A savior? Murinho is taking over Benfica

Legally, it was defined as a “mutual termination of cooperation.” But in reality: Bruno Lage was fired. Because no matter how good Qarabag may be, and rightly a Champions League participant, Benfica does not tolerate such humiliations. Especially not from a club from Azerbaijan, since Benfica competes with Ajax for the status of the biggest club outside the top five leagues. And immediately after the humiliating 2–3 defeat, the Lisbon Eagles announced that the head coach was leaving.

“Unfortunately, the moment has come, and we all agree that it’s time for a change. As for the new coach, we expect to have one already for the next league match in Aves,” said president Rui Costa, accompanied by the usual platitudes about a tough and tense week for all the fans, reminding them that Benfica had drawn with Santa Clara over the weekend. Lage’s dismissal had been inevitable ever since the fans started waving white handkerchiefs during the match – a sign on the Iberian Peninsula that you are no longer welcome. And big clubs know how to respond in those situations. As soon as the news broke about the parting with the former coach, reports about a new boss appeared. The chosen one – a strategist who, if he knows anything, it’s how to live with pressure. Rui Costa, in fact, has gone after Jose Mourinho, free after being dismissed at Fenerbahçe! And, as all Portuguese media report, the “Special One” has agreed and will probably today become the new Benfica coach.

At the club where, many have forgotten, he began his coaching career after serving first as a translator, then as an assistant to Bobby Robson and Louis van Gaal. In September 2000, Benfica dismissed Jupp Heynckes and gave Mourinho his big chance. And even then, one could sense what kind of character he was. For although he was just starting out, Jose took advantage of changes in the club’s management and the public bluff by new president Manuel Vilarinho that he would appoint former Benfica player Toni as coach. Even though everyone knew it wasn’t true, Mourinho seized the moment and demanded a contract extension. Vilarinho refused, and Mourinho immediately resigned, after just nine games, one of which was a 3–0 victory over Sporting.

Time is up for the Special one - Mourinho is sacked

Three years later, Mourinho led Porto to the European title, later won the Champions League with Inter, made the football world recognize Chelsea as a true force, and managed Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham, Roma, and the aforementioned Fenerbahçe. How badly Vilarinho had miscalculated.

“Take me back in time, and I would do the exact opposite. I would have given him that contract. Only later did I realize that pride cannot be placed above the interests of the institution we serve,” he admitted years later. It seems the time has now come to correct that quarter-of-a-century-old mistake. Life arranged it in its own peculiar way. For Mourinho had to leave Fener right after Lage and Benfica knocked them out in the Champions League playoffs. It turned out that this only opened the door for him to return to the elite.

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - MATCHDAY 1

Wednesday

19.45: (1.45) Olympiakos (4.40) Paphos (7.50)

19.45: (1.85) Slavia Praha (3.60) Bodo (4.30)

22.00: (4.10) Ajax (3.50) Inter (1.90)

22.00: (1.67) Bayern (4.25) Chelsea (4.85)

22.00: (1.62) Liverpool (3.90) Atl.Madrid (5.60)

22.00: (1.50) PSG (4.50) Atalanta (7.25)