Portuguese club Benfica is set to name Jose Mourinho as their new manager following the sacking of Bruno Lage, Portuguese TV station RTP reported on Wednesday. The move comes after Benfica suffered a surprise 3-2 home loss to Qarabag in the Champions League.
Benfica confirmed in a statement that they had reached an agreement to part ways with Lage following the defeat. Club President Rui Costa said the team would swiftly appoint Lage’s successor ahead of their league clash against AVS Futebol SAD on Saturday.
“I would like to thank Bruno for everything he tried to do, everything he did for Benfica, and all the commitment he showed throughout this year representing our club,” Costa said at a press conference. “But, unfortunately, the time has come, and we believe it was time for a change. As for the next coach: we obviously hope that on Saturday, in Vila das Aves, we will already have the new coach on the bench.”
Also Read:Â Chelsea Edge United to Stay in Champions League Race
Mourinho, 62, left Turkish side Fenerbahce in August, two days after his team lost in the Champions League playoffs to Benfica. If appointed, it would bring his career full circle, having started at Benfica before moving to Porto, where he led the club to Champions League glory in 2004.
The Portuguese coach has also won league titles and trophies with Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, AS Roma and Manchester United. He famously dubbed himself “the Special One” upon joining Chelsea in 2004 and completed a historic treble with Inter in 2010.
At Benfica, Mourinho will be tasked with restoring the Lisbon-based club to the top of Portuguese football. Benfica finished second in the Primeira Liga in each of the last two seasons, trailing city rivals Sporting, and currently sit sixth in the standings with 10 points from four matches.
Should Mourinho take charge, Benfica will face two of his former clubs in the Champions League group stage: Chelsea on 30 September and Real Madrid in January.
