Mourinho made his name during a spell with Porto between 2002 and 2004 where he won six trophies, including the Champions League in 2003-04.
Since leaving his homeland in 2004, Mourinho has managed Chelsea (twice), Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Roma and Fenerbahce.
Mourinho said “none of the other giant clubs” for whom he has worked since he left Benfica have made his feel as “honoured, responsible or motivated”.
He added he returns as a “less self-centred” person who thinks more about the “joy” he can bring to others.
After sacking Lage on Tuesday, Benfica president Rui Costa said the new manager must have the “profile of a winner”.
Mourinho certainly fits that brief, having won 21 major trophies, with his most recent success coming in the Conference League with Roma in 2022.
That haul includes two Champions League crowns and eight league titles in four different countries, though his last trophy before success with Roma was the 2017 Europa League at Manchester United.
“In some people’s minds, I have two resumes – one that lasted a certain period and another that represents, let’s say, a less happy phase of my career,” said Mourinho.
He added that in this “negative” part of his career he has reached two European finals in the last five years, with Roma losing to Sevilla in the 2023 Europa League final the year after their Conference League triumph.
