Jose Mourinho has revealed he always expected to return to Portugal at some point in his managerial career, but the Special One thought it would be in charge of the national team and not his new club Benfica. The former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Manchester United boss returned to his homeland after being appointed as the Primeira Liga giants' new manager on a two-year contract on Thursday.

Mourinho makes dream start as Benfica down AVS

Mourinho, who started his managerial career at Benfica in 2000 but departed after just 10 games following a falling out with the club’s president, made a dream return in Saturday’s 3-0 league victory over AVS. The 62-year-old replaced Bruno Lage at the Benfica helm after his compatriot was dismissed following their surprise defeat against Qarabag in the Champions League on Tuesday.

AdvertisementAFPSpecial One has turned down the Portugal job in the past

And while Mourinho is delighted to be back at Benfica, he admits he thought it would be the Portugal job – a role he claims he has turned down in the past – which saw him return home following a trophy-laden career in club football.

Revealed: Mourinho still expects to take charge of Portugal in the future

Speaking after Benfica’s victory over AVS at the weekend, Mourinho told : "I’m honest, I always thought I would be back to Portugal. But I always thought I would come back to the national team. I knew that the national team would come sooner or later. It come before, I didn’t, I couldn’t accept. I was thinking one day it will happen. I think it is a natural consequence of my career. [But] it happened to be Benfica. A giant club."

Return to Benfica less than a month after Fenerbahce dismissal

Mourinho’s appointment at Benfica saw him return to management less than a month after he was dismissed by Fenerbahce following their Champions League play-offs defeat against Benfica. He has since admitted that managing the Super Lig side was a "mistake".