José Mourinho has left Benfica to take charge of Real Madrid, bringing an early end to his second spell at the Lisbon club, Benfica announced on Tuesday.
The Portuguese side said Mourinho accepted an offer from the Spanish giants despite having a contract that was due to run until 2027. According to the club, Real Madrid paid a reported fee of 15 million euros to secure the manager’s release.
Benfica moved quickly to name a replacement, appointing Marco Silva as head coach. Silva, who left Fulham at the end of last season, has signed a deal running until 2028, with an option for an additional year.
Mourinho’s return to Benfica generated significant excitement among supporters, but the club fell short of several major objectives during his time in charge.
Across 45 matches, the former Chelsea, Inter Milan and Real Madrid manager recorded 27 wins, 10 draws and eight defeats.
Benfica were unable to secure domestic silverware and exited the Taça de Portugal before reaching the latter stages. Their European campaign also ended earlier than expected, while a third-place finish in the Primeira Liga left the club below its traditional standards.
Despite those disappointments, Mourinho’s departure marks the end of a notable chapter in a career closely linked to Benfica. The club was where he began his journey as a head coach in professional football in 2000 before becoming one of the most successful managers of the modern era.
Attention now turns to Silva, who faces the task of restoring Benfica’s title challenge and returning the club to contention both domestically and in European competition.
