Pipped: Jose Mourinho leads Ruben Amorim in the race to replace Bruno Lage
Jose Mourinho is in advanced talks to sign as head coach of Benfica after the Portuguese giants sacked Bruno Lage on Tuesday night.
Lage found himself under pressure after a slow start to the season left the club sixth in Liga Portugal, but his fate was confirmed after O Glorioso fell to a shock defeat at the hands of Azerbaijani side Qarabag in their Champions League opener.
The decision was announced in a late-night post-match press conference, where club president Rui Costa laid out a plan to bring in a “winning coach”.
And he has moved quickly in signing a replacement, with Benfica already widely reported to be in advanced talks with Mourinho, who served a ten-match spell as the club’s head coach back in 2000.
The Portuguese was dismissed by Fenerbahce in August after losing to Benfica in a Champions League qualifier.
Mourinho’s appointment, though, would be a blow to Ruben Amorim’s hopes of escaping his Manchester United nightmare.
He had been considered the leading candidate to take over in Lisbon after João Noronha Lopes, a frontrunner to become Benfica’s new club president, set his sights on a deal. He told reporters: “One thing I know, Ruben Amorim will be the coach of Benfica one day.”
Bad to worse: Ruben Amorim has come under fire for his tactical inflexibility
Lopes attended the Manchester Derby last weekend, witnessing a 3-0 defeat which left the Red Devils boss under more pressure than ever. He has taken just eight wins from 31 Premier League outings since his appointment in November of last year, and a deadline has reportedly been set for him to right the ship.
Read More
Thomas Partey to appear in court on rape charges hours after playing against Spurs
Three things we learned from Spurs win as Frank has new undroppable
Lamine Yamal injury latest as Barcelona star a 'major doubt' to face Newcastle
5 signs women’s sport is more popular than ever
According to the Daily Mirror, he has just three matches to get United on song before club bosses assess the team’s trajectory during the October international break. Those three matches will see them host Chelsea, visit Brentford, and return home to face Sunderland.
United would have to lay out an eye-watering £12m compensation package should they decide to relieve Amorim of his duties. On arrival in the northwest, he signed a two-and-a-half-year deal worth £6.5m per season. That came after the Red Devils paid Sporting CP £9.2m to pry him away from the Primeira Liga.
A five-man shortlist of replacements has already been drawn up should United decide to chop and change.
The Daily Mail report they will consider Fulham’s Marco Silva, Crystal Palace’s Oliver Glasner, Aston Villa’s Unai Emery, and Bournemouth’s Andoni Iraola.