Jose Mourinho close to Benfica return, could face Chelsea in Champions League clash

Jose Mourinho is in advanced talks to return to Benfica, Portuguese media reported Wednesday, a move that would see the 62-year-old potentially face his former club Chelsea in the Champions League in around two weeks.

Mourinho is a free agent after being dismissed by Fenerbahce following the Turkish side's failure to qualify for the Champions League. According to A Bola, negotiations with Benfica have progressed significantly and a deal could be concluded by the end of Wednesday.

Benfica announced on Wednesday that they had parted company with coach Bruno Lage after a slow start to the season, and club president Rui Costa said the club expected a new coach to be in place for the upcoming league match at Vila das Aves. "We have 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," Costa said. "Regarding the next coach, we expect to have the new one on the bench at Vila das Aves next Saturday."

Costa added that Benfica sought a coach "who represents a club of this size and has the ability to bring this team to the required levels," and said no appointment had formally been made at the time of his remarks.

Mourinho began his managerial career at Benfica in 2000, overseeing 11 games before moving to Uniao de Leiria and later achieving major success at Porto, Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid. His return to Benfica would come 25 years after his first departure from the Portuguese club and follow spells in England, Spain, Italy and Turkey.

If the reported agreement is completed, Benfica will face Chelsea in the Champions League group stage in roughly two weeks, which would set up a reunion between Mourinho and his former London employers. Chelsea have not commented on the reports, and Benfica officials limited their public statements to the confirmation of Lage's exit and the club's desire for a winning coach.

Mourinho's firing from Fenerbahce followed the club's exit from Champions League contention; Turkish media and club sources cited failure to reach the competition as a factor in the board's decision. Mourinho had been appointed by Fenerbahce in 2024 and led the club through domestic and European campaigns before his dismissal.

Benfica's search for a successor to Lage reflects pressure on the club to return to competitive form after disappointing results in domestic and European fixtures earlier in the season. The club remains in contention in multiple competitions, but officials said they believed a change in leadership was necessary to meet the club's objectives.

Any official confirmation of Mourinho's appointment would conclude negotiations between the Portuguese club and the manager, and set the stage for an early test in a high-profile Champions League tie. Benfica and Mourinho did not immediately respond to requests for comment, and A Bola is the primary source reporting that a deal could be finalised imminently.