S.L. Benfica

S.L. Benfica

Full name	Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Nickname(s)	Águias (Eagles) Encarnados (Reds) O Glorioso (The Glorious One) Lampiões (Lamps) Diabos Vermelhos (Red Devils) SLB (Acronym for Sport Lisboa e Benfica)[1]
Short name	Benfica
Founded	28 February 1904 as Grupo Sport Lisboa (Lisbon Sport Group)[2]
Ground	Estádio da Luz (Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica) Lisbon, Portugal (Capacity: 65,647[3])
President	Luís Filipe Vieira
Manager	Jorge Jesus
League	Portuguese Liga UEFA Champions League
2009–10	Portuguese Liga, 1st
Website	Club home page
Honours	Portuguese Liga: 32 Taça de Portugal: 24 Taça da Liga: 2 Supertaça: 4 European Cup: 2 (1961, 1962)
Home colours Away colours
Current season

Sport Lisboa e Benfica (Portuguese pronunciation: [spɔɾ liʒˈboɐ i bɐ̃ȷ̃ˈfikɐ]; Euronext: SLBEN), also Benfica Lisbon or simply Benfica, is a multi-sports club based in Lisbon, Portugal. Although they compete in a number of different sports, Benfica is mainly known for its association football team. Historically, Benfica has been one of the most successful football clubs in Portugal and Europe and is one of the Três Grandes, or Big Three, football clubs in Portugal, with Futebol Clube do Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal being the other two clubs, Benfica's two biggest rivals.^[3]

Benfica was one of the founding members of the Portuguese Liga in 1933, and, together with Porto and Sporting, they have never been relegated from the First Division (Portuguese: Primeira Divisão) of Portuguese football.^[1]

On 28 February 1904, Sport Lisboa e Benfica (originally known as Grupo Sport Lisboa, English: Lisbon Sport Group) was founded during a meeting in the southwest part of Lisbon involving 24 young men, led by Cosme Damião.^[1][2] As a result of this meeting, one of the most popular and successful football clubs in Portugal was created, as well as one of the most internationally recognized football clubs in the world.

Domestically, Benfica has won a total of 32 Portuguese Liga titles, 24 Portuguese Cup (Taça de Portugal, Portugal Millennium Cup) titles, two Portuguese League Cup (Taça da Liga, Carlsberg Cup) titles, and four Portuguese SuperCups (Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira) titles. Internationally, Benfica has won two European Cup (currently UEFA Champions League) titles, one Latin Cup title, and one Iberian Cup title. In addition, the football club has seven UEFA Champions League finals appearances and one UEFA Cup (currently UEFA Europa League) finals appearance.^[1]

As a multiple sport club, Benfica has departments for basketball, roller hockey, indoor football (known as futsal), volleyball, handball, water polo, rugby, and cycling, among others.^[3] Due to the success and popularity of the football club, Benfica has built the biggest fan base among os três grandes (Benfica, Porto, and Sporting) in Portugal. Benfica also has one of the biggest fan bases in the world, with many supporters outside of Portugal in countries like Andorra, Angola, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, France, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Japan, Luxembourg, Macao, Mexico, Switzerland, and United States.^[3] Currently, Benfica has the largest number of supporters worldwide for a Portuguese club, with a total number of around 14 million.^[4]

On 9 November 2006, Benfica was acknowledged by Guinness World Records as having the largest number of paying club members (known as Portuguese: sócios) in the world, with 160,398 paid members.^[5][6]

On 30 September 2009, Benfica announced that it had reached the 200,000 mark for paid club members. In May 2004, Benfica launched an aggressive marketing campaign known as kit sócio (membership kit) to increase its paid club membership from 94,714 to 200,000. As a result, five years later, Benfica was able to add more than 105,000 new paid club members to their existing membership of 94,714, which more than doubled their total paid club membership. Benfica currently remains the leader of international football clubs with the largest number of paying club members worldwide.^[7][8] As of 23 June 2010, Benfica has a reported 218,216 paid club members.

Contents 1 History 1.1 The foundation and first years (1904–1910) 1.2 An early age of achievements (1910–1921) 1.3 Football crisis and cycling dominance (1922–1930) 1.4 The first national football titles (1930s) 1.5 The 1940s 1.6 The 1950s 1.7 The golden era (1960–1970) 1.8 The silver era (1970–1994) 1.9 The dark years (1994–2003) 1.10 The rebuilding years 1.11 The Jorge Jesus era (2009–present) 2 Club statistics and records 3 Symbols 4 Stadium 5 Training centre and youth academy 6 Supporters 7 Rivalries 8 Organization and finances 9 Clubs inspired after Benfica 10 Notable figures 11 Historical results 12 History of team honours 12.1 International Finals campaigns 12.2 National Titles 12.3 European Titles 12.4 International titles 12.5 Regional (Lisbon) Titles 12.6 Award Winners 13 Technical staff 2010–11 14 Current squad 2010–11 15 Transfers 2010–11 16 Junior Team A 2010–11 17 Retired numbers 18 Notable former players 19 Former football coaches 20 Other sports 20.1 Athletics 20.2 Basketball 20.3 Billiards 20.4 Boxing 20.5 Cycling 20.6 Futsal 20.7 Handball 20.8 Golf 20.9 Gymnastics 20.10 Judo 20.11 Rink hockey 20.12 Rugby 20.13 Sport Fishing 20.14 Swimming 20.15 Triathlon 20.16 Table tennis 20.17 Volleyball 21 See also 22 References 23 External links

History

The foundation and first years (1904–1910)

Active departments of S.L. Benfica
Football	Futsal	Basketball
Roller hockey	Handball	Volleyball
Rugby union	Cycling	Athletics
Beach soccer	Judo	Triathlon
Swimming	Boxing	Gymnastics
Table tennis	Archery	Golf

On 28 February 1904, a meeting of young people from the Belém neighborhood of Lisbon and former students from the Real Casa Pia de Lisboa took place at the Farmácia Franco (Franco Pharmacy), located on Rua de Belém in the southwest part of Lisbon, with the goal of forming a new football club that would be called Grupo Sport Lisboa. There were a total of 24 people who attended the meeting, including the co-founder and future soul of the football club, Cosme Damião. During the meeting, José Rosa Rodrigues was appointed as the club's first president, along with Daniel Brito as secretary and Manuel Gourlade as treasurer.^[2]

The first game was played in January 1905. Despite important football victories in the first few years, the club suffered due to poor operating conditions. As a result, in 1907, several players from the first team joined the then more prosperous Sporting Clube de Portugal, located across the city.

In 1908, Grupo Sport Lisboa acquired, by mutual agreement, the Sport Clube de Benfica, a club founded in 1906 as Grupo Sport Benfica and later changed its name to Sport Clube de Benfica. Despite the merger of the two football clubs, Grupo Sport Lisboa and Sport Clube de Benfica continued their respective club operations. For Grupo Sport Lisboa, they maintained the football team, the red and white shirt colors, the eagle as the symbol, the "E Pluribus Unum" as the motto, and the logo. For Sport Clube de Benfica, they maintained the football field, the main directors, and the club's house.

Under the mutual agreement, both Sport Clube de Benfica and Grupo Sport Lisboa determined that the foundation date of the newly formed club should coincide with the foundation date of Grupo Sport Lisboa, 28 February 1904, given that it was the most recognized club (of the two) in the merger and it was already quite popular in Lisbon due to its football merits. (It is interesting to note that Sport Lisboa e Benfica is the only club of the "Big Three" that has never changed its foundation date.) With regard to the new club's logo, a bicycle wheel was added to the Grupo Sport Lisboa's original logo, which represented the most important sport of Sport Clube de Benfica. As for the new club's name, Benfica from Sport Clube de Benfica was added to the Sport Lisboa of Grupo Sport Lisboa to form Sport Lisboa e Benfica, which remains the formal full name of Benfica today. As for other notes, the club moved from the Belém area of Lisbon to the present-day Benfica area, which is a neighborhood located in the northern part of the city. Furthermore, the two entities of the new club had simultaneous associates, which helped to stabilize operations and later increased the success of the merger.^[1]

In October 1908, a month after the agreement, the club won the first game ever against Sporting Clube de Portugal. Then, in the 1909–10 season, Benfica ended Carcavelos Club's reign (for the last three years) as Lisbon Champions. In addition, that season was considered a "golden one", as the club won all three regional championships in Portuguese competition, thus establishing a record.

An early age of achievements (1910–1921)

Between 1905 and 1922, the club won 11 Lisbon regional titles in football.

Meanwhile,club’s popularity increased outside of Lisbon's city borders. Several affiliate clubs were created, mainly in the Algarve.

The 1913–14 season was very successful, as the club was the first to win the regional Lisbon championships in all the four categories.

The first international matches were played with some relevant results: in 1913, the club won their first international football trophy, named Torneio Três Cidades (Three Cities' Tournament).

The rink hockey department was created in 1917. In 1919, the club organized the first ever football game played at night in Portugal.

It was not until the 1920s that the club became more known as Benfica. A falling out within the club regarding some football players led to several members leaving the club and founding Clube de Futebol Os Belenenses, which is now Lisbon's third largest football club. This is regarded as the second major crisis within the club.

Football crisis and cycling dominance (1922–1930)

The national football competitions only began in the 1920s. The impact of the defection of players to Clube de Futebol Os Belenenses was made worse by further losses due to the creation of Casa Pia Atlético Clube in Lisbon. This exodus of players left Sport Lisboa e Benfica struggling in the following years and the club would only win two regional titles until 1930.^[1]

Fortunately for Benfica, cycling picked up the slack and became an important source of victories. Spearheading the team was Alfredo Luís Piedade, considered to be one of the greatest names in Portuguese cycling.

In 1925, the club inaugurated the Amoreiras Stadium. The departments of field hockey, rugby, and basketball were created in this decade; only the first mentioned doesn’t have official activities today.

The first national football titles (1930s)

The 1930s were a much kinder decade to Benfica. The club's football team started the decade by winning two national championships (for the first time) in 1930 and 1931 and one regional championship.

After losing the first national championship to Futebol Clube do Porto in the 1934–35 season, Benfica won the next three championships in a row (1935–36, 1936–37, and 1937–38), and their first Portuguese Cup, in 1939–40.^[1]

Cycling continued to be the key sport within the club. The duels between Benfica's José Maria Nicolau and Sporting Clube de Portugal's Alfredo Trinidade on the road throughout the country enthralled many fans and were a critical factor for the ascendance of popularity of not only Benfica but also Sporting. José Maria Nicolau is regarded as one of Benfica's greatest ever cyclist and won two Volta a Portugal's titles in 1931 and 1934.

The 1940s

The 1940s saw the domination by Benfica and Sporting in the country's football championship to an extent never seen before. Between 1941 and 1950, the two clubs finished first and second in every championship except for the 1945–46 season when Benfica finished second to Os Belenenses. During this period, Benfica and Sporting each won four titles. By now, football was clearly the club's most important sport.^[1]

The 1950s

Benfica's first major international football success happened in 1950 when they won the Latin Cup by defeating Bordeaux in the final. The Latin Cup was then seen as one of Europe's most prestigious European Cups in a time when UEFA had yet to launch its unified European Cups.

Another highlight came in 1954 when Benfica moved into the famous Estádio da Luz. It initially had capacity for 40,000 spectators, but this was gradually expanded due to club's growing success and fan base.

Benfica won three championships during the 1950s and were runner-ups three times. They also gathered six Portuguese Cups, and their accomplishments included a series of four consecutive victories between 1948 and 1953. The Portuguese cup was not held in 1950 due to the Latin Cup being organized in Portugal.

In addition to all these successes, Benfica was able to end the decade with the foundations in place enabling the club to enter the 1960s with one of the best teams in Europe.^[1]

The golden era (1960–1970)

Benfica was the first team to break Real Madrid's dominance in the early European Champions' Cup. Having won two European Cups in a row against FC Barcelona (1961) and Real Madrid (1962).

During this decade, Benfica would reach another three European Champions' Cup finals, but the Lisbon club never managed to win a European trophy again, having lost against Milan (1963), Internazionale (1965), and Manchester United (1968).

In 1968, Benfica was considered the best European team by France Football, despite its defeat in the Champions Cup. Many of its successes in the 1960s were achieved with all-time football great Eusébio playing for the Lisbon side. In fact, the 1960s were the best period of Benfica history, in which the club won an astonishing eight Championships (1960, '61, '63, '64, '65, '67, '68, and '69), three Portuguese Cups (1961, '64, and '69), and two European Champions Cup (1961 and '62).^[1]

The silver era (1970–1994)

During the 1970s, the team faded slightly from the European scene, but remained the main force inside Portuguese football, winning six championships (1971, '72, '73, '75, '76, and '77) and two Portuguese cups (1970 and '72). Jimmy Hagan led the club to three successive Portuguese championships, and once to the national cup between 1970 and 1973. Benfica also attracted Europe-wide attention when the team reached the semi-finals of the European Cup of Champions, where the team was only narrowly defeated 1–0 on aggregate by the legendary Ajax side of that era.

In 1972–73, Benfica became the only club in Portugal to last a whole season without defeat and won 28 matches — 23 consecutively — out of 30, and drew two. In that year, Eusébio also became Europe's top scorer with 40 goals, in what was his penultimate season as a Benfica player. The team scored 101 goals, breaking 100 only for the second time in their history.

The club had some problems in the late 1970s, early 1980s, but managed to stand up to its standards again, this time under the guidance of Sven-Göran Eriksson. In two years (1983 and 1984) the club won two championships, one Portuguese Cup, and reached the final of the UEFA Cup in 1983 against Anderlecht.

Following the completion of improvements to the football stadium, the board of Benfica decided to open the third level of the Estádio da Luz, which transformed it into one of the biggest in Europe, with a standing room capacity of 120,000. In 1987, Benfica won another double (championship and Portuguese cup), an achievement done for the ninth time in their history.

During the period from 1988 to 1994, Benfica made a huge financial investment in an effort to win another European cup, but the club failed to meet its expectations. While they did reach the European cup final in 1988 and 1990, Benfica lost in the final against PSV and Milan, respectively. Domestically, Benfica won three more championships (1989, '91, and '94) and one Portuguese Cup (1993).^[1]

The dark years (1994–2003)

Financial trouble began to undermine the club due to rampant spending and a questionable signing policy which allowed for squads composed of well over 30 players. Consequently, the period from 1994 through 2003 was arguably the darkest in the history of Benfica. During this time, Benfica only won one Portuguese Cup in 1996 and finished in embarrassing positions, such as sixth in 2000–01 and fourth in 2001–02. The debts were accumulating, and nearly every year saw the hire of a new Benfica coach and the addition of high-priced but under-performing players.^[1]

The rebuilding years

In 2004, the club regained some of its sporting prowess, with a new president and the manager José Antonio Camacho, winning the first title in eight years (the Portuguese Cup, won against José Mourinho's Porto in the final), and in 2004–05, the first national championship in 11 years, this time with Giovanni Trapattoni as coach — in an odd season in which the top club had the least amount of points ever and an efficiency (63.7% of points obtainable) that historically would never have been enough to secure even second place. In 2005–06, Benfica won the Portuguese SuperCup for the fourth time.

In the 2005–06 Champions League, Benfica managed to reach the quarter-finals, defeating Manchester United 2–1 in the decisive group stage encounter, and then overcoming the 2005 European champions Liverpool 3–0 on aggregate. However Benfica lost in the Quarter Finals to the eventual winner Barcelona by an aggregate of 2–0, both goals coming during the second leg in Camp Nou. In the 2006–07 season, Benfica found themselves again facing Manchester United in a decisive Champions League group match in which the winner would advance. However, this time it was Manchester United who prevailed, gaining revenge in a 3–1 win.

On 20 August 2007, José Antonio Camacho returned to Benfica on a two-year contract, following the sacking of Fernando Santos after only one match in the league (a tie against the recently promoted Leixões), at time when Benfica was facing a vital Champions League qualifying game against Copenhagen. Benfica granted a place in the Champions League after defeating Copenhagen for 1–0, but eventually exited the competition at the group stage. They then parachuted to the UEFA Cup where they were defeated by Spanish debutants, Getafe. Camacho resigned a few months later, in March, with Benfica 14 points behind the leaders Porto in the Portuguese League. Benfica failed to gain a top three finish in the 2007–08 season, placing the team in the UEFA Cup for the upcoming season.^[1]

On 22 May 2008, former Valencia manager Quique Sánchez Flores was appointed as the clubs new manager for the new season.^[1]

In 2008, Benfica launched its own TV channel called Benfica TV.

In 2009, Benfica won the second edition of the Portuguese League Cup defeating their cross-town rival Sporting CP.

The Jorge Jesus era (2009–present)

On 8 June 2009, manager Quique Sánchez Flores resigned as coach after agreeing to a friendly contractual termination; he was replaced by former Sporting de Braga manager Jorge Jesus on 17 June.

On 12 July 2009, Benfica tied 2–2 against Sion in their first of ten friendlies in the 2009–10 preseason with Óscar Cardozo and Javier Saviola each scoring a goal. On 13 July, in their second friendly, they beat defending UEFA Cup-champions Shakhtar Donetsk 2–0, with goals coming from Cardozo and Carlos Martins. On 16 July, in their third friendly, Benfica beat Athletic Bilbao 2–1 with Saviola scoring two second-half goals.

On 18 July, in their fourth friendly, they beat Olhanense 2–1 with a 74th minute highlight goal from Cardozo and an injury time goal from Miguel Vítor. On 21 July, in their fifth friendly, Benfica lost 2–1 against Atlético Madrid with their only goal coming from Cardozo. The game was played in front of 58,000 fans at the Estádio da Luz as this was the presentation game for Benfica and the first game former team-legend Simão played versus Benfica in an Atlético uniform. On 24 July, in their sixth friendly, they beat Sunderland 2–0 with goals coming from Cardozo and Maxi Pereira. On 26 July, in their seventh friendly, Benfica won the prestigious Amsterdam Tournament against Ajax 3–2, with an own goal from Ismaïl Aissati and goals from Ángel Di María and David Luiz.

On 1 August 2009, in their eighth friendly, they beat Portsmouth 4–0 with Cardozo scoring two first-half goals and Weldon scoring a second-half goal. An own goal from Wilkinson late in the second half resulted in Benfica's fourth goal of the match. On 2 August, in their ninth friendly, Benfica won the Guimarães Tournament against Vitória de Guimarães 2–0, with goals coming from Weldon and Ruben Amorim. On 8 August, in their final friendly of the 2009–10 preseason, Benfica won the Eusébio Cup on penalty kicks against Milan. At the end of full-time, the match was tied 1–1 with Benfica's goal coming from Cardozo in the second half. During the penalty kick shoot-out, goalkeeper Quim saved a total of four penalties, which gave the match to Benfica and kept the Eusébio Cup in Lisbon for the first time.

With a string of good results to start the 2009–10 season, breath-taking attacking football, and some high scoring games in the Portuguese Liga, manager Jorge Jesus and his players have brought a sense of excitement to Benfica supporters that has not been seen since the football club won the 2004–05 Portuguese Liga. This sense of excitement and renewed passion amongst Benfica fans has resulted in high hopes for domestic competitions in the 2009–10 Portuguese Liga, Cup of Portugal, and Portuguese League Cup, as well as for international competition in the UEFA Europa League.

As the season of the Portuguese Liga progressed, excitement amongst Benfica fans and intrigue amongst rival fans led to high attendance figures in both the Estádio da Luz and opposing team stadiums throughout Portugal. For example, in a Portuguese Liga match between Benfica and União de Leiria in Leiria on 26 September 2009, the Estádio Dr. Magalhães Pessoa had their highest attendance figure since the UEFA Euro 2004 tournament. Furthermore, informal estimates by those who attended the football match claim that more than 90% of the stadium was composed of Benfica supporters.

When the first half of the season ended after 15 matches, Benfica had a record of 11 wins, two draws, and one loss, with 39 goals scored and nine conceided. Benfica also has had the highest average home attendance with 46,737; their highest mark was 58,659 against FC Porto.

On 21 March, the first solid proof of the awakening of the dormant giant came with the conquest of the first trophy of the new era, a 3–0 win against arch-rivals Porto on the 2010 Portuguese League Cup. A game completely dominated by Benfica, who managed to bestow upon its rivals the 2nd defeat of the season.

On 1 and 8 April, Benfica were paired with Liverpool in a two-legged quarterfinal matchup in the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League. In Lisbon at the Estádio da Luz, Benfica defeated the English club 2–1 on 1 April. However, despite the positive result in the first leg of the matchup, Benfica was defeated by a score of 4–1 in Liverpool's Anfield Stadium.

On 13 April 2010 in the Lisbon Derby, Benfica played another important match against "capital rivals" Sporting. The match began with Sporting creating more goal opportunities in the first half. Given Benfica's poor tactics, Jorge Jesus replaced Éder Luis with Pablo Aimar. This substitution helped to dramactically improve Benfica's play-making abilities. During the match, Fábio Coentrão placed the ball in the penalty area for Óscar Cardozo to score. Later on, Pablo Aimar, after a great pass from Ramires, managed to score the 2nd goal for Benfica.

On 9 May 2010, Benfica won their final match against Rio Ave and became the Champion of the 2009–2010 Season. Óscar Cardozo scored twice in the game, which made him the top scorer of the season with 26 goals. At the end of the season, Benfica finished 5 points ahead of runner-up, SC Braga (the best result that Braga has had in the history of their football club), with 76 points out of a possible 90. During the 2009–10 Portuguese Liga, Benfica recorded 24 victories, 4 draws and 2 defeats, with 78 goals scored and only 20 allowed. As the 2009–10 Portuguese Liga Champions, Benfica secured their direct entry into the Group Stage of the 2010-11 UEFA Champions League.^[9]

Club statistics and records

Nené presently holds records for number of total appearances for Benfica with 575 games played.

Benfica's all time top goalscorer is a Eusébio, who scored 473 goals for the club in 440 games. José Águas is in second place with 378 goals in 384 games for the club followed by Nené, who has scored 359 goals in 575 games.

The club holds the unique record of having gone a whole season without losing a game, during the 1972–73 season and has a European winning streak record of 29 games between 1971–72 and 1972–73.

Symbols

The emblem is composed of an eagle, a shield in the club colours of red and white, and the acronym SLB for "Sport Lisboa e Benfica" over a football, all superimposed over a bicycle wheel, which was taken from the Grupo Sport Benfica emblem. The club motto is "E Pluribus Unum," Latin for "Out of many, one".

Before every home match, an actual eagle named Vitória flies around the Estádio da Luz several times and lands on top of Benfica's club shield, creating a real life version of the club's emblem. When this tradition first started, the eagle would not land on the shield every time, so it was believed by fans that when the eagle landed on top of the crest the team would win their game. As time went on and the eagle consistently landed on the shield, this belief was quickly forgotten.

It is said to be the only club in the world whose official anthem is sung by a tenor, Luís Piçarra, and the classic musician António Vitorino de Almeida has written a symphony to commemorate the club's first 100 years.^[1]

Stadium

The Estádio da Luz (Portuguese pronunciation: [(ɨ)ˈʃtadiu dɐ ˈluʃ]), officially named the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica, which translated means, "Stadium of Light," is a football stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, the home of Benfica. It is called "a Catedral" (the Cathedral) by the Benfica fans.

The term Luz refers, historically, to the parish of the Igreja de Nossa Senhora da Luz (Church of Our Lady of the Light). The Stadium of Light in Sunderland, England may well have been inspired by the name of this Lisbon stadium.

In Portuguese, the word Luz means "Light". Although the stadium was named in honor of the parish, the words da Luz in the parish name translates to "of the Light". Hence, the name is not mistranslated and is correctly translated. It is incorrect grammatically to refer to this naming as a "misnomer".

The stadium hosted several matches in the 2004 European Football Championship, including the final match. The previous Benfica stadium (also called "Estádio da Luz" and one of the largest stadiums in the world with 120,000 seats) was demolished and the new one was built for the tournament with a capacity of 65,647.^[1][1][3]

A view inside Benfica's stadium.

A view outside Benfica's stadium.

Training centre and youth academy

Benfica owns state-of-the-art training facilities in Seixal. The complex is called the Caixa Futebol Campus, named after sponsor Caixa Geral de Depósitos, a leading Portuguese bank. It is here that the professional team trains daily and also is the home of all Benfica's youth squads.^[1][10]

Supporters

In Portugal, the large majority of the population, are said to be Benfica sympathisers. More than 5 million Portuguese people are said to be Benfica fans, which means more than half the country. Almost every municipality of Portugal has its own Casa do Benfica (House of Benfica), which can also be found in many cities and towns of countries worldwide (Andorra, Angola, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, England, France, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Luxembourg, Macau, South Africa, Switzerland, and the United States).^[11]

Since the 2004–05 championship, club membership figures have seen a significant increase (see reasons above). In April 2006, the number of club members surpassed 140,000.^[12] In July 2006, Benfica had 143,000 members, 1,000 more than Manchester United. Since 2006, Benfica has been the club with the most associates (paid club members), known as Sócios, in the world.

On 30 September 2009, Benfica announced that it had reached the 200,000 mark for paid club members. In May 2004, Benfica launched an aggressive marketing campaign, known as kit sócio (membership kit), to increase its paid club membership from 94,714 to 200,000. As a result, five years later, Benfica was able to add more than 105,000 new paid club members to their existing membership of 94,714, which more than doubled their total paid club membership. Currently, Benfica remains the leader of international football clubs with the largest number of paying club members worldwide.^[7][8]

Like all major Portuguese football clubs, Benfica has several organized groups of supporters (claque, in Portugal), including the Diabos Vermelhos (Red Devils), No Name Boys, and Grupo Manks. However, due to recent legislation against "violence in sports", none of them are officially recognized as organized groups.

Benfica supporters commonly call themselves benfiquistas in order to show their dedication to the Portuguese club.^[13][14]

Rivalries

Due to the club's history, Benfica's main rival is Sporting Clube de Portugal. Their rivalry represents not only the natural rivalry between two clubs from the same city, but it's also based on perceived notions in regards to the personal and socioeconomic status of the fanbases. Benfica fanbase is within the people and working classes, while Sporting fans are mostly from higher classes.

The next major rival of Benfica is FC Porto, in the so-called "classic". This rivalry has grown in the last 20 years. Together with Sporting, they form the Big Three in Portuguese sports.

Organization and finances

Sport Lisboa e Benfica is organized by sports departments and has a number of specific businesses. The holding company for all Sport Lisboa e Benfica's departments and businesses is Sport Lisboa e Benfica SGPS, SA, which participates in all branches and businesses of the club.

Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol, S.A.D., the football department, is the largest by number of athletes, allocated budget, attendance, and sponsor contract receipts. As for the other sports departments in Benfica, they each have their own budget policy, sponsor contracts, and governing bodies. Although traditionally referred to as "the amateur sports departments," many of Benfica’s main competitive teams are composed of full-time professional athletes and coaches. Benfica also develops instructional and youth sport programs at both men’s and women’s sports events. In addition, Benfica hosts a number of youth sports academies throughout the world.

Regarding its business operations, Benfica has a network of merchandising shops called Loja do Benfica across Portugal and an online shop through Benfica's official website; a stadium management company; and BenficaTV channel, which started broadcasting in November 2008. Other business projects, such as a radio station and even a motor sports team have been discussed as possibilities for the future.

During the 2005–06 season, Benfica was ranked 20th in the Deloitte Football Money League with an estimated revenue of €85.1 million, placing it third in the Iberian Peninsula, behind only Spain's Real Madrid and FC Barcelona, and making it the first Portuguese football club to appear in the Money League. From 2002 to 2006, Benfica more than doubled their revenues.

Benfica’s revenue sources and percentages:

• 2002 – €42 million
• 2003 – €40 million
• 2004 – €55 million
• 2005 – €63 million
• 2006 – €85.1 million
  • Matchday – €38.6 million
  • Broadcasting – €17.2 million
  • Commercial – €29.3 million

• 2009–2010 Europa League total prize money – €2.3 million
• 2010-2011 Champions League total prize money - €9.35 million (as of August 25, 2010)
  • Broadcasting - €2.25 million
  • Making it to the group stage - €7.1 million

In 2007, Portuguese stock market authority CMVM approved Benfica's prospectus for the initial public offering (IPO) of up to 15 million shares in the Futebol, S.A.D., a 33% free-float. On 22 May 2007, Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol, S.A.D. (ticker: SLBEN) debuted on Euronext Lisbon and since then, it has been a publicly traded company.^{[1][15][16][17]}

Business Structure:

• Sport Lisboa e Benfica (the sports club)
• Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol, SAD (company for football) – 40% owned by Sport Lisboa e Benfica; 10.04% owned by Sport Lisboa e Benfica, SGPS, SA
• Sport Lisboa e Benfica, SGPS, SA (holding company)
• Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Multimédia, SA (official website and multimedia products)
• Benfica Estádio – Construção e Gestão de Estádios, SA (stadium management)
• Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Comercial – Gestão e Exploração da Marca Benfica, SA (brand management/merchandising)

In June 2007, after the share price fell from an initial €5/share to nearly €2.69/share, Portuguese businessman Joe Berardo made a takeover offer of 60% of the stock for €3.5/share. Benfica's president Luís Filipe Vieira refused the offer saying "Benfica will always have the majority of the stock".^[1][18]

The largest individual shareholders of Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol, SAD (ticker: SLBEN) are former Benfica president Manuel Vilarinho and current Benfica president Luís Filipe Vieira. Former Benfica president Manuel Vilarinho owns 12.27% of Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol, SAD, as of 1 August 2009.^[17]

Clubs inspired after Benfica

Being the most successful Portuguese club, Benfica has many followers around the world who have created clubs in honour of Benfica, specially in Portuguese-speaking countries and European countries with a significant Portuguese diaspora. Some of the most famous and oldest of those clubs or clubs playing in their countries' top tier include: Sport Luanda e Benfica founded in 1922, in Angolan's capital, Luanda; Sport Lubango e Benfica from Lubango, Angola, created in 1950; Benfica e Castelo Branco initiated in 1924, in Castelo Branco, Portugal; Sport Macúti e Benfica from Beira, Mozambique; Sport Quelimane e Benfica in Quelimane, Mozambique; Casa Estrella del Benfica from Andorra la Vella, Andorra, founded in 2003; FC RM Hamm Benfica created in 2004, from Luxembourg City, in the Hamm quarter, in Luxembourg; Benfica (Santa Cruz) based in Santa Cruz, in the island of Santiago, Cape Verde; Sport London e Benfica F.C. from London, England, created in 1981; amongst many others. There are also clubs that, despite not having the word Benfica in their official name, inspired themselves in the club by creating a similar logo. Arguably the most famous of those clubs is C.D. Santa Clara, who has played in the Portuguese Liga. Finally, some clubs don't share the word Benfica or similar logos who, nevertheless, are among the many filiations or satelite clubs that S.L. Benfica has, with some of them sharing the same board as their parent club. For instance, Benfica's current president, Luís Filipe Vieira, was also president of F.C. Alverca, a well-known satelite club for Benfica, who also played in the Portuguese Liga.

Notable figures

Some notable personalities in S.L. Benfica's history include (chronological order):

• Cosme Damião: Co-founder of the Sport Lisboa in 28 February 1904, player and captain of the team (he retired as a player (midfielder) in 1916, aged 30), and coach for a record 18 years. Damião would become the heart and soul of the club in the first 22 years of the club's existence. A charismatic figure, he was also one of the directors of the club that eventually became Sport Lisboa e Benfica, and it is not easy to fully understand all his contributions to the club, as he was involved in all Benfica's departments; despite this, he never became President. He was behind all the club's major issues during that period; in 1908, as Sport Lisboa barely struggled to create a new football team after the departure of many players to newly founded and wealthier Sporting Clube de Portugal (one of the reasons for that being that Sport Lisboa didn't have a football field of their own), he literally saved Sport Lisboa from collapse. Thanks to his efforts, the main assets of Grupo Sport Benfica were acquired by Sport Lisboa (the football field, the club house, and even the board of directors), thus creating Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Cosme Damião had a clear vision for SL Benfica's future: he was in favour of sports eclecticism, of the founding of regional houses, and increasing the number of associates (thus laying the groundstone to the Club's national dimension), and also of playing international football games. This merit is extraordinary, as virtually all of the first Lisbon clubs disappeared, with the exception of Sporting CP, CF Os Belenenses, and Casa Pia AC, all of them founded with players contracted at Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Cândido de Oliveira said about him: "He made of Benfica the biggest Portuguese club." He was later awarded with the Golden Eagle, the most important Benfica award for lifetime achievements in favour of the club. Benfica annually celebrates his name on a sports gala in which the club's athletes and personalities of the year are nominated and receive the Cosme Damião awards.^[1]

• Ribeiro dos Reis: One of the players in Portugal's very first international friendly (against Spain) in 1921, he played for Benfica from 1914–1925. He was also an athlete, making good use of his impressive speed. Ribeiro dos Reis was also a remarkable sports journalist, debuting at this parallel career in 1915. He would as well give his personal mark as a coach, a director in Benfica and in FPF, and as a prestigious referee and national coach. A man of culture, he was nominated for the FIFA Referees' Committee and was co-founder of the oldest sports newspaper still active today, A Bola. He is one of the few personalities awarded with the Golden Eagle, the main award given by SL Benfica, recognizing notable achievements in favour of the club.^[1]

• José Maria Nicolau: It was not any football achievement to give national recognition to Benfica, but cycling, by giving continued sport days along many cities and villages of Portugal. This was incarnated by a strong man, whose days on a bicycle since 1929 and through the next decade contributed uncountable memories to the people. Nicolau gave to Portugal's sport many passionate and unforgettable days competing on a bicycle, especially with his friend, although teams rival, Trindade. Nicolau in the 1930s was considered a national sport hero, and he alone conceded to the club a human patrimony that still is today one of the Benfica's trademark: its huge popularity. He won the Volta a Portugal two times as well as many other smaller competitions and classics.^[1]

• Espírito Santo: A living legend of Benfica's history. He was the perfect example of an eclectic athlete: as a footballer, he represented the club for 12 seasons, between 1936 and 1950, winning seven titles overall. Because of his gentleness and capabilities inside of the field, he soon became known as “The Black Pearl". Meanwhile, he proved his immense talent in sports elsewhere: in 1938, just two years after arriving, he was honoured with the “Silver Eagle” award for remarkable achievements in athletics events – he beat three national records in all the jumps categories; he would later became the Iberian record holder of the high jump. In the beginning of the 1940s, he was the most popular player of Benfica and one of the top Portuguese athletes. He also practiced tennis and later was awarded with the Golden Eagle Award. He was congratulated honourable president in a symbolical gesture during Benfica's celebration of the club's centenary in 2004.

• Rogério: Probably the greatest Portuguese footballer in the beginning of the 1950s, he was known as a skilled dribbler and a fine crosser. Rogério was also a great goalscorer. He has the record for most goals in Portuguese Cups and was part of the Benfica team that won the first international cup, the Latin Cup. He lifted the cup, despite not being the captain. He made with Arsénio a great duo. He was properly nicknamed Pipi from a teammate, because that was a common Portuguese name referring to an elegant and fashionable man (as Rogério was inside and outside of the field). One of Benfica's legends, he played more than 300 games in 12 seasons at the club, with an impressive record of more than 200 goals scored.^[1]

• Otto Glória: The man that brought professionalism to Benfica in the 1950s and many said that without his influence in the structure, no Champions Cup would be won. Using the 4–4–2 tactic imported from Brazil, as well as new training techniques, the Brazilian master shaped Benfica in such a way that he granted the pillars to Portuguese domination and international rising.^[1]

• Costa Pereira: An eclectic athlete, before fixing himself in the football world, Costa Pereira was Benfica's keeper for 13 years and is one of the club's legendary names. His achievements include being European champion twice, Portuguese national champion seven times, and winning five Portuguese cups, and earning more than 350 caps for the club. Pereira was an international player between 1955 and 1965 for the Portuguese national team.^[1]

• Mário Coluna: was a Mozambican-born Portuguese footballer, perhaps the best midfielder his country has ever had. His footballer nickname is O Monstro Sagrado (The Holy Monster). In 1999, he was voted 60th in the European Player of the Century election held by the IFFHS, ahead of Gunnar Gren. He moved to Benfica in the 1954–55 season where he played up until the 1969–70 season. He won ten National Championships and six Portuguese Cups. He won the European Cup twice with Benfica, in 1961 and 1962, and also played in the finals of 1963, 1965 and 1968, the latter as the captain. Coluna played 57 times for the Portuguese national team, scoring eight goals.^[1]

• José Águas: The legendary captain that won and had the destiny of rising the most important cup of Benfica history. Known for his spectacular headers and tireless work ethic, Águas marked an era and confessed years later that he played football like it was a normal job. His son, Rui Águas, who played for FC Porto in 1988 and for Benfica in 1990, scored two goals against Steaua Bucureşti in the 1988 Champions Cup semi-final to take Benfica to the final after 20 years of absence.^[1]

• Torcato Ferreira: A legendary coach of Portuguese rink hockey, he is responsible for eight national championships and the appearance of players like Garrancho, Livramento and Ramalhete.

• Béla Guttmann: This Hungarian coach arrived at Benfica in 1959 and led the club to the Portuguese title in his very first year. Better than that, in the following two years, with a team that included Eusébio, José Águas, José Augusto, Costa Pereira, António Simões, Germano, and Mário Coluna, the club won the European Cup twice in a row. In 1961, they beat FC Barcelona 3–2 in the final and in 1962, they retained the title, coming from 2–0 and 3–2 down to beat Real Madrid 5–3. But after this game, he decided to leave the club, because of monetarial controversy with the Benfica directors and that's when, the legend says, he cursed the club: "Not in a hundred years from now, will Benfica win a European Cup again." The truth is that despite being finalists on six occasions – 1963 (AC Milan, 1–2 in Wembley), 1965 (Internazionale, 0–1 in San Siro), 1968 (Manchester United, 1–4 AET in Wembley), 1983 (RSC Anderlecht, 0–1 in Belgium, 1–1 in Portugal in the UEFA Cup), 1988 (PSV, in Neckarstadion 0–0 , 5–6 pk) and 1990 (AC Milan 0–1, in Ernst Happel Stadion) – Benfica have never won any European competition again. In fact, before the 1990 final, which was played in Vienna, where Guttmann was buried, Eusébio prayed at his grave to ask for the curse to be broken. It wasn't.^[1]

• Ramalhete: Considered one of best rink hockey keepers ever, Ramalhete played for Benfica between 1960–74 and 1979–81. He won eight national championships and three Portuguese Cups. The team never won any international title, despite being in three European Cups finals.

• José Torres: The Bom Gigante (Good Giant) made a legacy that no one can forget. He and Eusébio made one of the more lethal duos of the 1960s, and scored the goal that granted the bronze medal in the 1966 FIFA World Cup. He was the coach of the Portuguese team in the 1986 FIFA World Cup and before the miracle of Stuttgart, he asked the press to let him dream of an impossible win against the powerful Germany; and eventually, Carlos Manuel, against all odds, scored the goal that made that dream possible.^[1]

• José Augusto: The Portuguese Garrincha, considered in the 1960s as one of the best right wingers of the world by the European press. He scored the goal in the first Portuguese win against Brazil and was known for his speed and dribbling and for being a good scorer. He was part of the "Fabulous Five" of Benfica (Mário Coluna, José Augusto, António Simões, José Torres, and Eusébio).^[1]

• António Simões: One of the greatest left wingers the world has met. With 18 years, he was part of the team that beat 5–3 Real Madrd at the 1962 Champions Cup Final and the Portuguese team of "Magriços" in the 1966 FIFA World Cup. Known for his perfect assists to Eusébio, even today many say that more than half of The Black Panther's goals belong as well to Simões.^[1]

• Eusébio: The days of the Portuguese international Eusébio were Benfica's most glory filled years. In 1962, he won the Champions Cup, scoring two goals in the final against Ferenc Puskás and Alfredo di Stéfano's Real Madrid. Benfica won 5–3. He scored 46 goals for Portugal in 64 appearances, and hit 317 goals in 291 League games for Benfica. He was the leading scorer in the 1966 FIFA World Cup where he scored nine goals, four of those against North Korea. He was the 1965 European Footballer of the Year, and in 1968, he was the first winner of the Golden Boot Award, as Europe's leading scorer, a feat he repeated five years later. The Portuguese Liga's top scorer seven times from 1964 to 1973, he helped Benfica to 11 league championships and five cup wins. He scored an outrageous 727 goals in 715 matches wearing a Benfica shirt. Eusébio was the all-time leading scorer for his country, with 41 goals (in 64 matches), until Pauleta surpassed his record against Latvia on 12 October 2005. His last game for the Selecção was a 2–2 draw with Bulgaria on 19 October 1973 in a World Cup qualifier. There is a statue of Eusébio at the main entrance of the Estádio da Luz.^[1]

• Humberto Coelho: Considered by many as the best Portuguese defender of all times, Humberto played for Benfica from 1968–69 to 1974–75, and from 1977–78 to 1984–85. He won eight National Champion titles and seven Portuguese Cups and was Portuguese Footballer of the Year in 1974. Unfortunately, he never played in a major competition (he had a chance in 1984 but had a terrible injury). He was compared by his coaches (Pavić, Baroti, Hagan) to the German Franz Beckenbauer. Later, he coached Portugal in a spectacular campaign in the UEFA Euro 2000.^[1]

• Toni: Known as "The Bearer of the Mística," Toni was known in-game as a force of nature, due to his stamina and strength. Captain and coach, he is the man that represented Benfica more times than anyone else with nearly 400 games as a player and 300 as a coach. He guided the team to great games against Bayer Leverkusen (4–4) or Sporting CP (6–3 at the Estádio José Alvalade). His stint in 2001–02 didn't go well and many said that was because he didn't evolve in his coaching skills. Even the less, he still is considered a legend.^[1]

• Manuel Bento: Probably the greatest Portuguese goalkeeper ever. Since his debut in the Selecção until his last game against England in the 1966 FIFA World Cup, he played 63 of the 65 games that the national team played since his debut. He played more than 400 games for Benfica. He was considered one of the best keepers of UEFA Euro 84, specially after a spectacular exhibition against France (2–3). He was hired in 1972 and ended his career in 1991.^[1]

• Shéu Han: "The Red General", of Mozambican and Chinese heritage, Shéu Han played more than 400 times for Benfica and was known for his finesse in the game. He scored the goal in the 1983 UEFA Cup final that didn't prevent RSC Anderlecht from winning the trophy. Even today, he is the team secretary and very popular among the fans.^[1]

• Zoran Filipović: Playing three seasons for SL Benfica (1981–1984) he scored 28 goals in 54 league games for the Portuguese Giant. Zoran Filipović also guided Benfica to the 1983 UEFA Cup Final against Anderlecht, being the top scorer of the competition and scoring memorable goals for the Portuguese supporters against Roma. Considered as one of the most elegant strikers to play for Benfica, Fili was somewhat special in the box especially with his headers.

• Jimmy Hagan: Invincible should be his name, after winning the Portuguese Championship in 1972–73 with an unbeaten run (28 wins and two draws, with 23 of those victories in a row). He won three titles (70–73) and created a team that rivaled with none in Portugal.^[1]

• Borges Coutinho: The most notorious president of Benfica. He led the club from 1969 to 1977 and in that period the club won six championships and three Portuguese Cups, maintaining the club finances in a very good state.^[1]

• Chalana: His first appearance in the senior team was at the age of 17 years old. He played in the club from 1975–76 to 1983–84 and 1987–88 to 1989–90 and won six championships and three Portuguese cups. He made one of the best left wing duos of Portugal and Europe (because of exhibitions in UEFA Euro 1984) with Álvaro Magalhães. He played more than 300 games and is still remembered for his incredible dribbling style and speed. The peak of his career was at Euro 84, where he was one the leading figures of the national team that reached the semi-finals.^[1]

• António Leitão: Athlete specialized in middle distance, he is an undeniable name of the Portuguese 1980s athletics generation. He was national champion and record holder of the main distances. He also won the European Cup twice in a row, in the 5000 metres distance, in the 1983 and 1985 events. In the 1984 Summer Olympics, held in Los Angeles, United States, he won the bronze medal in the 5000 metres event, placing his name as the first athlete of Benfica to won Olympic medals, and until Beijing 2008, the only one to achieve such status.

• Alexandre Yokochi: A notable name of Benfica and one of Portugal's greatest sportsmen, Yokochi is considered the best Portuguese swimmer of all-time; he was specialized in the 100 and 200 metres breaststroke. He was many times national champion and achieved international status by fulfilling great results in several competitions, including Latin titles and a silver medal on the European Championships. He also accomplished remarkable results at the World Championships and at the Olympics Games, where he was a finalist in 1984 and winner of the B final in 1988, both in the 200 metres breaststroke events.

• Carlos Manuel: Nicknamed "The Barreiro Express", he played more than 300 times for Benfica and was known for his technique, resistance, shooting skills, and strength (years as a train rail worker). Crucial as both a leader and a scorer, he his also known for his decisive goal against Germany during the last game of the 1986 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, placing the national team in the competition for the second time and ending an absence of 20 years. He won four national championships and was part of the Barreiro Group (Bento, Diamantino, Chalana, Frederico).

• Diamantino Miranda: Even today, Benfica supporters still cry of his absence in the Stuttgart Champions Cup Final of 1988, specially because before his injury against Vitória de Guimarães he was in a spectacular form. Known for his fantasy, Diamantino was also known for being a rebel but always giving his best for the team.^[1]

• António Veloso: One of the few players that surpassed 500 games for Benfica in all competitions. Known for being resourceful, he played in various positions throughout his career. Veloso was the player that was most times team captain and bearer of the "Mística". He was the player who missed the penalty kick in the penalty shootout of the 1988 Champions Cup Final, and he missed the 1990 Final due to seeing a yellow card in the semi-final against Olympique de Marseille, after fouling a player that was about to score a goal, that would prevent Benfica from reaching the final.^[1]

• Sven-Göran Eriksson: Success at other clubs in Sweden got him into a bigger job in Portugal as he took over Benfica. While at Benfica, Eriksson had what many consider a quick impact at the Estádio da Luz when in his first season he won the Portuguese Championship, the Portuguese Cup, and finished runner-up in the 1983 UEFA Cup. After a second Championship the following year, Eriksson moved to Italy with AS Roma where he won the Coppa Italia in 1986. In 1989, Benfica once again was where the Swedish coach began using his managing power. In 1990, Sven led Benfica to the European Cup final with players like prolific striker Mats Magnusson, and where they were runners-up to AC Milan. Eriksson also won another league title in 1991.^[1]

• Carlos Lisboa: Recognized by the Basketball specialists as the greatest Portuguese player of all-time, Lisboa was the leading figure of the most gifted team of the Portuguese Basketball. Between 1985 and 1996, the Benfica basketball team dominated the national competitions, having won an astonishing number of trophies, surpassing more than 20 official titles. At European competitions, Benfica won against many European giants. Lisboa was a talented player, with huge percentages in the 3-point line. A famous line from the Fado song "Cheira a Lisboa" was adopted by the fans to cheer Lisboa and the Benfica team: "It smells of Lisbon," simple translation, as "Lisboa" literally means "Lisbon": Cheira bem, cheira a Lisboa! (... it smells good, it smells of Lisbon!...).

• Carlos Mozer: One of the best foreigner defenders in Benfica's history, Mozer was known for being tough and skillful. He played for the club in two different periods (1987–89 and 1992–95) and today still has a close relation with the club.

• Ricardo Gomes: The Brazilian central defender arrived in the summer of 1988 and quickly became a key figure in the team. Although they only played a season together, he made with Carlos Mozer an important duo in the club's History. He represented Benfica until the end of the 1991 season, and returned to the club to fulfill another season (1995–96). With a total of four titles won in four seasons, probably his greatest achievement in the club was realized in April 1991, when he became the first foreigner to be the captain of a football team of Benfica.^[1]

• Rui Costa: Known as "The Maestro" by Benfica fans, Costa a life long love affair with the club. He arrived at the club as a 10 year old, and debuted at 20 years old with the senior team in 1991. He spent more than three years at the club, winning one Portuguese League title and one Portuguese Cup. He then moved to Fiorentina in the biggest transfer (at the time) of Portuguese football history. A famous episode took place when he returned to the Estádio da Luz to a friendly between Benfica and Fiorentina, and after he scored a goal for the Italians, he started to cry, as the Benfica fans cheered in applauses. In 2006, he returned to Benfica. He retired from football at the end of the 2007–08 season and immediately took up a position as a Club Director at Benfica.^[1]

• Luís Ferreira: The captain of the Benfica hockey team during the 1990–2002 period, Ferreira was one of the best players of the team. He retired in 2002, with 37 years, after 18 official titles won.

• Mário Palma: The legendary basketball coach who led Benfica in the 1990s to great results in Europe, beating teams like Cibona Zagreb, Panathinaikos, Pao Orthez, PAOK, Real Madrid, Joventut, Buckler, Olimpija Ljubilana, CSKA Moscow, and Partizan; a list of international results that was considered rather impossible or very hard to achieve to many specialized viewers, during that time. He succeeded Tim Shea and organized a team that is easily recognizable in Portugal as the most successful team ever, with Carlos Lisboa, Pedro Miguel, Jean Jacques, José Carlos Guimarães, Mike Plowden, Henrique Vieira, among other players. The group won 11 national championships in 12 years (with a period of seven titles won in a row). Palma was responsible for five of those titles and the referred European victories.

• Carlos Dantas: Led Benfica to five national rink hockey championships, seven Portuguese cups, five Super Cups, and one CERS Cup during 1988 and 2003. He returned to Benfica in the 2006 season.

• Jean-Jacques: One of the best Angolan players ever and a symbol of Benfica's Basketball. He won seven championships and four cups and is still remembered for his skills among the fans.

• Pedro Miguel: The point guard of the Portuguese Basketball "dream-team" in the 1990s (five national championships, nine Portuguese Cups). He was the player responsible for the victory against Real Madrid in October 1996, in Spain, by scoring two decisive points in the last moments of the game.

• Vítor Fortunato: One of the best defenders of the hockey World during his stint in Benfica and a regular in the national team during the 1990s. He stayed in the team until 2002.

• João Vieira Pinto: Undoubtedly one of the top three players of Benfica along the 1990 decade, he was Benfica's last player to play for Benfica for eight consecutive seasons. In his first period for Benfica (1992–1996), he climbed fast to be the central player, and was nicknamed "The Golden Boy". By that time, he was surely the top name in the Portuguese Golden Generation, just before other names arise into planetary level. He was the key figure in the 1993–94 championship, and in the decisive game at home of the national title's main opponent (Sporting CP 3, Benfica 6), he demolished any fears of Benfica to lose the title. He scored three goals that night, assisted another, and was involved in another goal. The Portuguese sports newspaper A Bola give him 10 points out of 10 to his overall play, the first time ever this happened since the newspaper started giving game-by-game ratings in the 1967–68 season. He would be also the key player in the final of the 1995–96 Portuguese Cup, having then completely surpassed a serious injury he suffered in the last season. He already was then the captain of the team. The last four years at the club were not successful at all, not only by the absence of titles, but also because of the ultimate degradation of Benfica's football department; JVP, as he was also known, was only one of the few gifted players in the teams that were changed almost completely every season, alongside Preud'Homme or Poborsky. He controversially left Benfica in 2000, without any glory whatsoever, despite being the horsepower of the team for many years. As a free agent, would later sign to Lisbon rivals Sporting CP.^[1]

• Michel Preud'homme: was a famous goalkeeper from Belgium known for his great saves and agility. Preud'homme was also at his best while at Benfica. He was the first keeper ever to win the prestigious Yashin Award for his terrific saves in during the 1994 FIFA World Cup where he was part of the MVPs. He signed for Benfica after that World Cup and won the Cup of Portugal in 1996 with the team. He was considered by many people the best goalkeeper at the time, an icon in his native Belgium and Benfica.^[1]

• Panchito Velasquez: the Argentine player was crucial in several moments between 1998 and 2002 of the Benfica team. He made a great duo with Filipe Gaidão. He is mostly remembered for his skills, placing him in the top of the rink hockey best players of the time. He never won the Portuguese national championship, something that cannot be separated of the beginning of the crisis and the almost ultimate decline in the Benfica's rink hockey department.

• Nuno Gomes: As of the 2009–10 season, he is the captain of Benfica. He has enjoyed a good career with Benfica and the Portuguese national team. Although his football skills have diminished with age, he is still beloved by Benfica fans and continues to be used by recent Benfica managers for his striking and passing skills. On the field, he is known for his good football instincts, which have resulted in numerous goals for both himself and his teammates. Off the field, his positive, selfless attitude and strong support of Benfica have made him a favorite amongst Benfica fans. Recently, Benfica renewed his contract and he is expected to finish his playing career with Benfica. After his playing career is over, Nuno Gomes is expected to take a job inside the club, which has been the case with past Benfica players, such as Rui Costa, Diamantino Miranda, Chalana, and Eusébio.

• Simão: In 2001, after a comparatively low-key tenure at FC Barcelona, Simão moved to Benfica on a deal reportedly worth €12 million. Although he started is career at Sporting C.P., he became an instant fan-favorite, quickly acquired the status of captain and was often acclaimed as Benfica's top player during the six years he spent at the club and also one of the Portuguese championship's best. Since he arrived at Benfica, Simão always ended seasons as the best goalscorer of the squad. He scored a total of 72 goals in 172 matches for Benfica, an extraordinary record for a winger. In the 2007–08 season, Simão was sold to Atlético de Madrid for a €20 million fee.^[1]

• Luisão: The current Benfica captain, the Brazilian international joined Benfica in 2003, making him one of the longest-tenured players on the squad (second only to reserve goalkeeper Moreira). Extremely tall (1.93m) he's the undisputed leader of the team and forms with David Luiz and Javi Garcia the backbone of the football side. He is also keen to move forward in corner kicks and has scored a few goals, the most famous of which coming against Liverpool in the Champions League.

• Nélson Évora: Portuguese athlete who specializes in the triple jump and long jump, he is the World Champion (title conquered in Osaka, Japan) and Olympic Champion (title conquered in Beijing, China). He is the first ever athlete of Benfica to win an Olympic Gold Medal and the first Portuguese to win an Olympic Gold Medal in a Jump competition and only the 4th to win it in all events.

• Vanessa Fernandes: Winner of the 2006 Triathlon World Cup and the winner of the 2007 World Cup ranking. She also won the World Champion Title in Hamburg, Germany on 1 September 2007 and the Duathlon World Championship's titles in Hungary, in 2007 and in Italy in 2008. At the Beijing Olympic games, Vanessa won a silver medal at only 22 years old.

• Telma Monteiro: Winner of the silver medal in the under-52 kg category in the World Championships held in Rio de Janeiro, on 15 September 2007. This was the best Portuguese result ever at international level. She was again silver medalist in the 2009 Rotterdam World Championships, this time competing for the first time in the −57 kg category.

• Carlos Carneiro: One of the best handball players of his generation. In his first season in Benfica (at 26 years old), he leaded Benfica to the 1st championship title in 18 years, the President's Cup and was selected the MVP of the 2007–08 Handball League. At his previous club, Madeira SAD, he was also a champion in the 2004–05 season.

• Ricardinho: One of the best futsal players of the world and the star of Benfica's and Portugal's current teams.

• Óscar Cardozo: As the second most expensive signing in the club's history, Cardozo joined Benfica in the summer of 2007 from Argentine club Newell's Old Boys. He is known as a free-kick specialist and is often called upon to score in penalty kick situations. He had an impressive first season with Benfica in which he scored 20 goals in all competitions. In the 2009-10 season, Tacuara was a key player for Benfica in winning the Portuguese Liga championship. He finished the season with 26 goals and thus won the Bola de Prata Award as the top scorer of the Portuguese Liga.

• Pablo Aimar: Aimar joined Benfica in the 2008–09 season from Spanish club Real Zaragoza and rapidly became an important player in the Benfica squad as an attacking midfielder. In the 2009–10 season, the Argentinian demonstrated strong football chemistry with his fellow teammates, as well as impressive football skills on the pitch. Following good football exibithions in the Portuguese league, Aimar was re-called again to the Argentinian national squad for the last two decisive games in the 2010 World Cup qualifiers.

• Javier Saviola: He joined Benfica in the 2009–10 season from Spanish club Real Madrid. Due to his speed, passing ability and goalscoring, he quickly earned a starting role as one of the club's two strikers, with Óscar Cardozo being the other. His overall football skills have made him an integral part of the Benfica squad.

• Ángel di María: The Argentine left winger joined Benfica in 2007 from Argentine club Rosario Central to replace departing captain Simão Sabrosa. After two unsatisfactory seasons, Maria exploded and was a key player for the 2009-10 season Liga title. During the 2010 FIFA World Cup, while representing Argentina, he was sold to Real Madrid.

Historical results

• Benfica 7 – 0 Madrid FC in 1913: Still not known by the royal name, the Spanish side traveled to Portugal, after being invited to play against Lisbon clubs. On 26 January, despite being in its dawn of international games, Benfica would achieve one of the heaviest defeats ever of Real Madrid's international historic record.

• Benfica 12 – 2 Porto in 1943: In the 5th round of the 1942\43 national championship, FC Porto suffered their biggest defeat ever in the championships. Julinho scored four times, Manuel da Costa, Valadas and Teixeira twice and Francisco Ferreira one. Alfredo scored an own goal. At half time, the score was 4–0. Benfica would eventually win the title in the end. Porto´s goalkeeper was on loan from Salgueiros and suffered 12 goals in 12 shots.

• Benfica 7 – 2 Sporting CP in 1946: The longest series of consecutive defeats (5) against the historical rival ended in style, in the 18th round of the 1945–46 championship. Both Arsénio and Mário Rui scored hat-tricks while Rogério scored one goal. It was the first time in history either team scored more than five goals against the other.

• Benfica 4 – 3 Torino in 1949: The most important victory of Benfica at international level, until the conquest of the Latin Cup in the following year, was also the saddest one. Torino was invited to participate in the homage game of Benfica's and Portugal's Captain, Francisco Ferreira. On 3 May 1949, in the National Stadium, Il Grande Torino was defeated for the first time in international games since 1940. In a friendship manner, Torino wanted another challenge, this time in Italy, and a game was scheduled for the next month. Unfortunately, it would never happen, as the career of the greatest European team at the time tragically came to an end, on the 4 May, in a horrific disaster, when the plane carrying home the famous team crashed into the Basilica complex at the top of the hill of Superga, nearby Turin, killing all the Italian football squad aboard.

• Benfica 2 – 1 Bordeaux in 1950: Breaking an unprecedent four years hiatus by winning the 1949–50 national league championships, the club played the recently formed Latin Cup, held in Portugal, in the national stadium. Surpassing SS Lazio in semi-finals, Benfica met the French champions, Bordeaux, in the final game. The final 3–3 result after extra time obliged both teams to play another game, one week later. On 18 June 1950, Benfica won 2–1, with a goal from Julinho on the 146th minute, after a late tie in regular time. The game was added 30 minutes scheduled in extra time which didn't produce any goals, followed by a 10-minute extra period until one of the teams scored the winning goal. With 266 minutes in total, this was easily one of the longest finals in football history. It was the very first international success of Benfica as well as the Portuguese football.

• Porto 2 – 8 Benfica in 1952: In the inauguration of the old "Estádio das Antas" (Antas Stadium), Benfica humiliated the rival team in its new home. This was not an official game but Benfica, that some weeks before had lost the Portuguese Championship to Sporting, played with its best team and giving no chances to the weak Porto team.

• Benfica 3 – 2 Barcelona in 1961: For the first time, Benfica reached a European Cup final in 1960/61. Their opposition was the giant and highly favorited Barcelona. Benfica defeated Barca 3–2, becoming the first club to win the European Cup besides Real Madrid, who had won the previous 5 finals.

• Benfica 5 – 3 Real Madrid in 1962: In 61/62 Benfica reached the European Cup final again, in one of the most anticipated finals of all time: The current champions against the former 5 times winners Real Madrid. With Eusébio on one side and Di Stéfano on the other. The game was a very emotional one, with Benfica coming from 2–0 and 3–2 down to beat Real Madrid 5–3 and becoming European champions for the second time in a row. Eusébio scored 2 goals in this historic victory. As twice European champion, Benfica proved such success wasn't random, but a long-term effort, established since Otto Gloria's arrival at the club in 1954.

• Benfica 5 – 1 Real Madrid in 1965: Game for the 1/4 finals of the 1964/65 Champions Cup's season and Benfica demolished the Spanish giants, with Eusébio scoring 2 goals. It was an attendance record in Portugal, only estimated at seventy thousand, certainly a number incorrectly quantified, because extra seats were mounted, increasing crowd figures near 85–90 thousand. Despite expensive tickets, it has been said that if there were enough seats to 300 thousand people, the Stadium would also be sell-out. Benfica was at top form in Europe, probably the best ever, and the career was promising a happy ending.

• Internazionale 1 – 0 Benfica in 1965: The fourth European Cup final in five years was a succession of misfortune incidents, and the defeat was considered a "glorious one" by some newspapers. The game was held at Milan Stadium, San Siro, home of Inter. Furthermore, it rained severely, and in a muddied field, the higher technical skills of Benfica players were conditioned, helping the Italian catenaccio side. In the 42nd minute, Benfica's keeper Costa Pereira easily conceded a goal. In the 57th minute, the Benfica's keeper was out of the game, seriously injured (he returned to Lisbon in a wheel-chair), being replaced by the central defender Germano. Eusébio was also physically down, and received special treatment prior to the game. Despite of the bad luck, Benfica dominated by far the game. Benfica's president conceded later the game's prize to the Portuguese players, as well as a symbolical trophy to the club, considering Benfica the "morally victorious" side of this strange final.

• Ajax 1 – 3 Benfica in 1969: Counting for the first leg of 1968\69 Champion's Cup´ quarter-finals, Benfica won in a heavily snowed field, beating Johan Cruyff's side with a great performance. This win is historically significant, as Benfica was the first club in Europe to be able to defeat the Amsterdam team in his homeland for UEFA competitions, and was the only European club to achieve such success for a long time: Ajax wouldn't lose another European match at home until September 1981, in the first round of 1981–82 Cup Winners' Cup edition, when Tottenham Hotspur beat them 2–1. Despite the important victory, Benfica didn't secure the two goals advantage, losing by the same score in the return match in Lisbon, and by 0–3 after extra time in Paris, in the decision match, not managing to follow to the semi-final for the sixth time in nine years.

• Benfica 5 – 1 Feyenoord in 1972: In the first hand, Benfica had lost 0–1 to Feyenoord, but in the return leg, Benfica were able to win 5–1, with 3 goals scored in the last 10 minutes.

• Benfica 6 – 0 Porto in 1972: Game for the 1/4 finals of the Portuguese Cup. And it was one of the biggest victories of Benfica over rivals FC Porto.

• Benfica 5 – 0 Sporting in 1978: A very famous victory of Benfica over the all-time-rivals Sporting. At half-time Benfica were already winning 5–0.

• Roma 1 – 2 Benfica in 1983: A magnificent victory in Italy over a great Roma team that became Italian champions that year, and reached the Champions cup final in the following year.

• Benfica 5 – 0 Sporting in 1986: Game for the 1/4 finals of the Portuguese Cup and Benfica were able to equal the victory of 1978.

• Benfica 2 – 0 Steaua Bucureşti in 1988: 2ª hand of the semi-finals of the Champions Cup of the 87/88 season. With an astonishing attendance of 120.000, Benfica won 2–0 at Gheorghe Hagi's Steaua and reached the final.

• Benfica 1 – 0 Marseille in 1990: 2ª hand of the semi-finals of the Champions Cup of the 89–90 season. In France, Benfica had lost 1–2 and in this game, Benfica scored the winning goal, only five minutes to the end, in a polemic goal. Vata allegedly scored with his hand, the official in charge of the match judged otherwise.

• Arsenal 1 – 3 Benfica in 1991: Game for the 2° round of the Champions Cup. After a 1–1 draw at Lisbon, the teams drew again in London after 90 minutes. However, Benfica were able to score 2 goals in extra-time and eliminated the English champions from the most important competition in Europe.

• Bayer Leverkusen 4 – 4 Benfica in 1994: One of the most emotional matches of Benfica's History. A total of eight goals in the end of this game, as Benfica got the passport to the semi-finals of the Cup winners Cup.

• Sporting CP 3 – 6 Benfica in 1994: In the game that decided the 1993–94 championship, Benfica made one of the best performances of all times, winning in an astonishing way in the home of their arch-rivals.

• Benfica 2 – 1 Manchester United in 2005: For the first time, Benfica were able to defeat Manchester United, gaining the right to play the next round of the Champions League, and even more impressive: leaving Manchester United out of European competitions for the rest of the season.

• Liverpool 0 – 2 Benfica in 2006: For the round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League, benfica won 2–0 against the reigning European Champions Liverpool at Anfield, winning and advancing to the quarter-finals.

• Benfica 5 – 0 Everton in 2009: Played at the Estádio da Luz in Lisbon during the group stage of the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League campaign, Benfica overwhelmed English Premier League side Everton with a relentless attacking display that resulted in two goals apiece for strikers Javier Saviola and Óscar Cardozo, as well as a scoring header for central defender Luisão.^[19][20]

• Benfica 4 – 0 Hertha BSC in 2010: Benfica became the first team through to the last 16 of the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League, continuing their impressive route through the competition with another sparkling home performance.

• Sporting CP 1 – 4 Benfica in 2010: Played at Sporting's Estádio José Alvalade, Benfica defeated their bitter rivals in a match that put Benfica into the finals of the Portuguese League Cup, also known as the Carlsberg Cup.

• Benfica 3 – 0 Porto in 2010: Played at Estádio Algarve in Faro, Benfica won convincingly against Porto to remain as champions of the Portuguese League Cup, also known as the Carlsberg Cup, for the second straight year.

• Olympique de Marseille 1 – 2 Benfica in 2010: Played at Stade Velodrome in Marseille, France. Following a 1–1 draw in Lisbon, Benfica made a spectacular come back to win the match. With the victory, Benfica progressed to the final eight of the 2009-10 Europa League.

History of team honours

^[1]

From 1922–1938, the Portuguese Championship was carried out as a knock-out competition. In 1934, an experimental and unofficial League Championship (Campeonato da I Liga) was introduced. This tournament was the precursor of the Portuguese League which started with the 1938–39 season. The previous format continued in renamed form as the cup competition.

International Finals campaigns

1950 Latin Cup Stage Opponent Result Replay 1/2 Lazio 3–0 Final Girondins Bordeaux 3–3 (a.e.t.) 2–1 (a.e.t.)

1957 Latin Cup Stage Opponent Result 1/2 Saint-Étienne 1–0 Final Real Madrid 0–1

1960–61 European Cup Stage Opponent Home Away Pre. Round Hearts 3–0 2–1 1st Round Újpesti Dózsa 6–2 1–2 1/4 AGF 3–1 4–1 1/2 Rapid Vienna 3–0 1–1 Final Barcelona 3–2

1961–62 European Cup Stage Opponent Home Away 1st Round Austria Wien 5–1 1–1 1/4 Nuremberg 6–0 1–3 1/2 Tottenham Hotspur 3–1 1–2 Final Real Madrid 5–3

1962–63 European Cup Stage Opponent Home Away 1st Round Norrköping 5–1 1–1 1/4 Dukla Prague 2–1 0–0 1/2 Feyenoord 3–1 0–0 Final Milan 1–2

1964–65 European Cup Stage Opponent Home Away Pre. Round Aris 5–1 5–1 1st Round La Chaux-de-Fonds 5–0 1–1 1/4 Real Madrid 5–1 1–2 1/2 Vasas ETO Györ 4–0 1–0 Final Internazionale 0–1

1967–68 European Cup Stage Opponent Home Away 1st Round Glentoran (a) 0–0 1–1 2nd Round Saint-Étienne 2–0 0–1 1/4 Vasas 3–0 0–0 1/2 Juventus 2–0 1–0 Final Manchester United 1–4 (a.e.t.)

1982–83 UEFA Cup Stage Opponent Home Away 1st Round Real Betis 2–1 2–1 2nd Round Lokeren 2–0 2–1 3rd Round Zürich 4–0 1–1 1/4 Roma 1–1 2–1 1/2 Universitatea Craiova (a) 0–0 1–1 Final Anderlecht 1–1 0–1

1987–88 European Cup Stage Opponent Home Away 1st Round Partizani Tirana 4–0 w/o 2nd Round AGF 1–0 0–0 1/4 Anderlecht 2–0 0–1 1/2 Steaua Bucureşti 2–0 0–0 Final PSV 0–0 (a.e.t.) 5–6 (p.s.)

1989–90 European Cup Stage Opponent Home Away 1st Round Derry City 4–0 2–1 2nd Round Budapest Honvéd 7–0 2–0 1/4 Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk 1–0 3–0 1/2 Marseille (a) 1–0 1–2 Final Milan 0–1

National Titles

• Portuguese Liga (Primeira Divisão, Primeira Liga, Campeonato Nacional):
  • Winners (32) (Record): 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1944–45, 1949–50, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1983–84, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1990–91, 1993–94, 2004–05, 2009–10
  • Runners-up (24): 1943–44, 1945–46, 1946–47, 1947–48, 1948–49, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1955–56, 1958–59, 1965–66, 1969–70, 1973–74, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1981–82, 1985–86, 1987–88, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1997–98, 2002–03, 2003–04

• Cup of Portugal (Taça de Portugal):
  • Winners (24) (Record): 1939–40, 1942–43, 1943–44, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1951–52, 1952–53, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1961–62, 1963–64, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1982–83, 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1992–93, 1995–96, 2003–04
  • Runners-up (10): 1937–38, 1938–39, 1957–58, 1964–65, 1970–71, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1988–89, 1996–97, 2004–05

• League Cup (Taça da Liga):
  • Winners (2) (Record): 2008–09, 2009–10

• Portuguese SuperCup (Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira):
  • Winners (4): 1980–81, 1985–86, 1989–90, 2005–06
  • Runners-up (11): 1981–82, 1983–84, 1984–85, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1996–97, 2004–05, 2009–10

• Campeonato de Portugal (Championship of Portugal, 1921–1938):
  • Winners (3): 1929–30, 1930–31, 1934–35

• Taça de Honra (Cup of Honour):
  • Winners (18): 1919–20, 1921–22, 1962–63, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1981–82, 1983–84, 1985–86, 1987–88

• Taça de Ribeiro dos Reis (Ribeiro dos Reis Cup):
  • Winners (3): 1963–64, 1965–66, 1970–71

• Império Cup (Taça do Império):
  • Winners (3): 1912, 1913, 1918

Note: It shouldn't be translated as Empire Cup as it refers to Império LC, a Lisbon club from the early 20th century. It was also known as the Cup of Portugal, given that every club from the country could take part in it.

• Títulos dos Jogos Olímpicos Nacionais (Titles of the National Olympic Games):
  • Winners (3): 1910, 1912, 1913

European Titles

• UEFA Champions League (formerly European Cup):^[21]
  • Winners (2): 1960–61; 1961–62
  • Runners-up (5): 1962–63; 1964–65; 1967–68; 1987–88; 1989–90

• UEFA Europa League (formerly UEFA Cup):
  • Runner-up (1): 1982–83

• Latin Cup (Taça Latina):
  • Winners (1): 1949–50
  • Runners-up (1): 1956–57

• Iberian Cup (Taça Iberica):
  • Winners (1): 1983–84
  • Runners-up (1): 1990-91

International titles

• Intercontinental Cup:
  • Runners-up (2): 1961, 1962

• Pequeña Copa del Mundo de Clubes:
  • Winners (1): 1965

Regional (Lisbon) Titles

• Campeonato de Lisboa (Lisbon Championship)
  • Winners (10): 1909–10, 1911–12, 1912–13, 1913–14, 1915–16, 1916–17, 1917–18, 1919–20, 1932–33, 1939–40

Award Winners

Ballon d'Or

The following players have won the Ballon d'Or whilst playing for Benfica:

• Eusébio – 1965

European Golden Boot

The following players have won the European Golden Boot whilst playing for Benfica:

• Eusébio (42 goals) – 1968 (First winner)
• Eusébio (40 goals) – 1973

Technical staff 2010–11

Position	Staff
Head Coach	Jorge Jesus
Assistant Coach	Pietra
Assistant Coach	Miguel Quaresma
Assistant Coach	Raul José
Goalkeeper Coach	Luís Matos
Physical Fitness Coach	Mário Monteiro
Technical Observer	Marco Pedroso
Scout	Rui Águas
Scout	José Sampaio

Last updated: 28 August 2010
Source: ZeroZeroFootball

Current squad 2010–11

• As of 2 September 2010.^[22][23][24]

Roberto Pereira Luisão Luiz Coentrão Gaitán García Salvio Aimar Cardozo Saviola

Benfica in their 4–4–2 diamond formation (4–1–2–1–2 formation).[25]

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player 1 GK Moreira 2 MF Airton 3 DF Fábio Faria 4 DF Luisão (vice-captain) 5 MF Ruben Amorim 6 MF Javi García 7 FW Óscar Cardozo 8 FW Eduardo Salvio (on loan from Atlético Madrid) 10 MF Pablo Aimar 11 FW Franco Jara 12 GK Roberto 13 GK Júlio César 14 DF Maxi Pereira

No. Position Player 15 DF Roderick Miranda 16 MF Felipe Menezes 17 MF Carlos Martins 18 DF Fábio Coentrão 19 FW Weldon 20 MF Nicolás Gaitán 21 FW Nuno Gomes (captain) 22 DF Luís Filipe 23 DF David Luiz (3rd-captain) 25 DF César Peixoto 27 DF Sidnei 30 FW Javier Saviola 31 FW Alan Kardec

Reserve Players

Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player – DF Leandro Silva – DF Marc Zoro 24 MF Javier Ángel Balboa 9 FW Mantorras

Transfers 2010–11

In

• Fábio Faria — Rio Ave — €2M^[26]
• Franco Jara — Arsenal de Sarandí — €5.5M
• Nicolás Gaitán — Boca Juniors — €8.4M
• Roberto — Atlético Madrid — €8.5M
• Jan Oblak — Olimpija Ljubljana — €1.5M^[27]
• Rodrigo — Real Madrid — €6M^[28][29][30]
• Eduardo Salvio — Atlético Madrid — On one year loan (€2M paid for 20% of player rights with option to purchase at the end of the season.)^[31][32]
• Alípio — Real Madrid — On loan^[33][34][35]

Out

• Gilles Binya — Neuchatel Xamax — Free
• Quim — Sporting de Braga — Free
• Bruno Costa — CD Badajoz — Free
• Rafik Halliche — Fulham — €2.5M^[36]
• Ángel di María — Real Madrid — €30M + potential player performance bonuses of up to €6M for the 2010-11 season^[37]
• Ramires — Chelsea — €22M (Benfica will only retain €11M due to selling %50 of the players rights to Jazzy Limited, the agent's parent company, for around €6m this past June, a clause which is was set at the beginning of his move to Europe.)^[38][39][40]
• Makukula — Manisaspor — €2M ^[41]
• Danilo Pereira — Parma — €0.15M^[42]
• Pedro Rosário — Lazio — Free
• Diogo Figueiras — Pinhalnovense — Free

Out on loan

• Miguel Vítor — Leicester City
• Nélson Oliveira — Paços de Ferreira
• Ruben Lima — Vitória de Setúbal
• Miguel Rosa — Belenenses
• Leandro Pimenta — CD Fatima
• Evandro Brandão — CD Fatima
• Ishmael Yartey — CD Fatima
• João Pereira — CD Fatima
• André Carvalhas — CD Fatima
• Abel Pereira — CD Fatima
• Rafael Costa — CD Fatima
• Mário Rui — CD Fatima
• José Coelho — CD Fatima
• Rafael Costa — CD Fatima
• David Simão — Paços de Ferreira
• Lassaná Camará — Servette FC
• André Soares — Servette FC
• Urreta — Deportivo de La Coruña
• Éder Luís — Vasco da Gama
• Fellipe Bastos — Vasco da Gama
• Edcarlos — Cruzeiro^[43]
• Marcel — Santos
• Patric — Avaí
• José Shaffer — Rosario Central
• Jorge Ribeiro — Vitória de Guimarães
• Jan Oblak — Beira-Mar
• Ivan Santos — Sporting Clube de Espinho
• Hassan Yebda — Napoli
• Rodrigo — Bolton Wanderers
• Romeu Ribeiro — Marítimo
• Freddy Adu — Aris^[44]

Finances

• Total spending: €33.9M (as of 2 September 2010)
• Total income: €45.65M + €6M purchase agreement paid to Benfica in June 2010 by Jazzy Limited, the parent company of Ramires' agent, for 50% of player rights + potential player performance bonuses of up to €6M for the 2010-11 season (Di María) (as of 2 September 2010)

Junior Team A 2010–11

• Benfica Junior Team A Squad, 19 & Under

Technical staff 2010–11

Position	Staff
Head Coach	João Santos
Assistant Coach	João Tralhão
Assistant Coach	Bastos Lopes
Goalkeeper Coach	Paulo Marques
Physical Fitness Coach	João Sousa
Physical Fitness Coach	José Marques

Last updated: 28 August 2010
Source: ZeroZeroFootball.com (in English),SLBenfica.pt (SL Benfica Official Website) (in Portuguese),Serbenfiquista.com (in Portuguese),Mais-benfica.blogspot.com (in Portuguese)

Current squad 2010–11 Note: Flags indicate national team as has been defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player – GK Bruno Barros – GK Fábio Reis – GK Ederson Moraes – DF Andrei Silva – DF Vinicius Silva – DF Alexsandro Silva – DF Tiago Ribeiro – DF Cafú – DF Pedro Almeida – DF Daniel Martins – DF Frederico Venâncio – DF Edson Silva – DF Fábio Leite – DF Luís Martins – DF Bakar Mirtskhulava

No. Position Player – MF Diego Lopes – MF Paulo Teles – MF Ruben Pinto – MF Ademir Santos – MF Francisco Junior – MF Pedro Dias – MF José Graça – FW Bruno Gaspar – FW Jean Silva – FW Ivan Cavaleiro – FW Diogo Caramelo – FW Charles Santos – FW Rômulo Santos – FW Miguel Herlein

Retired numbers

Benfica retired the number 29 of Hungarian player Miklós Fehér, who died of cardiac arrhythmia on 25 January 2004 at the grounds of Estádio D. Afonso Henriques in Guimarães during a match between Vitória Guimarães and Benfica in the Portuguese Liga.

• 29 Miklós Fehér, Striker, 2001–2004

Notable former players

• Category: S.L. Benfica footballers

• List of notable football players in Benfica's history:

1904–1950 Alberto Augusto Alfredo Valadas Alvaro Gaspar Pinto Arsénio Trindade Duarte Cosme Damião Corona Espírito Santo Félix Francisco Albino Xico Ferreira Francisco Moreira Gustavo Teixeira Julinho Joaquim Fernandes da Silva Luís Xavier Ribeiro dos Reis Manuel Sallouminas Sousa Alexandre Khadivão Da Banna Tamanqueiro Rogério "Pipi" Rogério de Sousa Vítor Silva Paulo Joaquim

1951–1970 Ângelo António Simões António Calisto Artur Correia Costa Pereira Cruz Fernando Caiado Cavém Eusébio Francisco Calado Francisco Palmeiro Germano José Águas José Augusto José Bastos Jaime Graça Mário Coluna Mário João Raúl Machado Santana Serra Torres Zézinho

1971–1990 Álvaro Magalhães António Oliveira Artur Jorge Humberto Coelho Rui Jordão Bastos Lopes Carlos Manuel Eurico Gomes Fernando Chalana Diamantino Frederico Jorge Martins José António José Henrique José Luís Manuel Bento Minervino Pietra Nené Neno Rui Águas Reinaldo Gomes Samuel Shéu Silvino Toni António Veloso Vítor Baptista Elzo Coelho Wando Manniche Alberto Zoran Filipović Glenn Strömberg Mats Magnusson Tueba Menayane

1990s Paulo Sousa João Pinto Paulo Futre Maniche Rui Costa Paulo Bento Abel Xavier Vitor Paneira Dimas Teixeira César Brito António Pacheco Hernâni Neves Hélder Vata Claudio Caniggia Michel Preud'homme Erwin Sánchez Valdo Mozer Ricardo Gomes Isaias Aldair Amaral William Edilson Mario Stanić Brian Deane Scott Minto Carlos Gamarra Vasili Kulkov Alexander Mostovoi Sergei Yuran Sergei Ovchinnikov Jonas Thern Stefan Schwarz

2000s Miklós Fehér Fernando Meira Miguel Petit Simão Tiago Nuno Gomes Fábio Coentrão Mantorras Karel Poborský Pierre van Hooijdonk Robert Enke Hans-Jörg Butt Zlatko Zahovič Carlos Marchena José Antonio Reyes Ángel di María Pablo Aimar Saviola Fabrizio Miccoli Georgios Karagounis Kostas Katsouranis Ljubinko Drulović Geovanni Léo Ramires Luisão David Luiz David Suazo Óscar Cardozo

A statue of Eusébio, a legendary player for Benfica and Portugal, stands near Benfica's stadium as a symbol of the football club and of Portuguese football.

Another view of the statue of Eusébio.

Former football coaches

^[1][45]

Manuel Gourlade : 1904–1908 Cosme Damião : 1908–1926 Ribeiro dos Reis : 1926–1929 Arthur John : 1929–1931 Ribeiro dos Reis : 1931–1934 Vítor Gonçalves : 1934–1935 Lipót Hertzka : 1935–1939 János Biri : 1939–1947 Lipót Hertzka : 1947–1948 Edward "Ted" Smith : 1948–1952 Alberto Zozaya : 1952–1953 José Valdivieso: 1954 Otto Glória : 1954–1959 Béla Guttmann: 1959–1962 Fernando Riera : 1962–1963 Lajos Czeizler : 1963–1964 Elek Schwartz : 1964–1965 Béla Guttmann: 1965–1966

Fernando Riera : 1966–1967 Fernando Cabrita: 1967–1968 Otto Glória : 1968–1970 Jimmy Hagan : 1970–1973 Fernando Cabrita: 1973–1974 Milorad "Michel" Pavić : 1974–1975 Mário Wilson: 1975–1976 John Mortimore: 1976–1979 Mário Wilson: 1979–1980 Lajos Baróti: 1980–1982 Sven-Göran Eriksson : 1982–1984 Pál Csernai : 1984–1985 John Mortimore: 1985–1987 Ebbe Skovdahl : 1987 Toni : 1987–1989 Sven-Göran Eriksson : 1989–1992 Tomislav Ivić : 1992 Toni : 1992–1994

Artur Jorge : 1994–1995 Mário Wilson: 1995–1996 Paulo Autuori : 1996–1997 Manuel José : 1997 Mário Wilson: 1997 Graeme Souness : 1997–1999 Jupp Heynckes : 1999–2000 José Mourinho : 2000 Toni : 2000–2002 Jesualdo Ferreira : 2002 José Antonio Camacho : 2002–2004 Giovanni Trapattoni : 2004–2005 Ronald Koeman : 2005–2006 Fernando Santos : 2006–2007 José Antonio Camacho : 2007–2008 Fernando Chalana : 2008 Quique Flores : 2008–2009

Other sports

Athletics

Athletics is a sport with a great tradition in Benfica's history. Nowadays, olympic champion and national recordist Nelson Évora in triple jump is among Benfica's athletics biggest names. By the number of regional, national and international titles, it is the most successful sport of the club.

Basketball

S.L. Benfica are a top club in Portugal. One of its most memorable moments was when Benfica's basketball team won a European Cup clash against Italian giants Buckler Bologna, beating the Italians 102–90, in 4 December 1993 at Pavilhão da Luz in Lisbon. However, due to Portugal's popularity in football, basketball is not nearly as popular with the population as football. Just as in football, Benfica has a major rivalry with F.C. Porto's basketball team and it usually leads to arguments between the fans and players. S.L. Benfica have won in his basketball history 20 Portuguese championships, 18 Portuguese cups, 5 League Cups and 7 Portuguese Supercups and are currently one of the best teams in the league.

Billiards

Benfica has a long and rich tradition on Billiards. The new board of the section was elected in April 2007.

Boxing

The Boxing section was reintroduced in 2008 and won the national championship 40 years after its last championship.

The 72,5 kg kickboxing-world champion, Bruno Carvalho, is one of Benfica's athletes.

Cycling

Cycling was the second modality established within the club, and along with football, is one of only two sports referenced in the club logo. The sport was in activity from 1906 to 1941, 1947 to 1978, 1999 to 2000, and once again from 2007 to 2008. Benfica last won the Volta a Portugal in 1999, with Spanish cyclist David Plaza capturing the leader's yellow jersey. Historically, the club has had great national successes in cycling.

Futsal

Benfica has a professional futsal team since 2002. In 5 years, the club won 4 Portuguese championships, 4 Portuguese cups, 4 Portuguese Supercups and 1 UEFA cup. Benfica also reached the final of the UEFA Cup in the 2003/04 season. In 2007 season, Benfica was national champion and also won the Portuguese cup. In the Women's section, Benfica was also national champion.

Men's Futsal National trophies:

• Campeão Nacional (National Championship): 2002/03 ; 2004/05 ; 2006/07; 2007/08; 2008/09
• Taça Nacional (National Cup) winner: 2002/03 ; 2004/05 ; 2006/07 ; 2008/2009
• Supertaça (Supercup): 2002/03 ; 2005/06 ; 2006/07; 2008/2009
• UEFA Futsal Cup: 2009/10 (winner), 2004/05 (runner up)
• Taça das Taças (Winner's Cup): 2006/07 (runner up)

Handball

The Men's national Handball honours of Benfica include 7 championships,3 cups, 3 supercups and 1 league cup. The club gave up of the sport between 1997 and 2004. Until the 1992/93 season, the club's variant of seven achieved the 100th trophy mark. 30 of them were conquered by seniors teams. In the 2007 season, Benfica ended a period of sixteen seasons without any national title won on men's seniors, after the conquest of the league cup, on 28 January 2007. Benfica won the national championship in the 2008 season, after 18 years without achieving that status.

Golf

Benfica is one of Portugal's biggest Golf clubs. It organizes around 20 tournaments each year.

Gymnastics

The club has a gymnastics department, with the following activities: Aerobics, Acrobatic, Aerominis, Ballet, Ballroom dance, Boxing, Dance, Gymnastics of maintenance, Hapkido, Haidong Gumdo, Hip Hop, Kempo, Kickboxing, Krav Maga, Muay-thai, "Os Madrugadores", PlayGym, Rhythmic gymnastics, Silhouettes, Taekwondo, Trampoline, Yoga, Youth Gymnastics.

Every year, the club organises the sarau Gimnáguia, known as one of the biggest and most important gymnastics event in Portugal, with the participation of several clubs. The event celebrated in 2007 the twenty-fifth anniversary.

Judo

European champion in the women's under-52 kg category, Telma Monteiro, has joined Benfica.^[46] The section is fully established on January 21, 2008, when the club will inaugurate their first ever Tatami mat.^[47] Ana Monteiro, Sandra Borges, Teresa Mirrado and André Januário are among other athletes of the section.

Rink hockey

Benfica has practiced this sport without interruption for longer than any other club in the world. The team are currently playing in the Primeira Divisão (First Division). The club has won many domestic competitions (20 Portuguese championships, 12 Portuguese Cups and 6 Portuguese Supercups), and European competitions (1 CERS Cup). The club's rink hockey team is considered one of the best in Portugal and rivalizes at national level with F.C. Porto and Óquei Clube de Barcelos rink hockey teams, in Europe they are also a title disputing team although they have only won the second most important cup once, CERS Cup.

Rugby

Benfica have won many Portuguese championships in rugby, with Académica de Coimbra, C.D.U.P., Direito and Belenenses being other powerful competitors. Benfica have also won the Iberian Cup. Benfica is the oldest Portuguese club with a rugby section. In the 2008 season, the men's senior team ended in the 4th position in the national championship, while the women's section was the national champion for the second consecutive year.

Sport Fishing

The Sport Fishing section has had its best season in 2008, with Benfica being 2nd in the Portuguese championship.

Swimming

S.L. Benfica's swimming department is among the best in Portugal. Benfica's swimmer Alexandre Yokochi is considered the best Portuguese swimmer of all-time, achieving remarkable results at international level. In the eighties, Benfica achieved relevant results, both in national and international levels. In 2007, the club won several medals in different competitions, at youth and seniors levels. Benfica has a men's and women's department.

Triathlon

World champion Vanessa Fernandes in women's triathlon is currently the most notable athlete of this department.

Table tennis

The club has a table tennis department, with a men's and women's section. Benfica dominated this sport at national level for a long period of time, with several titles won.

Volleyball

Benfica has achieved a certain importance in Portuguese volleyball in the last years after investing in hiring a winning team. The club won 3 Portuguese championships (the last one in 2004/05) and 10 Portuguese cups.

See also

• Deloitte Football Money League
• Derby de Lisboa
• O Clássico
• S.L. Benfica in Europe

References

External links

• SL Benfica Official Website (Portuguese)
• SLBoogle, the Team's Google Custom Search
• Nuno Gomes's Official Website
• Freddy Adu's Official Website
• Benfica transfer news at Transfermarkt (Translated to English from German)
• Benfica news at Goal
• Benfica news at ESPNsoccernet
• Benfica news at Portugoal
• Benfica news at PSNL Soccer
• Benfica transfer news at Zerozero
• Benfica Profile at UEFA
• Benfica Profile at UEFA (Portuguese)
• Benfica transfer news at Zerozero (Portuguese)
• Benfica news at A Bola (Portuguese)
• Benfica news at Maisfutebol (Portuguese)
• Benfica news at O Jogo (Portuguese)
• Benfica news at Record (Portuguese)
• Benfica news at SAPO Desporto (Portuguese)

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