Benfica has reached a deal with Marco Silva to take over as head coach, replacing José Mourinho, confirmed sources to ESPN’s Bruno Andrade.
Silva, who departed from Fulham this week after five successful years, has signed a two-year contract with the option for an additional year, according to sources.
The club in Lisbon is expected to make an official announcement next week, following the Real Madrid presidential elections on Sunday. Mourinho is rumored to be returning to the LaLiga side if Florentino Pérez is re-elected.
During his tenure at Fulham, Silva led the team to promotion to the Premier League in his first season, subsequently securing mid-table finishes for the last four years, including a record 54 points in the 2024-25 season.
The Lisbon native has previously managed Portuguese teams such as Estoril and Sporting CP, as well as Olympiacos, Hull City, Watford, and Everton.
Earlier today, Benfica announced that Real Madrid will need to pay €15 million ($17.4 million) to sign José Mourinho if Pérez is re-elected as president.
This follows a statement from Pérez’s election campaign confirming that Mourinho, who previously managed the club from 2010 to 2013, is his preferred choice for next season as Real Madrid seeks to recover from two seasons without a major title.
In a communication to Portugal’s financial regulator, Benfica said they were formally notified of Pérez’s intent to rehire Mourinho for a second stint at the Bernabéu.
Mourinho, who is 63 years old, has a contract with Benfica until June 2027, having taken the helm at the club last September.
While Mourinho guided Benfica to an unbeaten league season, they finished only in third place in the Portuguese Primeira Liga and did not qualify for next season’s Champions League.