Benfica are in talks with former Sporting coach Leonardo Jardim following the departure of Roger Schmidt, which the club announced on Saturday.
In June 2022, former Reds president Luis Filipe Vieira admitted in an interview with CMTV that the “first choice” he would have made instead of the German was Jardim.
At 50, the Venezuelan-born Portuguese is well placed to take over the reins of the Eagles football team, although Rui Costa is still weighing the names of Palmeiras’ Abel Ferreira and currently clubless Sergio Conceição.
In Portugal, Jardim coached Camacha, Chaves, Beira Mar and Braga before heading to Olympiacos and winning the Greek league and cup. He returned to Portugal to join Alvalade. He spent a year with the Lions and left for Monaco, before spending six seasons in France, winning the league title in 2016/17.
In Al-Hilal he won Saudi Arabian Premier League and Super Cup in the 2021/2022 season. He moved to rivals Al Ahli the following season and coached Al Rayyan from the United Arab Emirates last season.