JUST IN: Mourinho Returns to Benfica After 25 Years in Two-Year Deal.

Jose Mourinho is set to return to the club where his managerial career began, with the 62-year-old agreeing a two-year contract to take charge of Benfica, according to Sky Sports.

The appointment comes a quarter of a century after Mourinho’s first spell with the Lisbon giants in 2000, which lasted just 10 games before his resignation amid boardroom upheaval. His return marks a dramatic twist in both his storied career and Benfica’s immediate fortunes.

Mourinho, dismissed by Fenerbahce last month following the club’s early Champions League exit, touched down in Lisbon from Barcelona on Wednesday night. Outside the airport, jubilant supporters welcomed him, draping a Benfica scarf around his neck in a symbolic gesture of homecoming.

Speaking briefly to reporters, the Portuguese coach hinted at his excitement but refrained from revealing full details. “When I was faced with the possibility of coaching Benfica, I didn’t think twice. I’m interested, I’d like it,” he said.

Benfica’s decision to move for Mourinho follows the dismissal of Bruno Lage, whose tenure ended abruptly after a shock Champions League defeat to Azerbaijani side Qarabag. 

The club is pressing to have Mourinho in the dugout before their weekend clash with Vila das Aves.

The move also carries added intrigue on the European stage: later this month, Benfica are scheduled to face Chelsea one of Mourinho’s most iconic former clubs in a high-profile Champions League tie at Stamford Bridge.

Over the past two decades, Mourinho has built one of the most decorated managerial résumés in modern football, winning league titles in four countries and lifting the Champions League with both Porto and Inter Milan. 

His stints with Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham, and Roma have cemented his reputation as one of football’s most influential figures, albeit one who often departs amid controversy.

Now, as Benfica looks to stabilize and reassert itself in Europe, Mourinho’s homecoming offers both the promise of revival and the weight of expectation.