Lunchtime in Seixal and after Jose Mourinho’s coaching session with Benfica, we’re awaiting his pre-match press convention. In Restaurante Impala, a stone’s throw from the coaching advanced and hidden within the slender streets of Seixal, inevitably the dialog over grilled sardines from the close by Tagus River revolves round Mourinho’s homecoming – 25 years on from his first stint as Benfica boss.
The person on the desk subsequent to us overhears our dialogue and mentions proudly that he was as soon as a teammate of Mourinho. Jorge Batista, 62, exhibits us a picture of them alongside one another from after they had been 15 within the close by city of Setubal – the place Mourinho grew up.
It’s a coincidence that Every day Mail Sport meets Batista however a well timed reminder that after 1 / 4 of a century, the ‘Particular One’ is again the place it began.
The wine city of Azeitao, the place Mourinho resides within the household house up within the hills, is a 20-minute drive from the coaching floor. It’s a far cry from the 4 Seasons Lodge on the banks of the Bosphorus in Istanbul the place he lived alone final season throughout his time at Fenerbahce and can be noticed hooded up, getting into the native kebab joints exterior the lodge.
‘We knew he would return sooner or later,’ says Batista. ‘I’m satisfied Jose will make us (Benfica) winners once more,’ he provides. I ask whether or not Mourinho is a Benfica supporter and Batista is adamant that Jose cherished Benfica after they had been younger.
In a managerial profession spanning 10 golf equipment and over 1000 video games, it’s value noting the primary eleven again in 2000. Aged 37, Benfica was the primary membership Mourinho managed however after three months, he walked. Within the aftermath of a 3-0 win over Sporting, Mourinho requested the president for a contract extension and resigned when his demand was refused.
Jose Mourinho has had a hero’s return at Portuguese aspect Benfica – 25 years after ending his final stint within the dugout
Mourinho’s lengthy historical past with the membership started when he confronted them as a younger participant on the pitch with Setubal aspect UFCI in 1987
‘He was by no means an important footballer however Jose was bossy and like a coach even after we had been younger,’ says Batista. ‘He was pushed and knew what he needed.’
A few hours later, we’re with Mourinho previewing Benfica’s league recreation towards Gil Vicente – a 3rd within the house of per week since taking up.
For the 62-year-old, it’s his twelfth job in administration after he was sacked by Fenerbahce final month. When he arrived in Lisbon, Mourinho acknowledged he was much less ego-centric and extra altruistic, insisting that individuals change for the higher.
For John Obi Mikel, who performed below Mourinho, that’s all an act.
‘Don’t imagine Jose one bit. Jose wants the ego,’ Mikel mentioned on his podcast. ‘That’s what spurs Jose on and motivates him.’
So absolutely there’s a private sense of unfinished enterprise for Mourinho in Lisbon?
‘Unfinished enterprise? I didn’t even begin the enterprise,’ Mourinho tells Every day Mail Sport. ‘I used to be right here for 3 months. It wasn’t even the start of the enterprise however it’s true that now I really feel an increasing number of centered on the others. Who’re the others? The supporters, the board, the gamers. I believe extra about them than about myself and it’s an excellent feeling.’
Mourinho admits he thought it might be a ‘pure consequence’ for him to return house for the Portugal job however the alternative with Benfica proved irresistible, significantly the prospect of managing within the Champions League for the primary time since 2020.
The Portuguese supervisor first took over at Benfica for simply 9 league video games in 2000
Relatively than having unfinished enterprise on the membership, Mourinho believes his work is simply simply beginning in his house nation
Since beginning his tenure, Benfica have gained seven factors of their opening three matches
With the presidential elections in October, Benfica president Rui Costa sacked Bruno Lage after they misplaced to Qarabag within the Champions League.
For Mourinho, the brand new starting has began fairly properly with Benfica successful seven factors in three video games. This week, they journey to Chelsea within the Champions League then to Porto on the weekend. Two golf equipment near Mourinho’s coronary heart and two matches the place the eye will amplify.
‘I’ve my spouse and daughter in Portugal. My son is in London so the very best factor there’s going to see him,’ mentioned Mourinho. And if potential, to win the factors we misplaced towards Qarabag. However Chelsea is a prime staff with incredible gamers, an excellent coach, large statues and world champions. If the followers are nice to me, then nice. If they don’t seem to be, that’s high-quality, no downside however I’m joyful to be again.’
There’s a clip of Mourinho alone at Istanbul Airport the day after he was sacked by Fenerbahce. A stark distinction from the lots that greeted him when he was employed in June 2024 and declared ‘This shirt is my pores and skin.’
These near him in Istanbul insist he by no means really settled in Turkey. Mourinho himself says he made a mistake going to Fenerbahce. ‘It wasn’t my cultural stage, it wasn’t my soccer stage, it wasn’t my stage,’ he mentioned.
There was no doubting his work ethic and want however by the top, there was a perception amongst these inside Turkish soccer that Mourinho felt he was above them. From the fixed digs on the state of officiating to antics which included pinching the nostril of Galatasaray coach Okan Buruk, the Fenerbahce board grew out of endurance. Tepid shows on the pitch didn’t assist both. When simply 10,000 followers turned up for a league recreation in Could, the writing was on the wall.
The choice got here after Fenerbahce had been eradicated from the Champions League by Benfica. Ali Koc, the person who employed Mourinho, eliminated him as a result of the membership needed higher soccer. The season earlier than Mourinho, Fenerbahce gained 99 factors, scored 99 objectives and had been pipped by Galatasaray to the title. Below Mourinho, they completed 11 factors off the tempo.
Mourinho was on trip in Barcelona when Benfica knowledgeable him they had been although sources in Lisbon imagine that he was sounded out earlier than Lage was sacked.
The 62-year-old was appointed at Fenerbahce on a wave of widespread help however the relationship soured rapidly
Now Mourinho is nearer to his spouse and daughter, who’re each based mostly of their native Portugal
‘When Benfica signed Mario Branco as Director of Soccer, we knew he may deliver Mourinho simply as a result of Mourinho is near Jorge Mendes and the company Gestifute however he’s even nearer to Branco. Branco coming was the sign,’ says one Benfica supply.
To look at him carefully over the previous few days, it’s evident that Mourinho is hungry as ever however concurrently conscious that his each motion might be scrutinised by Portuguese media.
The truth that he has worn a swimsuit on matchdays slightly than a tracksuit has already been a speaking level. Such has been his devotion that Mourinho spent a few of the first week dwelling on the campus in a bid to utilise as a lot time as potential and stamp his identification on a aspect which he described as ‘needing a little bit of botox.’
On Saturday, he was at Seixal once more watching Benfica’s B staff play. His return has been entrance web page and again web page information and in Lisbon, there’s already a mural. Whereas his Ferrari was given a police escort to the coaching floor on the day of his first press convention.
In an unprecedented transfer for Benfica – the most important and most profitable membership in Portugal – Mourinho has additionally determined to make the primary a part of coaching open to the media on the day earlier than a match. The day we attended, he made an effort to return over and greet the journalists. The identical day, he known as up Goncalo Moreira to first-team coaching after he scored 4 objectives within the UEFA Youth League in a bid to inject some power to the squad.
‘In Portugal, most individuals thought Jose would solely return for the nationwide staff. However the Benfica job will not be a shock as a result of it’s most likely his stage now,’ says Rui Pedro Rocha of Sport TV, who has coated each of Mourinho’s spells at Benfica. ‘In the previous few years, he hasn’t had the trophies that he did earlier than. However Jose loves Portugal and he’s a workaholic so it’s an ideal resolution. And for Benfica and Costa too as a result of they want one thing new earlier than the elections. If there have been no elections, I don’t suppose he would strive an enormous title like Mourinho. There’s pleasure but in addition an consciousness that he won’t be for long-term.’
Forward of the election on October 25, Costa is aware of he’s up towards it with Benfica successful only one title below him. Different candidates have promised names like Ruben Amorim, Bernardo Silva and even Jurgen Klopp to push their trigger.
Mourinho has a contract till the top of subsequent season which Costa claims is the bottom wage (3 to 4 million Euros) he has had since leaving Portugal in 2004 for Chelsea, insisting that Mourinho was determined to return.
Mourinho has been noticed within the dugout sporting a swimsuit – a reality which has been rapidly famous by delighted followers
Among the many candidates floated to take over on the membership was Manchester United’s Ruben Amorim
Apparently, for a person who has earned near £100 million from getting sacked, there’s a distinctive clause which permits both Benfica or Mourinho to half methods within the ten days after the season concludes for a fraction of the associated fee. Mourinho must pay compensation to Benfica if he needs to depart, with Costa emphasising that his respect for the membership made that settlement potential.
On Friday night time, Benfica, led by Nicholas Otamendi, got here from behind to beat Gil Vicente in entrance of 58,000 followers on the Estadio da Luz. A wholesome crowd however the floor holds 68,000 and it’ll take a while to get it again full to the rafters. When Every day Mail Sport requested ten followers on the concourse whether or not Mourinho was the correct man, the response was break up with 4 saying no, 5 saying sure and one uncertain, Gil Vicente are managed by Cesar Peixoto, who was a part of Mourinho’s Champions League successful squad in 2003-04, and he claimed after that Benfica gained with the type of soccer that ‘Mr Mourinho despises.’ Both approach, it’s a aspect with no identification in the mean time, as Mourinho insists.
‘Mourinho is a well-liked coach however not each Benfica supporter loves him but as a result of Portuguese soccer followers are educated,’ says a supply near the membership. ‘For those who ask the ten million individuals in Portugal, they may desire managers like Pep Guardiola and Klopp however the respect is there for Mourinho due to his achievements and for his character. For Benfica supporters, Mourinho represents a brand new phantasm, a brand new dream. Individuals didn’t like Bruno Lage – he wasn’t charismatic. Mourinho has that but when Benfica lose each video games this week, then he’ll already be in dangerous sh*t. In Benfica, individuals change simply. It’s not a straightforward place to be.’
Regardless of his feedback about caring extra for others, Mourinho will see the following week as a chance to point out that basically he nonetheless issues. He spoke on Friday about his ‘damage’ at seeing Chelsea wrestle after Roman Abramovich offered the membership and the way they created a successful machine.
And for all that he says that his historical past can’t be taken away from him, there’s nonetheless a want to make extra. Two of his final three jobs have ended with out silverware. Now lower than a fortnight into act 12 of Mourinho the supervisor, the narrative is sort of one thing as he returns to London and Porto. Fail in Lisbon and it’s exhausting to see one other main membership taking a danger on him.
It brings to thoughts a Mourinho quote that has carried out the rounds not too long ago. ‘We see coaches making an attempt to do issues that simply don’t work and so they die,’ mentioned Mourinho. ‘However they are saying, “I died, however I died with my concept.” My good friend, when you died by your concepts, you’re silly.’
To his credit score, ten golf equipment, 25 years, and 26 titles later, Mourinho continues to be going. Lisbon could be house however such is his legacy that he can have a pair extra homecomings over the approaching week.
