Marco Silva Takes the Helm at Benfica with Ambitious Goals

Marco Silva has officially been appointed as the new manager of Benfica, succeeding Jose Mourinho. With a two-year contract in place, Silva aims to foster a strong connection between the team and its passionate fanbase. Previously, he led Fulham to the Premier League and achieved notable success. Benfica, having finished third in the Primeira Liga last season, looks to Silva to bring a new era of dominance and success. Read on to discover Silva's vision for the club and the expectations set by the president.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 13, 2026, 03:34 IST

Marco Silva Appointed as Benfica's New Manager

Lisbon [Portugal], June 13: Marco Silva, who previously managed Fulham in the English football league, has been named the new head coach of Benfica on a two-year contract, as confirmed by the club on Friday.

Silva steps in to fill the shoes of the iconic Jose Mourinho, who has departed for a return to Real Madrid in Spain. The contract includes an option for an additional year, according to the official announcement from the club.

Before joining Benfica, Silva led Fulham from the EFL Championship to the Premier League during his tenure from 2021 to 2026, finishing the last season in 11th place.

His coaching career includes stints at Estoril (2011-14), Sporting CP (2014-15), Olympiacos (2015-16), Hull City (2017), Watford (2017-18), and Everton (2018-19) prior to his role at Fulham. Under his guidance, Fulham not only secured a Premier League spot but also reached the FA Cup quarterfinals in the 2022/23 and 2024/25 seasons.

Last season, Benfica ended up in third place in the Primeira Liga, trailing champions FC Porto by eight points, who finished with 88 points.

Club president Rui Costa expressed his enthusiasm for Silva's appointment, stating, “We officially announce Marco Silva as the new coach of Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Welcome to Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Your success will be the success of millions of Benfica fans. It will be the joy of millions of Benfica fans. Welcome to a place very dear to all of us. Let us begin with a very beautiful chapter in Benfica’s history, and may this Museum have more trophies next year than it has today.”

Silva shared his vision, saying, “We want to be a dominant team, a team capable of connecting Benfica’s greatest strength, which is its fans, to the team. That is our main objective: to achieve a very strong connection. The great support that the fans give to the Benfica team will only increase if the team responds. I am not talking about compromise or demandingness, because that is an obligation; it is not even negotiable. I am talking about a positive way of playing, a dominant way of playing, which, in my opinion, is what Benfica represents.”