Manager: Roger Schmidt
Shortlist: Paulo Sousa, José Mourinho

With no money to invest in the squad after a trophy-less season, Benfica couldn't afford to sack Schmidt or spend lavishly on players like in the recent past. So, working with a tight budget and under massive pressure from the fans, the German coach had to make some tweaks to improve the team's overall game and regain dominance in the Portuguese league.

Rafa left to champions Sporting on a free transfer, and Di Maria was moved to the (now vacant) central "second striker" role, where his creativity could be used in a more direct manner, allowing him to conserve his energy and lose the ball less on 1-vs-1 situations. This allowed Neres (or Man United loanee Antony) to add width on the right, creating more unpredictability in Benfica's attack.

Agustin Giay was the only big incoming transfer at right-back, joining Alberto Moreno on the left. Solving the full-back issue allowed Aursnes to move back into the "false left midfield" role in which he thrived in Benfica's successful 22/23 season. Moreno's verticality in the left flank allowed Aursnes to move centrally during the attacking phase and help Di Maria.

Giay's signing had a major effect on fixing the team's biggest weakness in the previous season - the defensive transition phase - in two ways:
Firstly, having Aursnes and Antony/Neres on the wings greatly improved the team's initial counter-press, and secondly, Giay's ability to invert into midfield provided much-needed cover to Neves and Kokcu. The latter could now finally shine in that double-pivot role, having fewer defensive responsibilities thanks to Giay's support. This was even more essential following Florentino's departure to Southampton (newly promoted to the Premier League).

Having "fixed" the glaring issues with his team, Schmidt repaid the board's confidence and regained the trust of the supporters by reclaiming the league title the following season. A renovated Sporting side, in its second season with Abel Ferreira, took the title back the year after that, with Schmidt leaving Portugal after his second trophyless season in charge of the Glorioso.

IN:
- Moreno (Villareal) - 15 M
- Barreiro (Mainz) - free
- Giay (San Lorenzo) - 17 M
- Lindelof (Man United) - free
- Antony (Man United) - loan
- Sanches (Milan) - loan
- Semedo (Wolves) - free
- António Silva (Man United) - loan

OUT:
- Younes (Vitesse) - free
- Shaqiri (MLS) - 15 M
- Maehle (Atalanta) - 15 M
- Bah (Bournemouth) - 26 M
- António Silva (Man United) - 65 M
- Florentino (Southampton) - 23 M
- Morato (Fulham) - 24 M
- Rafa (Sporting) - free