Jose Mourinho stated that he “will live for Benfica” when he returned to manage the Portuguese giants for the second time in his career.
Mourinho was fired by Fenerbahce last month after he had not qualified for the Champions League against Benfica, but he now replaces Bruno Lage in the hot chair.
The 62-year-old has put Pen on paper about a contract that runs until the summer of 2027, with his first match against AVS Futebol Sad in the Primeira Liga this Saturday.
Lage was removed from his position after Benfica started their Champions League campaign with a defeat against Qarabag, who records their very first victory in the competition.
Mourinho started his management career with Benfica, but only took the lead for nine games before he left after a dispute with the club president.
For the last time he coached a side in Portugal in 2004, which led Porto to six trophies, including the Champions League of 2003-04, before he came to Chelsea that summer.
After he was unveiled as the new manager of the club, Mourinho expressed his wish to continue in the role outside his current contract.
“As a representative of the millions of Benfica fans around the world, I can tell you that none of the other giants I had the opportunity to coach me, to make me feel more honored or motivated than Benfica’s coach,” said Mourinho at his first press conference.
“Words are sometimes omitted by the wind, but not actions. The promise is very clear: I will live for Benfica, live for my mission.
“I want to work at Benfica, but I want people to trust me on the same page as me. My wish is to successfully complete the two -year contract with Benfica, and for that success to have the club extended sooner or later.
“My goal is to be successful. And in Benfica, success means, especially at national level, winning competitions.”
Welcome, José Mourinho!
– SL Benfica (@slbenfica) September 18, 2025
After leaving Benfica almost 25 years ago in dramatic fashion, Mourinho acknowledged that not all fans will be happy with his appointment.
However, the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Tottenham Boss are only focused on bringing success to the club.
Mourinho added: “You have certainly hidden a more difficult question, whether I feel that all Benfica fans are happy to be here. I don’t think so.
“Who is big, who has the power to have everyone by their side, luckily, admiring? I don’t think anyone.
“I don’t feel that way at all, but I do feel a responsibility and motivation to do good things. And here we know what it means to do good things, especially at national level, to win titles.”
Mourinho returns to Stamford Bridge to be opposed to the former Club Chelsea in the Champions League on 30 September.
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