FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - UEFA Champions League - Play Off - Second Leg - Benfica v Fenerbahce - Estadio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal - August 27, 2025 Fenerbahce coach Jose Mourinho before the match REUTERS/Pedro Nunes/File Photo
Jose Mourinho is set to return to Benfica (Reuters)
Jose Mourinho is in talks to become Benfica’s new manager.
The Portuguese club sacked Bruno Lage on Tuesday night just hours after the team’s surprise 3-2 defeat at home to Qarabag in the Champions League.
Lage joined Benfica a year ago and won the Portuguese League Cup last season, however, the team finish two points behind champions Sporting CP in Liga Portugal.
Speaking in the early hours of Wednesday morning, Benfica’s president, Rui Costa, insisted a change of head coach was needed after a woeful start to their Champions League campaign.
‘Today we reached an agreement with Bruno Lage to step down as Benfica’s coach. I thank him for everything he’s done for our club, but we believe it’s time for a change,’ Rui Costa said.
Get personalised updates on Manchester United every day
Wake up to find news on your club in your inbox every morning with Metro’s Football Newsletter.
Sign up to our newsletter and then select your team in the link so we can send you football news tailored to you.
Benfica's Portuguese coach Bruno Lage reacts after his team conceded a third goal during the UEFA Champions League first round day 1 football match between SL Benfica and Garabagh at the Luz stadium in Lisbon on September 16, 2025. (Photo by FILIPE AMORIM / AFP) (Photo by FILIPE AMORIM/AFP via Getty Images)
Bruno Lage was sacked by Benfica on Tuesday night (AFP via Getty)
‘Regarding the next coach, we expect to have the new one on the bench at Vila das Aves next Saturday.
‘We’ve had a tough week for all Benfica fans, after the match against Santa Clara and this match against Qarabag. We haven’t compromised anything, we haven’t dropped out of any competition, but I believe this is the time for a change.
‘The Benfica coach must be a winner. He must be a coach who represents a club of this size and has the ability to bring this team to the required levels.
LISBON, PORTUGAL - SEPTEMBER 16: Nicol??s Otamendi of SL Benfica and Ant??nio Silva of SL Benfica reacts during the UEFA Champions League 2025/26 League Phase MD1 match between SL Benfica and Qarabag FK at Estadio da Luz on September 16, 2025 in Lisbon, Portugal. (Photo by Valter Gouveia/Sports Press Photo/Getty Images)
Benfica were beaten at home by Qarabag FK in their Champions League opener (Getty)
‘We won’t talk about names. Benfica is currently without a coach. The only thing that happened after the game was the conversation with Bruno Lage. No coach has been hired today.’
Mourinho, meanwhile, was sacked by Fenerbahce three weeks ago after they were beaten by Benfica in their Champions League play-off.
The former Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Tottenham boss began his managerial career at Benfica in 2000 but resigned after just nine league games due to a disagreement with the club’s then-president Manuel Vilarinho.
Benfica have already begun negotiations with Mourinho and are aiming to appoint the 62-year-old before their league game against relegation contenders AVS on Saturday.
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook,Twitter and Instagram.
MORE: Thierry Henry fires Liverpool warning to Mikel Arteta for Arsenal vs Man City
MORE: The mammoth figure Man Utd would have to pay Ruben Amorim if they sack him
MORE: Mikel Arteta updates on Viktor Gyokeres head injury after Arsenal beat Athletic Bilbao
Football Newsletter – In The Mixer
Your guide to the week in football. Exclusive analysis, FPL tips and transfer talk – sign up, it’s an open goal.