Mourinho emerges as candidate to replace Lage at Benfica

Jose Mourinho has been linked with the vacant Benfica managerial post after the Portuguese club sacked Bruno Lage following Tuesday's Champions League defeat to Qarabag.

Benfica dismissed Lage after his side squandered a two-goal lead and lost 3-2 at Estadio da Luz. Club president Rui Costa said the club intends to have a new manager in place by Saturday but declined to confirm any names, saying only that "Benfica coach's profile must be that of a winner" and that the appointment would be made to protect the club's sporting season.

BBC Sport and other outlets reported that Mourinho, who was sacked by Fenerbahce on 29 August, is open to returning to work in Portugal. His dismissal from the Turkish club came two days after Fenerbahce were eliminated from the Champions League play-offs by Benfica.

Mourinho began his managerial career at Benfica in 2000 but left after 10 matches following a dispute with club leadership. He later rose to prominence at Porto from 2002 to 2004, where he won six trophies including the 2003-04 Champions League. Since 2004 he has managed Chelsea, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur and Roma, as well as Fenerbahce.

If appointed, Mourinho would immediately face fixtures in the Champions League group stage that include a trip to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea on 30 September. Benfica are also scheduled to play away at Newcastle United and host Real Madrid during the group phase.

Benfica sit sixth in the Primeira Liga, five points behind leaders Porto but with a game in hand. Last season the club finished second under Lage, two points behind Sporting.

The decision to part company with Lage comes as Benfica prepare for a presidential election on 25 October. Joao Noronha Lopes, seen as the favorite in the vote, has reportedly expressed interest in appointing Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim and attended Sunday's Manchester City match in person to watch him. Costa rejected suggestions the managerial change was linked to the election and said he had not been campaigning, adding: "This decision-making has to do solely and exclusively with Benfica's sporting season, and to avoid jeopardising Benfica's sporting season. I've never put my interests ahead of Benfica's, and I'm not going to do so now."

Benfica did not name any candidates on Wednesday, and Costa reiterated that no coach had been appointed. The club's stated aim is to appoint a manager capable of restoring the team to title contention and delivering the trophies supporters expect.

Any formal approach to Mourinho, or an announcement of a new coach, is likely to be made in the coming days as Benfica seek to stabilise their season ahead of a busy domestic and European schedule.