Reports: Mourinho’s Benfica Contract Has Secret Clause

Portuguese coach José Mourinho signed a two-year deal to take charge of Benfica, a highly anticipated return of the Special One.

However, the contract includes a secret clause allowing either party to terminate the agreement at the end of the current season.

Benfica turned to the 62-year-old manager following the dismissal of Bruno Lage in the early hours of Wednesday, after a surprising defeat to Azerbaijani side Qarabağ in the opening round of the UEFA Champions League group stage.

According to Portuguese newspaper Record, the clause specifies that either party can end the contract within the first 10 days after the season concludes. 

If the partnership does not go as planned and the agreement is terminated during this window, Benfica would pay a substantially reduced severance compared to termination at another time.

The clause also covers scenarios where Mourinho chooses to resign, in which case the “Special One” would be obliged to pay a predetermined sum agreed upon when the contract was signed.

Mourinho returns to Benfica after a brief stint with the club 25 years ago, succeeding German coach Jupp Heynckes.

He had left Turkish side Fenerbahçe just days earlier, following the team’s elimination from the Champions League qualifiers by none other than his new club, Benfica.