Portuguese coach José Mourinho has officially started his new role at Lisbon’s Benfica, returning nearly a quarter of a century after his first stint with the club. His appointment sparked widespread reaction within the football community, while the coach himself admitted he did not expect such a turn of events following his departure from Turkey’s Fenerbahçe.
During his first press conference in the new position, Mourinho shared that he had not planned on returning to the Portuguese league. According to him, accepting Benfica’s offer was not related to personal circumstances, as his family still resides in London. However, as the coach emphasized, the opportunity to once again lead one of the country’s top clubs was a decisive factor for him.
As part of their pre-season preparations, Benfica played a friendly match against London’s Chelsea at Stamford Bridge. The game ended with a narrow victory for the home side, but the public’s attention was focused less on the result and more on Mourinho himself and his comments about the future of the team and his own career path.
A particular point of interest was when Mourinho mentioned receiving a message from Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez. The head of the Spanish club congratulated the Portuguese coach on his new appointment and expressed satisfaction that he had once again joined a top-level club. According to Mourinho, this gesture was a welcome sign of support from his former colleagues in Spanish football.
The coach also recalled his connection with Chelsea, where he worked twice and achieved significant success, including victories in the national championship and the FA Cup. Mourinho noted that his relationship with the London club remains special, despite changes in countries and teams throughout his career.
Mourinho’s return to Benfica has become one of the main events of the European football off-season. The Portuguese manager’s experience and authority are expected to help the club strengthen its position both domestically and in European competitions. Mourinho himself emphasizes that he is ready for new challenges and is determined to achieve the ambitious goals set by the management.
