Mourinho poised for Benfica return after Lage sacking / Photo: Ozan KOSE - AFP/File
-
Modi pitches India as global chipmaking hub
-
King Charles to call on tech giants for 'reassurances' over AI
-
Ukraine plans record defence spending in 2027
-
Lebanon security talks in Paris focus on replacing UN mission
-
Klopp calls up 44 players in huge first Germany squad
-
Most stocks rise as Fed hikes and oil prices drop
-
STARPRIME Responds to Diverging Gold Market Demand with AM/PM Fixing and XAU24/7
-
'Vande Mataram': Why is India's freedom song in spotlight?
-
Ukrainian fashion designer debuts art between air raids
-
Counterculture pop artist Peter Max dies at 88: US media
-
Gambian businesses struggle under prolonged blackouts
-
Asian Games chief defends 'functional' rooms after backlash
-
Fiji declares national HIV crisis
-
Leader's sister says only 'idiots' think N. Korea to give up nukes
-
Australia to cut migration to fix housing crisis: minister
-
World's water cycle becoming more unpredictable, UN warns
-
NASA scan discovers new, 'once in a century' Moon crater
-
Where the US-China tariff row stands ahead of White House summit
-
Most stocks rise as Fed hikes and indicates drive to curb inflation
-
Croc-habitat gets green light for 2032 Olympic rowing
-
US again denies Palestinian leader Abbas visa to attend UN assembly
-
Indonesia cash-for-photos scheme turns animal hunters into protectors
-
Lula says he will go to UN to tell Trump to 'stay out' of Brazil's elections
-
'Left-field' life: Briton becomes Thailand's top foreign monk
-
Messi heads Inter Miami to Campeones Cup triumph
-
India's transgender amendment leaves many in limbo
-
AI looms large ahead of Xi, Trump summit
-
Trump to host Xi amid pomp, low expectations
-
Smith still haunted by 'Sandpapergate' as he prepares for South Africa Tests
-
Harry set for UK public outings with security, royal status hazy
-
UK-Sudanese author pens book to give children 'African history of Africa'
-
NFL Chiefs' Kelce among investors bilked in Ponzi scheme
-
Boehly and Walter sell Chelsea stake to Clearlake Capital
-
Breez AI Rebrands as EVERYAISLE(TM) and Expands Its AI Personalization Platform
-
Trybe Spirits Announces Sponsorship of The San Diego Spirits Festival
-
Eagle Plains Reports Additional Results from Drilling at the Don Lake Uranium Project, Saskatchewan
-
InterContinental Hotels Group PLC Announces Transaction in Own Shares - September 17
-
Guardian Metal Resources PLC Announces Audited Financial Results for the Year Ended 30 June 2026
-
Trump threatens EU over 'hostile' Canada association plan
-
US House backs data center power cost bill amid midterm backlash
-
Argentine judge orders suspension of Falklands oil project
-
US Congress passes sweeping Russia sanctions bill
-
Carrick takes the blame as troubled Man Utd suffer League Cup misery
-
Barca hit Racing for seven as Atletico crush Osasuna
-
Barcelona hit seven in Racing Santander rout
-
US Fed raises rates to tackle 'too high' inflation, irking Trump
-
Amorim's Milan beaten by Benfica, Sunderland make dream European return
-
Man Utd misery mounts after League Cup collapse against Brighton
-
US stocks fall, dollar gains after Fed lifts interest rates
-
Turkey releases 106 protesters, jails more LGBTQ activists
Mourinho poised for Benfica return after Lage sacking
Jose Mourinho said he "didn't hesitate" to express his interest in returning for a second spell as Benfica coach after arriving in Lisbon on Wednesday following the sacking of Bruno Lage.
Benfica fired Lage following Tuesday's shock 3-2 Champions League home defeat by Azeri side Qarabag.
Mourinho, who lost his previous job with Fenerbahce last month, said Benfica reached out to him to gauge his interest in a return to the club with whom he started his head coaching career in 2000.
"Benfica officially asked me if I was interested... What coach says no to Benfica? Not me," Mourinho told reporters after landing in the Portuguese capital.
"When I was presented with the opportunity to coach Benfica, I didn't hesitate to say that I'm interested, that I'd like to."
Two-time European champions Benfica led 2-0 early on at home to Qarabag before collapsing in a disastrous start to their league-phase campaign.
Former Portugal midfielder Rui Costa, the club's president, announced ex-Wolves manager Lage's sacking after the final whistle.
Benfica beat Fenerbahce in the final round of Champions League qualifying, two days before Mourinho was sacked by the Istanbul giants.
"Now all I can do is wish good luck to whoever comes next," Lage said when he arrived at Benfica's training ground on Wednesday.
"I don't know if Mr Mourinho will be confirmed or not. The important thing is that he's a man who knows Benfica very well.
"Curiously he's faced this team three times and knows the squad well. He had said that I was a happy man because of all the options I had. He will certainly be an even happier man than me."
Mourinho is yet to be officially announced as Lage's successor.
Lage was already under pressure after his team dropped their first league points of the season away to Santa Clara at the weekend.
Costa said that Benfica expected to have their new coach in charge in time for Saturday's league encounter with AVS.
Mourinho's previous spell at Benfica lasted just 11 matches at the back end of 2000, but then, after impressing at Uniao de Leiria, he joined Porto and guided them to back-to-back league titles and the Champions League crown in 2004.
That set him on the path to a hugely successful career coaching Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid before his fortunes started to nose-dive after joining Manchester United in 2016.
Lage won the Portuguese Primeira Liga in 2019 in his first of two spells with Benfica, while last season he guided them to Portuguese Cup success.
P.Mathewson--AMWN
