Daijiworld Media Network - Lisbon
Lisbon, Jun 10: Portuguese giants Benfica have confirmed the appointment of Marco Silva as their new head coach following the departure of Jose Mourinho, who is set to begin a second spell at Real Madrid.
Silva, 48, arrives after concluding a successful five-year tenure with Fulham, where his contract recently came to an end. Benfica announced that the former Premier League manager has signed a two-year deal, with an option to extend his stay until the 2028-29 season.
In a separate statement, Benfica confirmed Mourinho’s exit, revealing that Real Madrid will pay €15 million (£13 million) in compensation to secure the services of the veteran coach. The Portuguese manager has reportedly agreed to the move, bringing an end to his brief but impactful spell at the Lisbon club.
Mourinho took charge of Benfica in September and guided the team to a third-place finish in the Primeira Liga while overseeing an unbeaten league campaign. His return to Madrid follows the recent presidential election victory of Florentino Perez, who had pledged during his campaign to bring the experienced coach back to the Santiago Bernabéu.
The 63-year-old previously managed Real Madrid between 2010 and 2013, winning a La Liga title, a Copa del Rey and a Spanish Super Cup. His first stint at the club came during an era dominated by Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona, making his achievements particularly significant.
Meanwhile, Real Madrid have also announced the departure of Alvaro Arbeloa after reaching a mutual agreement to end his tenure with the first team. The club expressed gratitude for Arbeloa’s commitment and service, describing him as a model representative of Real Madrid’s values throughout his playing and coaching career.
Arbeloa had stepped into the managerial role in January following Xabi Alonso’s departure but was unable to reverse the club’s fortunes, with Madrid finishing a second consecutive season without securing a major trophy.
With Silva beginning a new chapter at Benfica and Mourinho returning to one of Europe’s biggest clubs, both teams are set for significant transitions ahead of the upcoming campaign.