Benfica to 'appoint' Mourinho as manager

LISBON: Portuguese club Benfica are set to name Jose Mourinho as their manager following the sacking of Bruno Lage after their shock 3-2 Champions League defeat by Qarabag, Portuguese TV station RTP reported on Wednesday.
Benfica said in a statement on Wednesday they had reached an agreement to part ways with Lage following the home loss to the Azerbaijani side.
Benfica President Rui Costa said the club would quickly name Lage's successor before their league game against AVS Futebol SAD on Saturday.
'I would like to thank Bruno for everything he tried to do, everything he did for Benfica, and all the commitment he showed throughout this year representing our club,' he told a press conference.
'But, unfortunately, the time has come, and we believe it was time for a change. As for the next coach: we obviously hope that on Saturday, in Vila das Aves, we will already have the new coach on the bench.'
MOURINHO LEFT FENERBAHCE IN AUGUST
Former Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester United and Inter Milan manager Mourinho left Turkish club Fenerbahce in August, two days after his side lost in the Champions League playoffs to Benfica.
Benfica did not immediately respond to an emailed request seeking confirmation of Mourinho's appointment.
A move to Benfica would bring Mourinho's remarkable career full circle, with the 62-year-old having started out at the club before moving to Porto and guiding them to Champions League glory in 2004.
He moved on to Chelsea, famously describing himself as 'the Special One' in a press conference to announce his arrival in the Premier League.
He won league titles in 2005 and 2006 in his first spell with Chelsea, before adding a third crown in the 2014-15 season during his second stint at the London club.
He joined Inter in 2008 and won the Champions League in 2010 to complete an unprecedented treble with the Serie A side.
The Portuguese coach, who also won trophies at Real Madrid, AS Roma and Manchester United, will be tasked with returning Benfica to the summit of Portuguese football.
The Lisbon-based club have finished second in the last two Primeira Liga seasons behind city rivals Sporting. They are sixth in the standings with 10 points from four matches.
If appointed, Mourinho would cross paths with two of his former clubs in the Champions League group stage, with Benfica set to face Chelsea on September 30 and Real Madrid in January. — Reuters