Mourinho found a new managerial post in July 2001 with União de Leiria.[26] During his time at União de Leiria, the team was on a run contesting places as high as third and fourth by January. After a 2–1 win against Paços de Ferreira on 27 January, the team was in third place, one point ahead of both Porto and Benfica and three points behind the top of the league table. Mourinho's successes at Leiria did not go unrecognised and he caught the attention of larger Portuguese clubs.[18]