Is Jose Mourinho's Benfica Adventure Over Before It Even Started?
Jose Mourinho experienced a historic fiasco by being eliminated from two cups just one week after signing with Benfica, one of the legendary clubs of Portuguese football. The technical director nicknamed Special One is experiencing a similar nightmare at his new team after leaving Fenerbahçe. The double elimination scandal in the Portuguese Cup and European competitions shocked the world football agenda.
This process, which will go down in history as the worst start of Mourinho's career, has increased question marks about the technical director's future. While Benfica fans raised the flag of rebellion on social media with the #MourinhoOut hashtag, the club management remains silent. According to news received in the last 24 hours, Mourinho's seat has already started to wobble.
According to reports in the Portuguese press, Mourinho's cost to Benfica reached 20 million Euros. This figure includes an annual salary of 12 million Euros and the fees of the technical team. Being eliminated from two cups brought approximately 15 million Euros loss to the club, while the total loss reached 35 million Euros.
Second Major Disappointment After Fenerbahçe
Jose Mourinho faces similar problems at Benfica following his failure at Fenerbahçe. The heavy defeats against Galatasaray in Turkey and the disasters experienced in Europe continue in Portugal. Mourinho, who left Fenerbahçe with a 42% win rate, has not yet been acquainted with victory at Benfica.
According to statistics, Mourinho has managed a total of 78 matches at his last two clubs and achieved only 35 victories. This rate of 44.8% is the lowest level of his career. The losses in his first two matches at Benfica seem likely to lower this rate even further.
While Fenerbahçe fans warn Benfica fans on social media with "We told you so" comments, Portuguese journalists write that Mourinho cannot keep up with modern football. According to betting odds announced by Raxcasino, the possibility of Mourinho staying in office until the end of the season has dropped to 35%.
Mourinho's Collapse in Numbers
When Jose Mourinho's recent performance is examined with figures, a dramatic decline is striking. The technical director, who made history with 25 trophies won in his career, has been able to win only 1 trophy in the last 5 years.
| Club |
Period |
Number of Matches |
Victories |
Success Rate |
| Real Madrid |
2010-2013 |
178 |
128 |
71.9% |
| Chelsea (2nd period) |
2013-2015 |
136 |
80 |
58.8% |
| Manchester United |
2016-2018 |
144 |
84 |
58.3% |
| Roma |
2021-2024 |
138 |
68 |
49.2% |
| Fenerbahçe |
2024 |
55 |
23 |
41.8% |
| Benfica |
2024- |
2 |
0 |
0% |
As can be seen, Mourinho's success graph is in a continuous decline trend. His first week performance at Benfica is interpreted as a strong signal that this trend will continue.
Fans in Rebellion: Social Media Catches Fire
Benfica fans literally exploded on social media after the double elimination scandal. The #MourinhoOut hashtag opened on Twitter quickly became trending topic, while thousands of negative comments were made under Mourinho's photos on Instagram. Portuguese "Vai embora" (Get out of here) comments flooded in.
Fenerbahçe fans are closely following what is happening. Yellow-navy blue fans warn Benfica fans with comments like "The same movie is being shot in Lisbon too". Turkish sports commentators state that Mourinho has an ego problem and cannot communicate with players.
According to news from the Portuguese press, the Benfica management decided to hold an emergency meeting. Club president Rui Costa announced that he would give Mourinho 3 more matches. However, Raxcasino betting experts give odds of 2.10 that Mourinho will be dismissed before December.
Mourinho's Defense and Excuses
Jose Mourinho resorted to classic excuses in his press conference following the failures. Mourinho, who made statements like "Players don't understand me", "The quality of the team is insufficient" and "Referee mistakes", tried to shift responsibility away from himself. However, these statements angered the fans even more.
It was remembered that Mourinho made similar statements during his Fenerbahçe period. After the 3-1 defeat in the Galatasaray derby, he had said "We played against 14 people on the field against 11 people". His repetition of the same rhetoric at Benfica shows that the technical director avoids self-criticism.
Portuguese former footballer and commentator Luis Figo said in his statement to local television, "Mourinho is no longer the old Mourinho. Football has evolved but he still lives in 2010". This statement caused great repercussions in the country.
What Will Happen in the Future? Scenarios and Predictions
Mourinho's future at Benfica remains uncertain. According to information from within the club, the board of directors is split in two. One group argues that Mourinho should be given time, while the other group wants him to be dismissed immediately.
- Scenario 1: Mourinho wins the next 3 matches and overcomes the crisis (Probability: 20%)
- Scenario 2: Bad results continue and he is dismissed in December (Probability: 50%)
- Scenario 3: Mutual agreement separation takes place (Probability: 25%)
- Scenario 4: Mourinho resigns (Probability: 5%)
The financial dimension is also an important factor. The cost of terminating Mourinho's contract could reach 30 million Euros. This figure is a big burden for Benfica, which is experiencing financial difficulties. The odds given for Mourinho to stay in office until the end of the year on Raxcasino betting site are at 3.75 level.
Portuguese football authorities think that Mourinho is harming the country's football. His overlooking of young players and his defense-based football understanding are criticized. The benching of Benfica's young star João Neves was the last straw.
FAQ - Frequently Asked Questions
How much salary does Mourinho receive at Benfica?
Jose Mourinho's annual salary at Benfica is 12 million Euros. This figure is the highest technical director salary in the Portuguese league. Together with bonuses, this figure can rise to 15 million Euros.
Why did he choose Benfica after Fenerbahçe?
Mourinho's desire to return to his homeland Portugal was influential in his choice of Benfica. In addition, Benfica's Champions League target and high salary offer were also determining factors. However, what happened in the first week shows that this choice was wrong.
If Mourinho is dismissed, who could replace him?
Among the names that stand out in the Portuguese press are Sergio Conceição, Paulo Fonseca and Ruben Amorim. Especially Amorim's success at Sporting makes him the favorite. Raxcasino gives odds of 2.25 for Amorim's possibility of coming.
Is Mourinho's career coming to an end?
Experts believe that Mourinho's days as a technical director at elite level are over. However, alternatives such as national team or Asian leagues are still available. The Portugal national team option is also on the table.
Do the fans want Mourinho?
According to polls, 72% of Benfica fans want Mourinho to be dismissed. Only 15% think he should be given more time. The remaining 13% are undecided.
