Mourinho touted as next Benfica coach after Champions League loss leads to Lage's exit

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FILE - Fenerbahce's head coach Jose Mourinho looks on prior to the Europa League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Fenerbahce and Rangers at Sukru Saracoglu stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra , File)

Benfica's head coach Bruno Lage leaves at the end of a Champions League opening phase soccer match between SL Benfica and Qarabag FK at the Luz stadium in Lisbon, Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Armando Franca) — FILE - Fenerbahce's head coach Jose Mourinho looks on prior to the Europa League round of 16 first leg soccer match between Fenerbahce and Rangers at Sukru Saracoglu stadium in Istanbul, Turkey, Thursday, March 6, 2025. (AP Photo/Khalil Hamra , File)

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6:30 AM on Wednesday, September 17

The Associated Press

LISBON, Portugal (AP) — Benfica fired coach Bruno Lage after the team's home loss to Qarabag in the Champions League on Tuesday, and José Mourinho was quickly touted as the top candidate to replace him.

Benfica president Rui Costa announced the decision to part ways with Lage after the league-phase loss in which Benfica squandered a two-goal lead in front of its fans.

Costa cited the club's poor results recently. Benfica was coming off a disappointing 1-1 home draw against 10-man Santa Clara in the Portuguese league on Friday.

“We've reached an agreement with Bruno Lage and he is not our coach anymore," Costa said. "We feel it's time for a change. It was a tough week for all Benfica fans after the games against Santa Clara and Qarabag. We are not out of any competition yet, but we feel it's time to change."

Costa said he expected to announce a new coach in time for the team's league match in Vila das Aves on Saturday.

Enter Mourinho?

Portuguese media said Mourinho was set to take over the club. His time with Fenerbahce ended last month after the Turkish club was eliminated by Benfica in a qualifying playoff of the Champions League.

Mourinho won the Champions League with Porto, Benfica's main rival, in 2004. He also won the top European club competition with Inter Milan in 2010.

Mourinho has not coached in the main stage of the marquee competition for six seasons, though. He won the third-tier Conference League with Roma in 2022 but his time at the Italian club from 2021-24 was marked by squabbles that resurfaced in his brief and chaotic spell in Turkey.

Mourinho started his coaching career at Benfica but lasted only three months in 2000 before leaving in a contract dispute with the board of directors.

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