Bruno Lage has been dismissed as Benfica’s coach after Tuesday’s surprising Champions League loss to Qarabag, the club announced. Some reports suggest Jose Mourinho might step in.
Mourinho began his coaching journey at Benfica but left after a short stint, later gaining fame with Porto, Benfica’s rivals.
Last month, he was let go by Fenerbahce after a year, following their Champions League exit at Benfica’s hands.
On Tuesday, Benfica led 2-0 against Qarabag but suffered a shocking 3-2 defeat in their league stage opener.
“We’ve agreed with Bruno Lage to part ways,” said club president Rui Costa, a former Portugal midfielder, on Tuesday night.
Lage, previously with Wolverhampton Wanderers, was under pressure after Benfica’s draw with Santa Clara last weekend.
Costa expects a new coach by Saturday’s match against AVS.
Portugal’s sports papers mention 62-year-old Mourinho as a possible replacement.
A Bola reported that Benfica is interested in negotiating with the “Special One.”
Mourinho’s initial tenure at Benfica was brief, lasting 11 matches in 2000. He later succeeded with Porto, winning league titles and the Champions League in 2004.
This success led him to a celebrated career with Chelsea, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid, although his time at Manchester United, starting in 2016, saw a decline.
Lage won the Primeira Liga with Benfica in 2019 and led them to a Portuguese Cup victory last season.
