Only weeks after being given the job at Benfica, Mourinho's mentor, Sir Bobby Robson,
offered him the assistant manager's role at Newcastle United. Such was Robson's
desperation for Mourinho to join him he offered to step down after two years in charge and
hand over the reins to Mourinho. Mourinho turned the offer down, saying he knew Robson
would never step down at the club he loved. Mourinho was highly critical of Ferreira, whom
he had first encountered as his teacher at ISEF, and later lambasted the veteran coach,
stating: "This could be the story of a donkey who worked for 30 years but never became a
horse."
Mourinho and Mozer proved a popular combination, enjoying a 3-0 win against fierce rivals
Sporting in December. However, their reign appeared to be at risk after Benfica's election
turned against club president João Vale e Azevedo, and the newly-elected Manuel Vilarinho
said that he would instate ex-Benfica player Toni as his new coach. Although Vilarinho had
no intention of firing him immediately, Mourinho used the victory over Sporting as an
opportunity to test the president's loyalty and he asked for a contract extension. Vilarinho
refused the demand and Mourinho resigned from his position immediately, leaving the club
on 5 December 2000 after just nine league games in charge.