José Mourinho wrapped up a remarkable unbeaten Primeira Liga season at Benfica, finishing with 23 wins and 11 draws.
He signed off in style with a 3-1 away win at Estoril Praia on Saturday — a game many believe was his last in charge of the club.
His team showed the same fighting spirit that defined their entire campaign, grinding out a hard-fought victory to keep their unbeaten record intact until the final whistle. The result capped a strong season, even as they fell short in the title race.
Before the match, Mourinho had described the campaign as a “miracle” just to finish second. Afterwards, he spoke with obvious pride about the defensive organisation and remarkable consistency his players had shown week after week.
Benfica ended the season outside the top two but still secured a Europa League spot thanks to their rock-solid defence and the fact they didn’t lose a single league game. It was a bittersweet reminder of the club’s own 1977–78 season, when they also went unbeaten but missed out on the championship.
The timing feels particularly emotional, with growing speculation that Mourinho is set to return to Real Madrid, where he reportedly has an exit clause in his contract. He had reportedly put a renewal offer from Benfica on hold while considering his options.
Having taken over at Benfica in mid-September 2025, replacing Bruno Lage, he delivered his first fully unbeaten league season as a manager anywhere in his career.
