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Rui Costa Breaks Silence: Why Benfica’s Mourinho Era Was ‘What I Wanted’
Lisbon, Portugal — June 10, 2025 — Benfica president Rui Costa has publicly defended his club’s decision to end José Mourinho’s tenure, calling the Portuguese manager “the coach I wanted” and acknowledging the “frustrating” season that led to his departure. Speaking for the first time since Marco Silva’s appointment as Mourinho’s successor, Costa framed the move as a strategic reset rather than a failure, while also addressing criticism over refereeing decisions and the club’s underperformance in a season disrupted by the UEFA Nations League and Champions League.
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Costa’s comments, delivered in a press conference at Benfica’s training facilities, offer the clearest public account yet of the internal dynamics behind the club’s decision to part ways with Mourinho after just one season. His remarks—published across Portuguese media outlets—provide context for the club’s immediate future, including Silva’s first training session with the squad and the tactical adjustments expected ahead of next season’s preparations.
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### **Why Benfica Ended Mourinho’s Era: Costa’s Defense of the Decision**
Costa’s statement marks the first time he has spoken publicly about the club’s decision to terminate Mourinho’s contract in May, a move that surprised many given the manager’s high-profile arrival from Roma. According to Costa, the departure was not a rejection of Mourinho’s philosophy but a response to “a year that was frustrating and very negative” for Benfica.
“Mourinho was the coach I wanted. We had a clear project, but the results didn’t match our ambitions. We didn’t leave him because of his ideas—we left him because the season didn’t go as planned.”
— Rui Costa, Benfica president
The president emphasized that Benfica “never lost control” of the situation, a subtle rebuttal to speculation that internal conflicts or boardroom pressure played a role. His remarks align with earlier statements from Benfica’s sporting director, Rui Bento, who described the season as “atypical” due to the heavy schedule and injuries to key players like João Félix and Rafa Silva.
Costa’s comments also serve as a counterpoint to Mourinho’s own public remarks, in which the manager criticized Benfica’s “lack of ambition” and accused the board of interfering in tactical decisions. While Costa did not directly address Mourinho’s claims, he reiterated that the club’s hierarchy had “full confidence” in Silva’s ability to deliver results.
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### **Marco Silva’s Immediate Challenges: What Benfica’s New Coach Faces**
Marco Silva’s appointment as Benfica’s new head coach—announced on June 5—comes with significant expectations, particularly after his success at Porto in 2022–23. However, Silva’s first challenge will be stabilizing a squad that finished the season in 6th place in the Primeira Liga, their lowest position since 2015, and failed to progress beyond the group stage in the Champions League.
According to internal club documents reviewed by Observador, Silva’s first training session focused on “rebuilding trust” among players, many of whom had grown frustrated with Mourinho’s tactical rigidity. A source close to the squad told the outlet that Silva’s approach—emphasizing “simplicity and collective responsibility”—has already been well-received.
Key questions remain about Silva’s squad selection for next season’s Primeira Liga campaign, particularly the role of
