Liputan6.com, Jakarta José Mourinho, the coach nicknamed "The Special One," is once again in the spotlight after signing as manager for Benfica in September 2025, as reported by transfer expert Fabrizio Romano.
Benfica itself is the club he briefly handled earlier in his managerial career.
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As reported by BBC, Mourinho's arrival was expected to revive the team's performance following the dismissal of Bruno Lage.
Mourinho was spotted in Lisbon to continue talks with Benfica management, indicating that an agreement was imminent.
This return to the Estadio da Luz follows his dismissal from Turkish club Fenerbahçe in August 2025 for failing to qualify for the Champions League.
The spotlight now turns to his debut, expected to come in the next league match against AVS.
Return to Portugal: José Mourinho and Benfica
"Benfica officially asked me if I was interested. What coach says no to Benfica? Not me," Mourinho told reporters after landing in Lisbon.
"When I was presented with the opportunity to coach Benfica, I didn't hesitate to say that I'm interested, that I'd like to."
José Mourinho's story with Benfica is not new, but rather a reunion that brings back old memories.
In 2000, Mourinho began his managerial career as head coach of the Portuguese giants, though his tenure was brief, lasting only 10 to 11 games.
After being recruited by the club president ahead of the election, Mourinho chose to step down when the new president was elected and rejected his request for a contract extension.
His courage at the time, at 37 years old and without a significant track record, has become a hallmark that remains with him to this day.
The decision paid off: less than three years later, Mourinho won the league title and the European Cup with Porto, Benfica's rivals.
Now, 25 years later, José Mourinho returns to Benfica with a vastly different reputation.
'The Special One' Brief Profile, Career, and Achievements
José Mário dos Santos Mourinho Félix, better known as José Mourinho, was born on January 26, 1963, in Setúbal, Portugal.
He will be 62 years old in September 2025.
The Portuguese manager is widely known by the nickname "The Special One," a nickname he coined at his first press conference at Chelsea in 2005.
Mourinho had a relatively undistinguished playing career as a midfielder.
However, he found his true calling in coaching, starting as a translator for Sir Bobby Robson at Sporting CP and Porto.
He then served as an assistant at Barcelona under Robson and Louis van Gaal, before eventually taking over as head coach.
Throughout his managerial career, José Mourinho has coached several top European clubs.
He started with Benfica (2000), União de Leiria (2001–2002), Porto (2002–2004), Chelsea (2004–2007), Inter Milan (2008–2010), Real Madrid (2010–2013), then returned to Chelsea (2013–2015), Manchester United (2016–2018), Tottenham Hotspur (2019–2021), Roma (2021–2024), and finally Fenerbahçe (2024–2025).
José Mourinho's notable achievements include winning the UEFA Champions League with Porto (2004) and Inter Milan (2010), three Premier League titles with Chelsea (2005, 2006, 2015), as well as Serie A, La Liga, and the Europa League.
He is also the only manager to have won all three current UEFA club competitions (Champions League, Europa League, Europa Conference League) and one of six managers to have won the European Cup with two different clubs.
Individual awards such as the IFFHS World's Best Club Coach and FIFA World Coach of the Year complete his extensive list of achievements.
New Mission in Portugal: Champions League and Domestic Titles
José Mourinho appointed to replace Bruno Lage, who was sacked after Benfica's shock Champions League defeat to Qarabag on September 17, 2025.
Mourinho faced a significant challenge: restoring the club to glory on both the domestic and European levels.
His ultimate goal was to win the Portuguese league title, a trophy Benfica last won in the 2022/2023 season.
His debut on the Benfica bench was expected to come in the team's next league match against AVS on Saturday.
With a total of 1,197 managerial matches, 740 wins, and an average of 2.06 points per game, "The Special One" is more than equipped to face the challenges at Benfica.