Jose Mourinho is the leading candidate to take over as Real Madrid’s next manager.
Despite completing an undefeated league campaign with Benfica, Jose Mourinho’s side finished third in the Portuguese top-flight.
Benfica secured a 3-1 victory over Estoril in their final match, concluding their Primeira Liga season with 23 wins and 11 draws, remaining unbeaten.
However, they accumulated 80 points, trailing champions Porto by eight points and second-placed Sporting by two.
The win against Estoril could mark Mourinho’s final match as Benfica’s manager, as he is reportedly in advanced discussions to return to Real Madrid, 13 years after his initial tenure at the Bernabeu.
The 63-year-old joined the Portuguese side Benfica last September on a two-year contract, but is now a primary target for Real Madrid president Florentino Perez.
This is not the first instance of Benfica completing a league season without defeat, only to miss out on the title.
In the 1977-78 season, Porto secured the league title on goal difference, having drawn two fewer games than Benfica.
Mourinho’s Benfica now joins FC Sheriff of Moldova (2024-25) and Serbian side Red Star Belgrade (2007-08) as the only European teams this century to not win their domestic league despite going unbeaten.
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