Benfica chief reveals Jose Mourinho could LEAVE club in just months due to clause

Jose Mourinho was unveiled as Benfica's new head coach on Thursday but club president, Rui Costa, confirmed that a break clause included in the former Chelsea and Manchester United manager's contract can be triggered as early as next summer.

Mourinho, 62, has made a swift return to management after being sacked by Fenerbahce last month, returning to his native Portugal to take charge of Benfica for a second time. The former Champions League winner was unveiled by the Portuguese giants on Thursday after officially putting pen to paper on a two-year deal with the club he started his managerial career with back in 2000.

Costa was with Mourinho at Thursday's presentation but his time at the club could be up next month amid the upcoming presidential elections. And he confirmed that a clause in Mourinho's contract means that he too could be gone sooner rather than later if the appointment doesn't work out.

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Costa was asked if Mourinho was an 'electoral asset' following his appointment and replied: "I'm here as president of Benfica, I'm choosing a coach for Benfica. It confuses me that these terms are used. Our obligation is the future of the club, and not thinking about elections would mean leaving the club without a coach until the elections.

"Mourinho is Benfica's coach because we believe he has all the credentials to lead a club like ours. We felt we had to change the coaching staff, and he needed a coach capable of managing a club of this size."

He then went on to reveal that Benfica and Mourinho have the option to part ways at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, adding: "There's a clause at the end of the season that leaves the club the option of continuing with the coach or not.

"We're hiring a coach for Benfica who's not indifferent at the global level; he's one of the most highly regarded names in the world. We're securing Benfica's future with an excellent coach."

Mourinho shot down suggestions that he is close to retirement at the press conference, insisting he is "hungrier than I was 25 years ago". He also vowed to lead by example in his role as the club's leader and expressed his pride at taking charge of a club which means so much to him.

"I'm now the coach of one of the greatest clubs in the world," he said. "None of the other giant clubs that I coached in the world made me feel so honoured and motivated as I am now as the coach of Benfica."

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