
(foto: Getty Images)
Portuguese giants Benfica made headlines after it was revealed they paid former coach Roger Schmidt a staggering €8.7 million in severance following his dismissal just four games into the current season.
Schmidt, hired in the summer of 2022, struggled to adapt to life in Lisbon, leaving fans unimpressed during his brief tenure.
Despite managing top clubs like PSV, Bayer Leverkusen, and RB Salzburg, the 57-year-old German coach failed to meet expectations at Benfica. After his departure, the club turned to familiar face Bruno Lage, a 48-year-old Portuguese coach who has quickly made his mark.
Under Lage's guidance, Benfica has flourished, winning all eight league matches since his appointment, boasting an impressive goal difference of 26:4. Lage’s success has reinvigorated the team and the fans, erasing the doubts that lingered during Schmidt's tenure.
While Schmidt’s lucrative payout might be a point of contention, Benfica appears to have turned the corner, with Lage steering the club toward a promising season.