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The terms of Jose Mourinho’s two-year deal with Benfica have surfaced, including a clause that allows for his potential departure at the close of this season.
At 62, Mourinho found himself without a team after Fenerbahce let him go following their unsuccessful bid to reach the Champions League. He was announced as Benfica’s manager on Thursday afternoon.
Benfica made the announcement via a statement to the country’s Securities Market Commission, confirming a contract with Mourinho that extends ‘until the end of the 2026-27 sports season’.
A report from the Portuguese news outlet Record has unveiled that ‘either party can choose to end the agreement’ within the first 10 days following the current season’s conclusion.
If the collaboration doesn’t go as planned and they choose to split during this window, Benfica’s expenses to terminate Mourinho’s contract would be ‘substantially reduced’.
Jose Mourinho was unveiled as the new Benfica manager on Thursday afternoon
Mourinho, 62, has penned a two-year deal but an exit clause in his contract suggests he could leave after just one season
The compensation fee to dismiss Mourinho would be markedly lower in comparison to if they waited until after the conclusion of the season.
The clause also covers the possibility of Mourinho stepping down, in which case he would be required to compensate the club with an ‘equivalent amount’.
It is an interesting development, given that Benfica only unveiled their new boss on Thursday. During his first press conference, Mourinho immediately reflected on his most recent job and outlined his expectations for Benfica.
He said: ‘My career has been rich, I’ve coached in different countries, I made the wrong choice, but I have no regrets. But I’m aware of what we did well or poorly. I made a mistake going to Fenerbahce, but I gave everything until the last day. Coaching Benfica is returning to my level.’
He also struck a bullish tone about what Benfica can achieve under his leadership, telling reporters that ‘Promises are worth what they’re worth.’
‘At the time, at FC Porto, I promised and could have broken them,’ he continued. ‘I truly believe Benfica has everything it takes to win the championship. They’ve lost two points, and we’ll certainly lose more, hopefully not many, but we’re starting from scratch.
‘Benfica has the potential in the dressing room to be champions, but I’m not hiding that. Not a promise, but the conviction that we can and should make it happen. The context for me is coaching one of the biggest clubs in the world.’
It marks a high-profile return for Mourinho, who took charge of Benfica for 10 matches in 2000 before leaving amid boardroom changes and joining Uniao de Leiria.
He went on to win the Champions League with Porto, two Premier League titles in his first stint at Chelsea and further trophies with Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Roma before his most recent spell at Fenerbahce.
Mourinho’s return to Benfica has added intrigue given the Portuguese side face Chelsea in the Champions League at Stamford Bridge later this month.
His appointment comes at a time when Benfica are looking to recover from a shock Champions League defeat by Qarabag and stabilise under new leadership.
On Mourinho’s appointment, Rui Costa, the club president, said: ‘Mourinho needs no introduction. He returns to a club he knows well; he’s one of the most highly regarded coaches in the world.
‘We wanted a coach with a winning record, and it would be difficult to find a more extensive record than Jose Mourinho’s.
‘May he be as happy here as he has been in all the others. It’s an honor, a privilege, and a source of pride to have him as Benfica’s coach.’
Benfica currently sit sixth in the Portuguese top flight, five points off leaders Porto, and host Vila das Aves this weekend with Mourinho set to take charge.
