Benfica Football Club announced today that Mourinho has been appointed as the team's head coach. Mourinho delivered a speech at the press conference.
Mourinho stated:
I have a mix of emotions in my heart, but I believe my past experiences will help me keep these emotions in check. I want to thank you for your trust and for this honor I feel at this moment.
Obviously, as a Portuguese, no one can be unaware of the history, culture, and scale of the Benfica "nation", nor can anyone be unaware of the significance of this club. But I must make one thing very clear: I must be able to block out all these emotions and view Sporting Lisbon, Benfica, this job, and this responsibility that belongs to me in an extremely, extremely, extremely simple way. I am the head coach of one of the greatest clubs in the world, and I hope to focus on this, on this mission.
I hope to focus on — I don't call them "difficulties", but "pleasures" — from a coach's professional perspective, focusing on the things that truly bring inspiration.
Twenty-five years have passed, but I am not here to celebrate my career. Over these 25 years, I have been fortunate enough to work at some of the top clubs in the world.
As I near the end of my speech, I want to say in the capacity of a representative of the millions of Benfica fans around the world: Among all the other top-tier clubs I have been fortunate enough to coach, none has made me feel such a strong sense of honor, responsibility, and mission as Benfica does.
Words are sometimes weak, but actions are not. My commitment is very clear: I will give my all for Benfica and devote myself fully to my mission. When I left home, I said to my family, “See you on Sunday.”
This means I will not leave here until Sunday. I believe my experience will help me keep these emotions in check, and this in itself is an honor — a great honor. I urge everyone to be brief, because we have a match in 48 hours, and I believe that for the Benfica "nation", nothing is more important than this match in approximately 48 hours.
