By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
The Portuguese side Benfica appointed Jose “Special One” Mourinho as their head coach for the second time on Thursday, until the summer of 2027.
Benfica sacked Bruno Lage after his team threw away a two-goal lead to lose 3-2 to Qarabag in the Champions League.
Mourinho has been out of work since being dismissed by Fenerbahce in August.
Benfica are to hold a presidential election in October and Mourinho indicated that the unusual clause was inserted with that in mind.
“It’s a contract with great ethics behind it,” he said. “I only signed it; I wasn’t the one who drew it up – it was outlined by the club’s management and my collaborators. Of course, I only sign what pleases me, but [the contract] has a tremendous ethical concept. From the club’s side, there is a huge respect for the elections and the members. That’s something to praise; it touched me that the contract was directed towards these ethics.
“The day after the elections, I will be the coach of Benfica. The presence of this ethical side gives me a freedom that, under other conditions, wouldn’t exist. I want to work at Benfica, but I also wish for people to trust me.”
He returns to Benfica after a short stint in charge of the club 25 years ago.
Since then he has enjoyed great success at Porto, before moving to Chelsea where he won three Premier League titles across two spells.
He will now be welcomed back to Stamford Bridge when Benfica play Chelsea in the Champions League on September 30.
Mourinho first game is in the league on Saturday at struggling AVS. Benfica are sixth, five points behind the leaders, Porto, with a game in hand. They have given Mourinho his 12th head coach’s role and his first in his homeland since 2004.