Exclusive: Wanted Man Marco Silva in Frame as Jose Mourinho’s Benfica Replacement

Marco Silva is among the names being considered by Benfica if Jose Mourinho leaves the Estadio de Luz at the end of the Primeira Liga season, SportsBoom can exclusively reveal. 

Having spent the past five years at Craven Cottage, moving there following a spell with Everton, the Portuguese’s stock has never been higher given his team’s exciting brand of football. 

And that, coupled with his ability to handle the big egos and pressure which go hand in hand with top-flight English football has prompted The Eagles’ hierarchy to add Silva’s name to a potential list of replacements for the former Chelsea, Real Madrid and Inter Milan chief.

Despite being appointed amid great fanfare earlier this term, Mourinho is struggling to have the kind of impact Benfica’s notoriously demanding support base expected given his glittering array of achievements in the game. 

Indeed, 200 hardcore fans recently threatened to storm the club’s training complex after demanding an audience with The Special One and senior members of a squad which sits third in the table behind arch-rivals Sporting Lisbon and Porto. 

Given his ambition to take charge of a team with both the talent and financial might to consistently challenge for silverware, Silva would not baulk at the opportunity to succeed Mourinho. 

Suitors For Silva

However, Benfica will not be the only offer he receives if, as expected, this proves to be his final campaign in west London with Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur known to feature among his list of admirers.

Although he struggled to impress at Goodison Park, Silva has rebuilt his reputation at Fulham and, despite often flirting publicly with rumoured suitors, maintains a good rapport with both players and staff behind the scenes.

Born in Lisbon, Silva briefly managed Sporting at the beginning of his coaching career before leaving for Olympiacos. 

However, that would be no barrier to being appointed by Benfica, with Mourinho leading Porto to Champions League success ahead of stints at Stamford Bridge, the San Siro and Bernabeu.