AVES, Portugal: Jose Mourinho began his second spell in charge of Benfica with a comfortable 3-0 win at AVS on Saturday.
Heorhiy Sudakov opened the scoring at the end of the first half for the visitors, with Vangelis Pavlidis netting the second from the penalty spot before the hour mark.
Franjo Ivanovic rounded off the rout for Benfica, who moved second in the table, five points behind leaders Porto having played one fewer match.
The veteran Portuguese coach, back at the helm of the Eagles 25 years on, celebrated the third goal furiously, pumping his first and kicking a cone.
The 62-year-old, who also coached Porto in the Portuguese top flight before leaving in 2004 to join Chelsea, will face both those teams within the next 15 days.
Mourinho, who won trophies with Real Madrid, Manchester United, Inter Milan as well as coaching various other sides, was sacked by Fenerbahce in August.
Benfica ousted coach Bruno Lage this week after a surprise defeat in the Champions League by Azerbaijani minnows Qarabag and appointed Mourinho as his replacement on Thursday.
His first spell at the club lasted just 11 games but Mourinho said on his presentation that he was more “mature” and “altruistic” now.
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Mourinho celebrates Benfica return with convincing win
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Mourinho celebrates Benfica return with convincing win
- Mourinho, who won trophies with Real Madrid, Manchester United, Inter Milan as well as coaching various other sides
Brendan Rodgers joins Saudi club Al Qadsiah
- Former Celtic and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has joined Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah as head coach, seven weeks after resigning his job at the struggling Scottish outfit
RIYADH: Former Celtic and Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers has joined Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah as head coach, seven weeks after resigning his job at the struggling Scottish outfit.
Rodgers, 52, left Celtic in acrimonious circumstances in late October after criticizing the Hoops board and hitting out at their transfer market signings, leading the club’s principal shareholder Dermot Desmond to describe him as “divisive, misleading and self-serving.”
Al Qadsiah, owned by Saudi state-owned oil company Aramco, are currently fifth in the Saudi league and sacked head coach Michel Gonzalez on Sunday.
Northern Irishman Rodgers was recruited by the former CEO of Celtic’s arch-rivals Rangers, James Bisgrove, who now holds the same role at Al Qadsiah.
Bisgrove described Rodgers’ arrival as a “landmark moment for the club.”
Rodgers will be in place for the January transfer window when the club is expected to seek to strengthen their squad.
Italy international Mateo Retegui and former Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez are currently the biggest names in their ranks.
Rodgers led Liverpool to a runner-up finish in the Premier League in the 2013-2014 season and won the FA Cup with Leicester in 2021.
In two spells at Celtic he won the league four times, the Scottish Cup on three occasions and the League Cup four times.
Former manager Martin O’Neill steadied the ship at Celtic on an interim basis following the departure of Rodgers, but new French coach Wilfried Nancy has lost his first three matches.
Rodgers, 52, left Celtic in acrimonious circumstances in late October after criticizing the Hoops board and hitting out at their transfer market signings, leading the club’s principal shareholder Dermot Desmond to describe him as “divisive, misleading and self-serving.”
Al Qadsiah, owned by Saudi state-owned oil company Aramco, are currently fifth in the Saudi league and sacked head coach Michel Gonzalez on Sunday.
Northern Irishman Rodgers was recruited by the former CEO of Celtic’s arch-rivals Rangers, James Bisgrove, who now holds the same role at Al Qadsiah.
Bisgrove described Rodgers’ arrival as a “landmark moment for the club.”
Rodgers will be in place for the January transfer window when the club is expected to seek to strengthen their squad.
Italy international Mateo Retegui and former Real Madrid defender Nacho Fernandez are currently the biggest names in their ranks.
Rodgers led Liverpool to a runner-up finish in the Premier League in the 2013-2014 season and won the FA Cup with Leicester in 2021.
In two spells at Celtic he won the league four times, the Scottish Cup on three occasions and the League Cup four times.
Former manager Martin O’Neill steadied the ship at Celtic on an interim basis following the departure of Rodgers, but new French coach Wilfried Nancy has lost his first three matches.
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