Thursday, April 7, 2022 at 12:39• Tom Rofekamp • Last update: 12:47

Roger Schmidt is definitively the new head coach of Benfica, reports BILD† The German sports newspaper reports that the German has reached a personal agreement with the Portuguese top club. The Portuguese sports newspaper Record already reported last week that Schmidt was a top candidate to start at Benfica. A few weeks ago, Schmidt would have had several talks in Germany with Benfica about a possible employment. The 55-year-old coach announced in February that he would leave PSV next summer after two seasons.

BILD writes that president of Benfica Rui Costa already contacted Schmidt during the winter break. Club and coach recently reached an agreement on the terms of employment. In December, Schmidt was also linked with the then-vacant managerial position at RB Leipzig after the German club sacked trainer Jesse Marsch for disappointing results. Schmidt previously worked successfully at Red Bull Salzburg, another club from the Red Bull group, but various media soon reported that he would not make the switch during the season. Earlier that month, BILD also announced Hertha BSC’s interest in Schmidt. However, the Bundesliga club was said to have been told “it was looking for another challenge”.

At Benfica, Nélson Veríssimo is currently temporarily taking over the honors. Jorge Jesus was executed at the end of December o Glorioso kicked out because of disappointing results and Benfica has been looking for a new head coach ever since. Record announced at the end of March that Schmidt was a top candidate to start next season in Lisbon because of his offensive football philosophy. Although Benfica managed to reach the last eight in the Champions League at the expense of Ajax, the performances in their own country are disappointing for the time being. Benfica currently occupies third place in the Primeira Liga, which means that the club is in danger of missing out on a direct ticket to the Champions League next season.

Schmidt settled at PSV in 2020 as the definitive successor to the fired Mark van Bommel. The intention of the Eindhoven club management was to extend the contract of the German coach by two years, but he chose not to do that ‘purely on instinct’. PSV is currently second in the Eredivisie, four points behind leader Ajax. Under the leadership of Schmidt, PSV has so far captured the Johan Cruijff Scale as the only prize.