Benfica eye Premier League boss as potential Jose Mourinho replacement | OneFootball

Benfica are preparing for life without Jose Mourinho for next season, as he is linked with a sensational return to Real Madrid. 

According to a report from Record, Benfica have placed Premier League boss Marco Silva on their shortlist of potential replacements for Mourinho. 

Silva, who has managed Hull City, Watford and Everton, took charge at Fulham in 2021. 

The Portuguese boss has established the Cottagers as a competitive Premier League side, and they are currently in the race for European qualification. 

But the 48-year-old’s current contract with Fulham will expire in the summer, and there is no strong indication he will prolong his stay in London. 

Benfica appointed Mourinho as their manager in September on a deal until the summer of 2027. 

His contract contains a clause that would allow him to join Madrid. 

Los Blancos will likely part company with Alvaro Arbeloa at the end of the season. 

The team has already crashed out of the Champions League, while their hopes of winning the La Liga title are also slim. 

When Madrid hired Xabi Alonso as head coach last summer, general manager Jose Angel Sanchez led the process. 

But the club’s president Florentino Perez will control the next appointment, and he is reportedly the main supporter of bringing back Mourinho.

The 63-year-old managed Madrid between 2010 and 2013. He led them to three trophies – the La Liga title, the Copa del Rey and the Supercopa de Espana. 

Internal tensions also marked his tenure as he fell out with several senior players.