Jose Mourinho’s mammoth Benfica salary emerges as figures let slip – ‘It’s a valuable contract’

Jose Mourinho is set to take on his beloved former side Chelsea in the Champions League’s league phase after his new salary at Benfica was revealed by the club’s president

Jose Mourinho’s new earnings at Benfica have been revealed, with the legendary Portuguese manager receiving his lowest salary in two decades. The ‘Special One’ was sacked by Fenerbahce last month, having finished 11 points off Super Lig champions Galatasaray, because the club wanted to play better football.

While on holiday in Barcelona, he received a call from Portuguese giants Benfica with the offer of succeeding the recently dismissed Bruno Lage. Mourinho, presented with an irresistible opportunity, agreed to take on his 12th managerial job, 25 years on from his first spell with the Lisbon outfit.

The 62-year-old has won two and drawn one of his three matches in charge thus far. And his biggest game yet will come on Tuesday night when he returns to Stamford Bridge to face Chelsea, where he enjoyed two legendary stints, in the Champions League.

Benfica president Rui Costa insists Mourinho is still one of the “greatest coaches” in the game. But the manager has seemingly agreed to take a pay cut to return to his first club, with Costa revealing his two-year deal is worth around €3million (£2.6m) net in his first season, rising to €4m (£3.5m) next season.

The former Portugal striker initially told TVI/CNN Portugal last Thursday: “I’m not going to say the total amount, I’m not authorised to say how much he earns. Did you ask Sporting and FC Porto that question? A coach of this calibre comes at a price.

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“I don’t think it’s right to say his salary on television. It’s a valuable contract. He’s not above what Roger Schmidt earned. I can give you that, but don’t ask me to say how much he earns.”

But when pushed further on the aforementioned sum Mourinho is said to be receiving, Costa replied: “It’s around that figure. It’s not a question of transparency or not; I don’t think it’s logical for the president of Benfica to disclose how much a particular person earns.”

He added: “It’s the lowest salary José Mourinho has had since leaving Portugal. His desire to come to Benfica was one of the things that made me believe even more that he is the ideal coach for Benfica. He understood the reality of Benfica and that it was an election period.”

The contract includes a break clause that will enable either party to terminate the deal 10 days after the final game of the season if they wish.

Costa added: “He knows and respects Benfica’s current situation, so much so that he accepted a clause that is rare. The club pays, and if he leaves, he pays. To terminate his contract, the amount is less than half of his annual salary.

“It was a fantastic move given the situation Benfica is in. He’s one of the most renowned coaches in the world. He wanted to work at Benfica.”

Plenty has been said about the fortune Mourinho has made from severance packages following his numerous sackings, at Chelsea, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Roma and Fenerbahce. According to Turkish journalist Yagiz Sabuncuoglu, Mourinho most recently pocketed £7.7m – taking his total earnings from sackings alone to around a staggering £89m across his career.

But his close friend and fellow manager, Jose Peseiro, believes he still has that trademark fire in his belly to win football matches. “He wants to go and beat Chelsea to show everyone ‘I am here’,” Peseiro said.

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