Football is full of returns, but not all of them are welcomed. Some bring tears of joy, while others reopen old wounds. And when the name is Jose Mourinho, there is never any middle ground. You either love him or you hate him. You either call him “The Special One” or “Judas.” For Chelsea fans, the feelings have long been complicated, and now the story is taking another dramatic turn as Mourinho prepares to walk back into Stamford Bridge with his new team Benfica in the Champions League.
The timing, the history, the emotions—all of it makes this one of the most anticipated fixtures of the season. Not just because it’s a big European clash, but because it is Mourinho. Because it is Stamford Bridge. Because this is a reunion no one truly asked for, yet one that football destiny has delivered once again.
Only a few weeks ago, Mourinho was managing Fenerbahçe in Turkey. His job looked like a fresh start after many ups and downs in his career. But football can be cruel. Failure to secure Champions League qualification proved costly, and the club decided to sack him. Just like that, Mourinho was once again on the market, a free agent, a wandering manager looking for a new stage.
And Benfica came calling. For Mourinho, it was both ironic and poetic. Benfica was where his story as a head coach truly began back in 2000, albeit very briefly. He only lasted a few months, but it planted the seed of what would become a legendary career. Now, at 61, he returns to the Lisbon giants not as an unknown rookie but as one of the most famous managers in the world, carrying both glory and scars.
What makes this story so electric is not just that Mourinho is coaching Benfica. It is that his very first big challenge with them in Europe is against Chelsea—his old love, his old battlefield, his old story.
Chelsea is the club where Mourinho truly became the “Special One.” When he arrived in 2004, he transformed English football. He brought swagger, mind games, defensive strength, and most importantly, trophies. He delivered Chelsea their first Premier League title in 50 years. He built a dynasty with players like John Terry, Frank Lampard, Didier Drogba, and Petr Čech. He gave the club its winning identity.