Jose Mourinho will return to former membership Chelsea within the Champions League on September 30 after being named supervisor of two-time European champions Benfica.
Mourinho, 62, briefly led Benfica in his first managerial function in 2000 and received three Premier League titles throughout two spells at Stamford Bridge.
The Portuguese left Turkish facet Fenerbahce after lower than 15 months in cost in August following the membership’s failure to qualify for the Champions League, dropping 1-0 at Benfica within the play-offs to endure an mixture defeat by the identical scoreline.
Benfica, who completed second within the Primeira Liga final season, sacked Bruno Lage on Tuesday after his facet spurned a two-goal result in lose 3-2 at house to Qarabag within the league section of the Champions League.
The file 38-time Portuguese champions have moved swiftly to provide the self-dubbed ‘Particular One’ a two-year contract.
Why did Fenerbahce sack Jose Mourinho?
After ending 11 factors behind champions Galatasaray in second in Mourinho’s first marketing campaign in Turkiye, Fenerbahce began this season with a 0-0 draw at Goztepe, who received promotion in 2023/24 and got here eighth final season.
They overturned a 2-1 first-leg deficit to beat Feyenoord of their first Champions League qualifying tie courtesy of a 5-2 win at house, however the immediacy of Mourinho’s departure steered their defeat to Benfica within the subsequent spherical determined his destiny.
Turkiye winger Kerem Akturkoglu, who joined Benfica from Galatasaray in 2024, scored the decisive aim within the thirty fifth minute of the return leg, consigning Fenerbahce the Europa League.
In between their contests with Benfica, Fenerbahce secured their first league win of the season by beating Kocaelispor 3-1 at house, though the promoted guests had misplaced their first two video games with out scoring.
Mourinho completed with a file of 37 victories, 14 attracts and 11 defeats in 62 matches with Fenerbahce, attaining a win share of slightly below 60.
Jose Mourinho stats, Fenerbahce file
A 118th-minute second-leg aim by guests Lille knocked Fenerbahce out of Champions League qualifying in Mourinho’s first season they usually have been the final crew to qualify for the Europa League knockout section play-offs, advancing on aim distinction in 18th after profitable two of their eight league section matches.
A 5-2 win over Andelecht took them to the final 16 however a 3-1 house defeat to Rangers then proved expensive as they have been knocked out at Ibrox on penalties following a 2-0 away win.
Fenerbahce have been unbeaten of their first 5 league matches below Mourinho however then misplaced 3-1 to Galatasaray in entrance of their largest house crowd of the season of greater than 44,000 followers.
Galatasaray additionally knocked Fenerbahce out of the Turkish Cup because the visiting facet in a quarter-final that includes two crimson playing cards on both facet throughout added time.
Mourinho regularly criticised refereeing in Turkiye and obtained a four-match ban – later lowered to 2 video games – for remarks about referees after a 0-0 draw at Galatasaray on February 24.
In a separate incident, Galatasaray stated they’d “provoke legal proceedings” in opposition to Mourinho and accused him of creating “racist statements”.
He denied the allegations, describing himself because the “reverse” of racist and submitting a lawsuit in opposition to the membership in search of damages value round £41,000.
Jose Mourinho contract
Mourinho’s deal at Fenerbahce was value greater than £8m a 12 months, in line with ESPN on the time of his appointment.
Membership president Ali Y Koc referred to as Mourinho a residing legend and one of many 5 finest managers alive when he arrived and stated their first aim was to turn out to be Turkish champions.
“I need to thanks all to your love,” Mourinho responded. “I’ve felt it because the first time my identify was linked with Fenerbahce.”
Jose Mourinho trophies
An eight-time top-flight champion throughout Portugal, England, Spain and Italy, Mourinho received the Champions League at Porto in 2003/04 and Inter Milan in 2009/10.
He was a Premier League champion with Chelsea in 2004/05 and 2005/06, returning to triumph once more in 2014/15 throughout his second spell on the helm.
Mourinho’s two most up-to-date glories have been the 2016/17 Europa League title with Manchester United and the 2021/22 inaugural Convention League trophy with Roma.
Benfica Champions League fixtures
Mourinho will return to England twice as a part of Benfica’s Champions League marketing campaign, with their third sport of the league section at Newcastle.
Their ultimate house sport is in opposition to Actual Madrid, with whom Mourinho received LaLiga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Tremendous Cup between 2010 and 2013.
All matches begin at 20:00 GMT / 15:00 ET / 12:00 PT except said in any other case.
September 16: Benfica 2-3 Qarabag
September 30: Chelsea vs Benfica
October 21: Newcastle vs Benfica
November 5: Benfica vs Leverkusen
November 25: Ajax vs Benfica (17:45)
December 10: Benfica vs Napoli
January 21 2026: Juventus vs Benfica
January 28 2026: Benfica vs Actual Madrid
