move regarding the coaching staff’s future.
Adding fuel to the fire, transfer market expert Fabrizio Romano has also reported “advanced talks” between Benfica and José Mourinho. According to Romano, the coach is eager to “return immediately” to work.