Lisbon, June 10 -- Former Fulham manager Marco Silva has been officially appointed as the new head coach of Benfica, replacing Jose Mourinho, the club announced.

Benfica confirmed that Silva has signed a two-year contract, with an option to extend for a further year, marking his return to management in his home country after a long stint in England, as per ESPN.

Silva most recently managed Fulham for five years, guiding the club from the Championship to the Premier League in his debut season, before establishing them as a stable mid-table side in England's top flight.

The English club had reportedly offered him a new contract in an attempt to retain his services, but the Portuguese coach opted to return home after a decade-long manager...