The Special One is back in the Champions League. Some things just feel right, don’t they?
Jose Mourinho is on the verge of sealing a dramatic return to the Champions League, with the 62-year-old in advanced talks to become Benfica’s new manager.
The Portuguese coach arrived in Lisbon for discussions with the club’s hierarchy and is expected to replace Bruno Lage, who was dismissed following a shock 3-2 home defeat to Qarabag in the league phase.
Mourinho has been out of work for just under month since leaving Fenerbahce but now looks set to take charge at the club where his managerial career first began all the way back in 2000.
“Benfica officially asked me if I was interested. What coach says no to Benfica? Not me," Mourinho said to reporters in Lisbon.
“When I was presented with the opportunity to coach Benfica, I didn’t hesitate to say that I’m interested, that I’d like to.”
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Mourinho’s first spell at Benfica was brief, lasting only 11 games before a dispute with the president saw him walk away.
Since then, though, the Portuguese has gone on to have one of the most illustrious managerial careers in football history, sealing Champions League titles with Porto and Inter Milan, as well as league titles in England, Spain, and Italy.
Now, five and a half years since he last managed in Europe’s top competition, the Special One is set for another crack at the Champions League – and the fixture list could hardly be more dramatic.
What awaits Mourinho in Europe?
All signs point to the Portuguese coach returning to Benfica as Fabrizio Romano has given the move his trademark “Here We Go” label.
Along with the obvious tantalizing prospect of going up against his former and perhaps most beloved club Porto, Mourinho’s return to Benfica also presents interesting opportunities to revisit some of his old stomping grounds.
Following their defeat to Qarabag, Benfica next travel to London to face Chelsea on October 1.
Mourinho will return Stamford Bridge, where he enjoyed plenty of success across two spells, winning three Premier League titles and one FA Cup, among other honors.
Benfica continue their Champions League campaign from there with a trip to St. James’ Park to face Newcastle United, before hosting Bayer Leverkusen at the Estadio da Luz and travelling away to Amsterdam to take on Ajax.
The former treble-winner at Inter will then get the chance to go up against two familiar Italian foes as Benfica host Mourinho’s storied rival Antonio Conte’s Napoli side, before an away day at Juventus.
The group stage culminates with a heavyweight tie against Real Madrid, where Mourinho will come up against one of his most-loved former players, now-turned-manager, Xabi Alonso.
In all, Benfica’s Champions League journey is now guaranteed to be one of the most intriguing stories of the season.
Whether Mourinho can deliver results remains to be seen, but his return to Europe’s biggest stage is certain to provide drama, theatre, and no shortage of headlines.
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