Jose Mourinho is back where it all began. The Portuguese coach has been appointed as Benfica’s new manager in a move that has stunned both fans and rivals.
The appointment comes more than two decades after his short first spell in charge of the Lisbon club, and it sets up a dramatic Champions League reunion with Chelsea at Stamford Bridge later this month.
Benfica turned to Mourinho after parting ways with Bruno Lage, who was dismissed following a shock 3-2 home defeat to Qarabag.
The club acted quickly, and Mourinho signed a deal until 2027, though it includes a break clause at the end of this season.
At 62, the “Special One” now finds himself back on the very stage that made him a global icon.
It’s not just any return either. His fourth game will take him back to west London on September 30, where he won three Premier League titles, two League Cups, and an FA Cup across two spells.
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Stamford Bridge is likely to be full of mixed emotions: nostalgia for the glory days, but also nerves about facing the man who once called it home.
A familiar face, a tricky test
🦅 Welcome, míster José Mourinho! pic.twitter.com/dpwSjDdNZB
— SL Benfica (@slbenfica_en) September 18, 2025
Mourinho has not managed in the Champions League since 2020 with Tottenham. He has spent recent years lifting the Europa Conference League with Roma and enduring a turbulent stint with Fenerbahce.
Now, Benfica’s gamble gives him a chance to prove he can still cut it in Europe’s top competition.
For Chelsea fans, the irony will not be lost. Mourinho’s Benfica side stands in their path just as the Blues are trying to rebuild in Europe's most competitive league.
For Mourinho, it is a chance to remind the football world why he once called himself the “Special One.”
What Jose Mourinho said?
Speaking at his presentation, Mourinho admitted his emotions were hard to control.
“I have so many emotions but experience helps me control them. I want to thank Rui Costa for the trust and the honor I feel in this moment. There isn’t a single person who doesn’t know the size of the Benfica nation and this club. I want to make one thing absolutely clear: I must be able to block all these emotions and look at Sport Lisboa e Benfica in a simplistic way. I am the coach of one of the biggest clubs in the world.”
The message was clear: this is not about sentiment. It is about winning.
Can the “Special One” still be special?
Mourinho’s return sparks questions. Can he adapt to the modern game after a string of mixed jobs? Or will Benfica’s gamble be rewarded with a deep Champions League run?
For now, fans are simply bracing themselves for the drama. And if there’s one thing Mourinho never fails to deliver, it’s drama.
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