Jose Mourinho in advanced talks to take reins at Benfica as Bruno Lage is immediately sacked after humiliating Champions League defeat to Qarabag

According to Fabrizio Romano, Mourinho is open to signing with Benfica as he eyes an immediate return to management following his recent exit from Fenerbahce. The Portuguese club have already approached the former Chelsea and Real Madrid boss and are now in advanced talks to appoint him as their new head coach. 

Lage was immediately dismissed after seeing his Benfica team become the first club to lose against an Azerbaijan team in the Champions League. Qarabag found themselves two goals down inside 20 minutes, but they staged an epic comeback. It started with Leandro Andrade's 30th-minute goal, which brought the visitors back into the match. Camilo Duran then scored the equaliser shortly after the game resumed in the second half, before Oleksiy Kashchuk netted the winning goal. Benfica were quick to announce Lage's departure after the loss as the manager's second stint at the club lasted just over a year.

Benfica president Rui Costa announced Lage's departure in a press conference, where he was directly asked if the club would go after Mourinho. While Costa did not give a direct answer, he did say: "The profile of the next coach will have to be a ‘winning coach’."

The former Manchester United boss is expected to formally join the club in the next couple of days as Benfica ideally want their new manager to be in the dugout for their upcoming league clash against AVS. Mourinho began his head coaching career at Benfica back in 2000, but only oversaw 11 games before resigning to join Uniao de Leiria.