Marco Silva has agreed to take over as Benfica’s new head coach as the club confirmed Jose Mourinho’s departure to Real Madrid.
Silva, 48, left Fulham last week after his contract at Craven Cottage expired, bringing an end to a five-year spell at the Premier League club.
Benfica said it had “reached an agreement” with the Portuguese manager, who is expected to sign a deal running until the end of the 2027-28 season, with an option to extend it to 2028-29.
Silva’s time in English football also included managerial roles at Hull City, Watford and Everton.
Benfica also confirmed Mourinho’s exit from the Estádio da Luz, stating that Real Madrid will pay £13m (15m euros) in compensation to secure the 63-year-old’s return to the Bernabéu.
“The coach [Mourinho] has given his agreement to this hiring,” Benfica said in a statement.
“Thus ended Jose Mourinho’s second spell as manager of Benfica’s professional football team.”
Mourinho joined Benfica in September and guided the club to third place in the Primeira Liga, finishing the league campaign unbeaten.
During his previous spell at Real Madrid from 2010 to 2013, Mourinho won La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Spanish Super Cup.