LISBON: Portuguese club Benfica are set to name Jose Mourinho as their manager following the sacking of Bruno Lage in the aftermath of their 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 their shock loss to the Azerbaijani side.
Former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan manager Mourinho left Turkish club Fenerbahce in August, two days after his side crashed out of 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 begun his managerial career at the club before moving to rivals FC Porto and guiding them to Champions League glory in 2004.
From Porto he moved to Chelsea, famously describing himself as “the Special One” in a press conference to announce his arrival in the Premier League.
He won the Premier 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 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 seasons of the Primeira Liga behind city rivals Sporting CP.
They are sixth with 10 points from four matches and next travel to face AVS Futebol SAD in the league on Saturday.
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.
Benfica to hire Mourinho as new manager, Portuguese TV station RTP reports
https://arab.news/buhkv
Benfica to hire Mourinho as new manager, Portuguese TV station RTP reports
- A move to Portuguese club Benfica would bring Jose Mourinho’s remarkable career full circle
- He began his managerial career at the club before moving to FC Porto and guiding them to Champions League glory in 2004
Saudi Arabia lose to Morocco in final group match of Arab Cup
- Green Falcons had already qualified for quarterfinals
- Oman eliminated despite victory over Comoros
DOHA: Morocco booked their place in the Arab Cup knockout stages after defeating Saudi Arabia on Monday, but Oman’s victory over Comoros in their final group game was not enough to keep their campaign alive.
Needing only a draw to progress, Morocco took all three points against the Green Falcons, who missed a crucial second-half penalty.
The Saudis, already through to the knockouts, made several changes and began brightly, coming close to opening the scoring inside six minutes when Saleh Abu Al-Shamat’s looping header clipped the crossbar.
Despite the early pressure, Morocco kept their composure and took the lead when Tarik Tissoudali teed up Karim El-Berkaoui to put the Atlas Lions in front.
Saudi Arabia pushed for an equalizer and were handed a golden opportunity midway through the second half when Amin Zahzouh fouled substitute Abdullah Al-Hamdan inside the penalty area.
But the striker’s attempt at a “Panenka” sailed over the crossbar.
In the group’s other match, Oman defeated Comoros but were eliminated after failing to make up the required goal difference.
Knowing victory alone would not be enough, Oman began aggressively, creating a string of first-half chances through Issam Al-Sabhi, Zahir Al-Aghbari and Jameel Al-Yahmadi, only to be denied by profligacy and Comoros goalkeeper Ali Ahamada.
The breakthrough arrived in calamitous fashion just before the interval as Ahamada was dispossessed by Al-Sabhi inside the 6-yard box, allowing the forward to shoot into an empty net.
Al-Sabhi then doubled Oman’s lead with a header just before the break.
Comoros rallied after the break through a fine individual effort from Nassuir Hamidou to reduce the deficit, but further chances went begging and Oman held on for victory.
Despite finishing with four points, Oman bowed out of the competition, while Comoros concluded their debut Arab Cup campaign with three straight defeats.
