José Mourinho is set to return to coaching in Portugal after two decades, with Benfica confirming Thursday that negotiations with the veteran manager are close to being finalized.

The club informed the Lisbon stock exchange that “negotiations are underway” and are expected to conclude soon. Portuguese media reported Mourinho is poised to sign a two-year contract, marking his first coaching spell in his homeland since guiding Porto to the Champions League title in 2004.

Mourinho began his managerial career at Benfica in 2000, though his initial stint lasted only three months due to a contract dispute. He will also be making a Champions League comeback after a five-year absence, having last featured in the competition with Tottenham in 2020.

The 61-year-old also lifted the Champions League with Inter Milan in 2010 and won the inaugural third-tier Conference League with Roma in 2022. However, his time in Rome was marred by internal disputes, which resurfaced during his brief and turbulent tenure at Fenerbahce. That spell ended last month after the Turkish club was eliminated from the Champions League qualifying playoffs—ironically by Benfica.

On Wednesday, Mourinho confirmed Benfica had approached him about the vacancy and expressed his eagerness to return. “When I was confronted with the possibility of coaching Benfica, I didn't think twice. I was interested,” he said.

Benfica sacked coach Bruno Lage on Wednesday following a 3-2 home defeat to Qarabag in the Champions League, where the team squandered a two-goal advantage. Club president Rui Costa cited a series of poor results, including a 1-1 league draw with 10-man Santa Clara, as reasons for the dismissal.

Benfica will play its next Portuguese league match on Saturday against AVS, before visiting Chelsea in the Champions League on September 30.