Marco Silva had rivals, 3 more names in the running for Benfica | OneFootball

Marco Silva is getting closer and closer to being officially named Benfica’s new head coach. Confirmation is expected in the coming hours, as soon as José Mourinho’s departure to Real Madrid is formalized, although the Portuguese coach is already involved in planning the Eagles’ 2026/27 season.

The former Fulham manager will sign a contract valid for two seasons, with an option for a further year, becoming Rui Costa’s main choice to lead the club’s new cycle. The decision has effectively brought the search for a coach to an end, ruling out other candidates who were assessed by Benfica’s hierarchy over the last few weeks.

Among the names considered was Rúben Amorim, who had at one point been linked with the bench at the Luz. However, the Portuguese coach made it publicly known that he did not intend to return to Portuguese football at this stage of his career, leaving the way clear for Benfica to move for Marco Silva.

In addition to the Portuguese coach, Benfica looked at international alternatives in case the renewal offer made by Fulham convinced Marco Silva to stay in England. One of the names considered was Vincenzo Italiano, the former Bologna manager. The revelation was made by Giovanni Sartori, the Italian club’s technical director, who confirmed Benfica’s interest in the Italian coach before his move to Besiktas.

According to O Jogo, another coach who attracted the attention of Benfica’s board was Andoni Iraola. The manager led Bournemouth to a historic Premier League campaign and drew interest from several European clubs, eventually moving to Liverpool. With Marco Silva now lined up to take charge, Benfica are preparing to officially usher in a new era in the club’s football department.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.