Official: José Mourinho out, Marco Silva in at Benfica | OneFootball

Marco Silva returns to Portugal after establishing a fine reputation in England. (Photo: Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)

Marco Silva has been officially confirmed as Benfica’s new coach.

It comes as no surprise that the 48-year-old replaces José Mourinho at the Estádio da Luz, with the switch widely reported for weeks but dependent on the results of the presidential elections at Real Madrid, which took place on Sunday.

Mourinho will return to Madrid for his second spell at the club following the re-election of Florentino Pérez at the Spanish giants, with the Merengues paying Benfica €15 million to buy out the Special One’s contract.

Benfica informed the Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM) – a legal obligation regarding major decisions at the club – of Mourinho’s departure and Silva’s appointment in two brief communications last night.

“Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol, SAD has informed the CMVM that it has reached agreement with the coach Marco Alexandre Saraiva da Silva (Marco Silva) to sign an employment contract in effect until the end of the 2027/2028 season, extendable until 2028/2029,” reads a message carried on the club’s official website.

Born in Lisbon, Silva returns to Portugal 11 years after having left. He built his reputation at Estoril where he did an outstanding job in his first coaching position, guiding the modest outfit to promotion then into Europe, achieving the best results at the club since the 1940s.

He was snapped up by Sporting where he won the Portuguese Cup but left after just one season owing to a fraught relationship with firebrand president Bruno de Carvalho.

Silva then enjoyed a highly successful year at Olympiacos, leading them to the Greek title, setting a club record of 11 straight wins from the start of the season and overseeing a notable 3-2 victory over Arsenal in the Champions League.

He left Athens after just one season, and following a brief pause in his career he was appointed Hull City coach in January 2017. It was the beginning of nearly ten years in England, most of the time in the Premier League as he went on to coach Watford, Everton and Fulham.

Silva leaves England with a reputation as a highly competent manager. The fact jobs at the biggest EPL clubs never came his way likely influenced his decision to switch from the world’s most high-profile league back to his homeland.