Mourinho’s future back in focus after Benfica drama in Lisbon

January 29, 2026 Oliver Obel

Jose Mourinho has spent much of his career insisting that speculation about his next job rarely interests him. On Wednesday night in Lisbon, however, events on the pitch ensured those questions resurfaced once again.

Benfica’s extraordinary Champions League victory over Real Madrid not only secured a place in the knockout stages, but also served as a reminder of Mourinho’s enduring relevance at the top of European football and why some of the game’s most powerful decision-makers continue to watch him closely.

A chaotic finish, and a calculated gamble

The decisive moment came deep into stoppage time. With Benfica leading 3–2 but still facing elimination, Mourinho made a bold call by allowing goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin to join the attack for a late free-kick.

The move paid off in unforgettable fashion. Trubin rose highest in the penalty area and headed home in the 98th minute, prompting scenes of disbelief inside the Estadio da Luz as Benfica completed their qualification.

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“Our goalkeeper Trubin, who is 2m tall, went into the box and scored a fantastic goal, a historic goal,” Mourinho said afterward. “It felt like the stadium was going to collapse. Incredible.”

Rather than dwelling on tactics, the moment quickly took on wider significance reinforcing Mourinho’s reputation for dramatic decision-making on Europe’s biggest stages.

Madrid interest never far away

Speculation about Mourinho’s future had been circulating even before kick-off. Alfredo Relano of Spanish radio network COPE reported that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez views Mourinho as his preferred option should the club make a managerial change.

According to COPE, Perez’s long-term ambition would be to bring Mourinho back for a second spell at the Bernabéu. Mourinho previously coached Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning La Liga and the Copa del Rey during that period.

Mourinho has never hidden his affection for the club. Speaking on beIN Sports in 2019, he said:
“To a club that I have been before? If I think the right club, the right structure, the right ambitions, I will have no problem at all. I think it’s really a reason of pride when a club where you worked before wanting you back.”

Publicly, Mourinho has been keen to downplay the noise. Ahead of Wednesday’s match, he dismissed the rumours bluntly.
“Don’t count on me for soap operas,” he said. “There are many good soap operas, but they take too long.”

Multiple possibilities emerging

The discussion intensified again after Benfica’s qualification was confirmed. Spanish newspaper AS reported that Mourinho could soon find himself weighing more than one major opportunity.

According to the paper, there is an expectation in Portugal that he may remain at Benfica for a second season. However, AS added that two high-profile paths could open, depending on results elsewhere.

“In Portugal, they hope he’ll spend a second year at Benfica, but it’s clear to everyone that Mourinho will very likely have two giant opportunities open up,” the report stated. “One is with Roberto Martínez’s Portugal if they don’t win the World Cup. The other could be Real Madrid.”

For now, Mourinho remains focused on the immediate task of navigating Benfica through the latter stages of Europe’s elite competition. But nights like Wednesday defined by risk, spectacle, and results explain why conversations about his future rarely stay quiet for long.

Sources: COPE, AS, beIN Sports