Jose Mourinho Returns to Chelsea Amid 'Advanced Talks' with Champions League club

Jose Mourinho is set for a sensational return to management after holding 'advanced talks', it has been revealed.

Last month Mourinho was sacked by Fenerbahce, his last employers, after the Turkish giants were eliminated from the Champions League at the qualification stage.

Fenerbahce lost 1-0 to Portuguese Benfica on aggregate and while the Istanbul outfit will not compete in this season's Champions League, Mourinho is set to manage in Europe's premier competition once again in a shock turn of events.

Benfica sacked manager Bruno Lage after a poor start to the new season, with a shock home Champions League defeat to Azerbaijani outfit Qarabag on Tuesday night the final straw.

The Lisbon giants were 2-0 up but threw the game away and Lage was relieved of his duties following the 3-2 defeat.

And while there had been plenty of speculation about Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim being in the frame, Fabrizio Romano is reporting that Mourinho is the leading contender.

The Italian claims talks are progressing, with Mourinho interested in a swift return to the dugout and an agreement potentially being struck imminently.

Benfica was Mourinho's first ever managerial job back in September 2000, taking charge of 11 games.

Jose Mourinho's last Fenerbahce game was at Benfica, who could be his next employers. Image: Getty

His first game in his mooted second spell could be against AVS on Saturday but he could also be back in familiar surroundings at the end of the month as Benfica travel to play his former club Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League on 30 September.

If a deal gets sealed, it will be Mourinho's 12th coaching gig - including two stints at Chelsea and Benfica.

Lage's sacking was announced by Benfica president Rui Costa in an early hours post-match press conference, where he was asked if the club would pursue Mourinho.

Replying, he said: "The profile of the next coach will have to be a ‘winning coach’."

Portuguese TV channel CMTV went as far as saying that everything is in place for Mourinho to return to the Estadio da Luz.

Lage was in his second spell with Benfica, having won the league back in 2018/19 in his first run.

Bruno Lage is set to be replaced by Jose Mourinho. Image: Getty

Re-appointed in September 2024, he lifted the Taca da Liga with victory over Sporting in the final last season but now finds himself out of work once again.