Super Eagles Next? Mourinho Discloses National Team He Wants To Manage After Benfica Job
- Jose Mourinho began his second spell as Benfica manager with a 3-0 win, two decades after his first stint
- The ex-Chelsea and Real Madrid coach has disclosed that he still intends to coach a national team in his career
- Nigeria’s hopes of landing a world-class coach like Mourinho may fade as he commits to Benfica and eyes the Portugal job
Jose Mourinho’s managerial career has come full circle with his return to Benfica as head coach.
The 62-year-old, known worldwide as the “Special One,” signed a two-year deal with the Portuguese giants, marking a dramatic homecoming more than two decades after he first managed the club in 2000.
Source: Getty Images
Mourinho’s first spell with Benfica lasted only ten matches due to a clash with the club president, but this time he looks set to leave a much bigger mark.
The experienced manager wasted no time in showing his intent, guiding Benfica to a dominant 3-0 victory over AVS in his first match back.
His appointment came just days after the dismissal of Bruno Lage, who was sacked following a surprise Champions League defeat to Qarabag.
Benfica fans are buzzing with excitement as Mourinho looks to deliver domestic glory and European respectability once again.
Mourinho eyes Portugal job
Despite the fanfare around his Benfica return, Mourinho has admitted that his original plan was to coach the Portuguese national team.
According to Sky Sports, the former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss revealed that he had been approached in the past to take the Portugal job but turned it down, waiting for what he believed would be the right moment.
Mourinho stressed that coaching Portugal is still on his bucket list as a manager. However, he described his decision to take the Benfica job as a natural step.
Deciding to coach Benfica places him in charge of one of the country’s biggest clubs while still leaving the door open for a national team role in the future.
What about Nigeria’s Super Eagles?
Mourinho’s latest revelation may come as a blow to fans of Nigeria’s Super Eagles, who have been linked with high-profile foreign coaches in recent years.
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The three-time African champions are facing a crisis, struggling in their 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers despite hiring three different coaches to prosecute the qualifiers.
Jose Peseiro started the campaign but was dismissed after two winless games, before Finidi George briefly took over but also failed to steady the ship before being let go.
Malian coach Eric Chelle is the latest to take charge, securing two wins and two draws from four matches, but Nigeria remain six points behind group leaders South Africa with just two games left, as seen on FIFA.com.
Unless a miracle happens, Nigeria are on the verge of missing another World Cup.
A coach of Mourinho’s pedigree could have been a game-changer, but with his focus now on Benfica, it seems unlikely that Nigerian fans will see the “Special One” on the Super Eagles’ bench anytime soon.
Mourinho set for Stamford Bridge return
In another development, Legit.ng reported that former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho has accepted to become the new manager at Benfica, which would see him visit Stamford Bridge soon.
Benfica have a Champions League date with Chelsea on September 30, which could mark Mourinho’s first match as an opposition manager at Stamford Bridge since a 0-0 draw as Spurs boss in November 2020.
Source: Legit.ng
