‘Not going to last’ – Jose Mourinho told current job could be last at club level after ‘brave’ decision

Jose Mourinho may never manage another club team again after Benfica.

That’s the bold view of European football broadcaster Andy Brassell, who believes the Special One’s future lies elsewhere.

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Mourinho returned to Portuguese powerhouse Benfica back in September, succeeding Bruno Lage at the Estadio Da Luz helm.

Lage was relieved of his duties following Benfica’s dire 3-2 home loss to Azerbaijani side Qarabag in the Champions League earlier in the season.

The Liga Portugal giants acted swiftly to bring Mourinho back to Lisbon, though the results haven’t been of the standards expected.

Mourinho oversaw just two wins from his opening five games in charge of Benfica.

And pressure is mounting on the 62-year-old, whose side have lost successive matches to Braga and FC Porto in the Taca da Liga and Taca de Portugal, respectively.

With Ruben Amorim also available following his Manchester United exit last week, Benfica may opt for a change of manager at the end of the season.

Mour drama

Club president Rui Costa, who was re-elected in November, admitted at Mourinho’s unveiling that there is an exit clause in the two-year deal the former Chelsea, Inter and Real Madrid boss penned.

“There’s a clause at the end of the season that leaves the club the option of continuing with the coach or not,” Costa revealed.

Should Mourinho fail to improve upon a sub-par domestic and continental campaign, then there is a good chance he’ll leave the club in the summer.

And Brassell believes that Amorim to Benfica is a move that makes sense for all parties.

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“Maybe Benfica is the easiest click, really. I think going into next season would be the way forward,” Brassell exclusively told talkSPORT.

“I can’t see Amorim taking another job before the end of this campaign.”

However, he added that Amorim needs to ‘prove himself’ before he gets another elite job, stating: “Before he gets another elite-level club job, he is going to have to prove himself over again.”

Mourinho praised for ‘brave’ decision

Additionally, Brassell is of the opinion that the Benfica job could be Mourinho’s last in club management.

Mourinho’s managerial career started at Benfica in 2000, and if he does call time on managing at club level, then it’ll see the legendary boss come full circle.

“I think both they and him, and the supporters, if they’ve got their heads screwed on, realise it’s a short-term thing. It’s not going to last forever,” Brassell told talkSPORT.

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In terms his Mourinho’s next job, Brassell believes international management is calling, adding: “Portugal is the obvious landing spot.

“Maybe this is even Mourinho’s last crack at club management. We’ll have to wait and see.

“I think there’s a lot of bravery in Mourinho coming back to Portugal. It was the only place, really, him having burnt so many bridges all over Europe.”

Brassell also praised the ‘brave’ decision to take over the Benfica role, stating: “For him to come back, knowing that it would be an uphill struggle at Benfica, and risking his reputation in the one place that is sort of undented.

“I think it was pretty brave of him, really.”

Benfica well off the title pace

Benfica are currently ten points off the pace in Liga Portugal, with Mourinho’s former side, Porto, nigh-on unstoppable this season.

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Francesco Farioli, who only took over the Porto reins last summer, has already been rewarded for the club’s flying start to the campaign with a new contract.

Next up for unbeaten Benfica is a trip to Tondela this weekend before a crunch Champions League tie with Italian giants Juventus.

The capital side then host Estrela da Amadora prior to their final Champions League league phase meeting with Mourinho’s former side, Real Madrid.

Benfica are currently one point and one place off the play-off spots in Europe’s elite club competition having won only two of their six Champions League games so far.