Jose Mourinho set for Chelsea reunion with Stamford Bridge return on the cards

Chelsea may soon cross paths with iconic former boss Jose Mourinho as he nears a return to work. Mourinho was sacked by Fenerbahce last month but is reportedly closing in on becoming Benfica manager.

Mourinho’s spell in Turkey lasted just over a year, with his Fenerbahce side finishing second last season, 11 points behind rivals Galatasaray. Despite backing the manager in the transfer market, Fenerbahce decided to part ways with Mourinho in August after losing their Champions League play-off to Benfica.

However, in a twist of fate, Mourinho could be set to benefit from his own misfortune. On Tuesday, the Portuguese giant sacked manager Bruno Lage following their shock Champions League 3-2 defeat to Qarabag, and Mourinho has emerged as one of the leading contenders for the Benfica job, with the club set to travel to Chelsea in their next European game.

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It has been reported by CNN Portugal that Benfica have reached an agreement in principle with Mourinho to succeed Lage. Club president Rui Costa stated Benfica planned to have a new head coach in time for their game at the weekend. “Regarding the next coach, we expect to have the new one on the bench at Vila das Aves next Saturday,” he said.

Mourinho began his managerial career at Benfica in September 2000, having previously served as Sir Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal’s assistant at Barcelona. However, he lasted just 11 games, despite winning six matches, as a fallout with the new club president led him to resign. Mourinho subsequently guided Porto to UEFA Cup and Champions League glory, resulting in his appointment as Chelsea manager in 2004.

In his first spell with the Blues, Mourinho won back-to-back Premier League titles, as well as claiming the FA Cup and two League Cups, before leaving in September 2007. He returned for a second stint in 2013, winning the Premier League and League Cup in his second season, and left in December 2015.

Benfica are set to face the Blues in the Champions League on 30 September, which could mark Mourinho’s first match as an opposition manager at Stamford Bridge since a 0-0 draw as Spurs boss in November 2020. The Portuguese side are currently sixth in the league, picking up three wins and one draw from their first four matches. However, their surprise home defeat to Azerbaijani side Qarabag ultimately cost Lage his job.

Bizarrely, Mourinho, who was later criticised by Fenerbahce president Alic Koc, complimented Benfica’s squad while still in charge of the Turkish club. Although the 62-year-old suggested that a late red card for Anderson Talisca had not helped his side’s cause, Mourinho praised the quality within Benfica’s squad.

“It is a club that knows this type of game, and obviously there is sadness in not being able to do it, but for me, I am aware that we lost against a team that is better than us,” Mourinho said after Fenerbahce’s Champions League play-off loss.

“We had chances, but then we were reduced to 10 men and the game was over. But I think overall, the better team went through.”

Benfica had been linked with Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim, following comments made by Joao Noronha Lopes, who is a leading candidate to be Benfica’s next president. “Ruben Amorim? He's a great coach, he has a contract with Manchester United,” Lopes recently said, as reported by Record.

“I won't comment on that. Of course I like him. He's a great coach and a Benfica fan. I don't have a contract for Ruben to sign."

However, Mourinho's appointment as Benfica boss would mark the legendary manager’s first job in his homeland since masterminding Porto’s Champions League triumph in 2004. His possible return to Chelsea at the end of the month would be much anticipated, but the Blues are currently focused on their away trip to Bayern Munich on Wednesday.

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