A quarter of a century after dismissing José Mourinho, Benfica seems to have finally convinced “Special One” to return – betting that the magic that lit up the port and dazzled Europe can now be invoked in Lisbon red.
Few remember that before being acclaimed by Porto, Mourinho’s first baptism as a coach took place at Benfica in 2000 in a tumultuous three -month stint that ended with the crowd shouting his name as he walked away.
Now, at age 62, the prodigal son is about to return to Lisbon, reported the Portuguese broadcaster RTP on Wednesday (17), amid the wreckage of a 3-2 collapse against Qarabag, Azerbaijan.
Ironically, Benfica has eliminated the former Mourinho employer, Europe’s Fenerbahçe, just over two weeks before the Turks fired him.
Mourinho’s achievements are well known.
The Portuguese, who was born in the coastal city of Setúbal, the half hour car from Lisbon, is widely considered one of the best coaches of its generation.
He has won league titles in four countries and is one of six coaches raising the Champions League cup with two clubs, as well as being the only coach to win the current three UEFA club competitions.
Mourinho’s brief passage after being named Benfica coach in 2000 was nothing less than dramatic, but it was also crucial because he began to build a name and legacy that kept the club fans dreaming of what could have been for over two decades.
Hired in September of that year to replace JUPP Heynckes after a disastrous start to the season, with two wins in five games under the command of German, Mourinho arrived at a club in political turmoil, with imminent presidential elections and a divided locker room.
Working alongside assistant Carlos Mozer, a former defender of Benfica and Brazil, Mourinho was able to block the external noise of his players and turned the cast in difficulty, culminating in an impressive 3-0 win over the local rival Sporting, leaving the fans ecstasy.
But the honeymoon was short. Despite a record of six wins, three draws and two losses in 11 games, Mourinho left just two days after this triumph due to disagreements with the newly elected President Manuel Vilarinho.
“It’s a very sad day for us, the day we ended our contractual relationship with Benfica,” Mourinho announced on December 5, 2000, in a press room full of fans shouting his name.
“[Antes de Mourinho] Benfica played terribly … We had a terrible team; Even I could have played, or at least was a regular alternate, “Vilarinho told reporters.
“And Mr. Mourinho, who is an excellent coach and leader, almost a sorcerer, can change these mentalities.”
“Mourinho beat Sporting 3-0 … and today is Saturday. On Monday, we have a management meeting and Mourinho says this: ‘Either renew my contract for another year or tomorrow I will no longer be coach.’
“And he left … I think he never liked me, I don’t know why, he must have thought I didn’t like him,” added Vilarinho, trying to explain how Benfica allowed Mourinho to leave.
Mourinho went to train the modest Union of Leiria for a season before joining Porto and bringing the northern club to an unprecedented success, winning consecutive League titles, a Portuguese Cup, the UEFA Cup in 2003 and Champions in 2004.
After two decades of a career of ups and downs in Chelsea, Inter Milan – where he also beat Champions – Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham, Rome and Fenerbahçe, he is coming home to end a late work that is late.
