JOSE MOURINHO has been tipped for a sensational return to Real Madrid following his “miracle” night in the Champions League.
The Special One, 63, masterminded a bonkers win over his former side last night.
Benfica were leading 3-2 in the dying seconds, with Madrid down to nine men, but still needed another goal to clinch the final play-off position.
Mourinho ushered goalkeeper Anatoliy Trubin forward for a free-kick.
And the giant stopper remarkably met Fredrik Aursnes’ free-kick delivery and sent a bullet header past his Madrid opposite number Thibaut Courtois.
With Benfica 24th and Madrid 9th in the final table, they could now face each other AGAIN in the play-off round.
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But, according to Madrid outlet AS, Mourinho could be set for a more permanent Bernabeu reunion in the summer.
They claim that the former Chelsea, Manchester United and Spurs boss will likely to have “two giant opportunities open up for him”.
One of those is with Madrid, the other with the Portuguese national team.
The Portugal role would be the 63-year-old’s first international job.
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However, the job is only likely to become available if Roberto Martinez’s Portugal flop at the World Cup this summer.
Even Mourinho seemed stunned after seeing his keeper’s heroics on Wednesday night.
After sealing his first-ever win over Madrid at the seventh attempt, he told Spanish TV: “I think we deserved it, we really deserved it.”
The result may have just saved his Benfica career, following their current third place domestically.
Although currently unbeaten in the league, they’ve drawn six times and rivals Porto are 10 points clear of Benfica at the top of the table.
When Mourinho formerly managed Real Madrid between May 2010 and May 2013, he led them to a League title, a Copa del Rey title and one Supercopa de Espana.
Nicknamed “the special one”, Mourinho produced a 72 per cent win rate with Los Blancos, only bettered by Manuel Pellegrini during the 2009-2010 season where his side won 75 per cent of their clashes.
A fair few Real Madrid fans are keen to see him return as their manager, and according to Spanish reports, the current rumours in the Bernabeu offices that Mourinho isn’t an option may take an unexpected turn after that Benfica masterclass.
