Jose Mourinho linked with return to former club

Jose Mourinho has been linked with a return to Portugal where Benfica are on the lookout for a new manager after the dismissal of Rui Vitoria.

Vitoria won two Primeira Liga titles with Benfica but left the club earlier this week with the Encarnados currently seven points adrift of league leaders Porto. Mourinho guided Porto to two Primeira Liga titles, a UEFA Cup and the club's one and only Champions League title before leaving the club for Chelsea in 2004. However, before his magnificent run with Porto, he briefly managed Benfica in 2000 where he assisted Jupp Heynckes before eventually succeeding the German at the club. Mourinho was in charge for 11 games but quickly left the club after former president Manuel Vilarinho refused to extend his contract. Portuguese outlet Record are reporting that Benfica are interested in Mourinho and added that the former Manchester United manager returned to Portugal following his departure from the Premier League club last month. Real Madrid and Inter Milan are also said to be interested in a reunion with the Special One with the former's president Florentino Perez reportedly viewing Mourinho as the ideal candidate to rebuild the Galacticos. A report in El Pais newspaper last month reads:

"Florentino Pérez is convinced that he needs to demolish part of the old team to create a new one. In the plans outlined by the directive, nobody meets better requirements than Mourinho to lead this traumatic reform."