S.L. Benfica (futsal)

Benfica

Full name	Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Founded	13 September 2001 (2001-09-13)
Ground	Pavilhão Fidelidade
Ground Capacity	2,400
Head coach	Joel Rocha
League	1ª Divisão
2014–15	1st / Winners
Website	Club home page
Home colours Away colours

Active departments of Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Football	Futsal	Basketball
Roller hockey	Handball	Volleyball
Rugby union	Athletics	Swimming
Table tennis	Billiards	Canoeing

Sport Lisboa e Benfica is a professional futsal team based in Lisbon, Portugal. Benfica play in the Liga Portuguesa de Futsal where they are defending champions.

Since its creation in 2001, the team has been a constant challenger for the championship and won at least one trophy per season between 2005 and 2013. Benfica won all three Portuguese titles in the 2006–07 and 2011–12 seasons. Benfica is the only Portuguese team to have won the UEFA Futsal Cup and to be ranked first in UEFA Futsal Cup rankings, in 2012.^[1]

History

Establishment (2001–2004)

Established on 13 September 2001, Benfica merged with futsal team Olímpico and became managed by company MPM on 2 June, with Benfica only providing the facilities, medical staff and kits. This union allowed Benfica to participate in the 2001–02 first division.^[2][3] In their debut, Benfica were runners-up, losing 3–2 to Miramar Futsal Clube with the decisive goal coming from a future Benfica glory, André Lima.^[4] Benfica's notable players in their first season were Portuguese internationals Naná, Vitinho I, Drula and Nelito, who were coached by Alípio Matos.

The following season, with new players like André Lima,^[5] Rogério Vilela,^[6] Pedro Costa and Arnaldo Pereira,^[7] Benfica won their first league title, against Sporting CP,^[8] their first Portuguese Cup,^[9] and their first Super Cup.^[10]

In 2003–04, notable players Ciço and Ricardinho joined Benfica.^[11] Benfica reached the 2003–04 UEFA Futsal Cup final, losing 7–5 on aggregate to Interviu.^[12]

Adil Amarante years (2004–2008)

In 2004–05, Adil Amarante replaced Alípio Matos, and added Nelito, Estrela and Pica Pau.^[13] Benfica won the Portuguese Cup against Boavista FC^[14] and the second league title against Sporting.^[15]

The next season, players like Wilson^[16] Côco^[17] and Sidney all joined Benfica, while Zé Maria left.^[18][19] Benfica lost the Portuguese Cup to Sporting in the Final Four,^[20] and then the league.^[21]

In 2006–07, Benfica improved their squad with new players such as Gonçalo Alves, Bebé, Pedro Costa, Zé Maria and Estrela, who returned. Nelito ended his career.^[22] Benfica conquered the Super Cup.^[23] In January, Alex joined Benfica.^[24] In May Benfica won another Portuguese Cup^[25] and by June another league^[26]

In the 2007–08 season, Arnaldo Pereira and Miguel Almeida returned,^[27] while Estrela left. Benfica started the season by winning the Super Cup.^[28] In January, César Paulo joined Benfica.^[29] In March, Adil Amarante left in disagreement with Benfica about his new contract,^[30] and was replaced by Beto Aranha,^[31] who lead Benfica to their first back-to-back champion titles.^[32]

André Lima years (2008–2010)

In July 2008, despite being in charge only for four months, Benfica replaced Beto Aranha with former player and coach, André Lima.^[33] The only reinforcement was Pedrinho, while Miguel Almeida left.^[34] Benfica lost the Super Cup^[35] but won the Portuguese Cup^[36] and the third league title in a row for the first time.^[37]

In 2009–10, Benfica hired Davi and Marinho.^[38] Benfica won their 13th title, the Super Cup.^[39]

On 25 April 2010, Benfica became European champions by conquering the UEFA Futsal Cup, after defeating Luparense by 8–4 in the semi-finals, they beat Interviu 3–2 in the final; Benfica conceded first by Marquinho, but Joel Queirós and then Arnaldo put Benfica in the lead, Interviu equalised by Betão, but Davi in the final minutes sealed the historic victory.^[40][41]

In the rest of season, Benfica lost the Portuguese Cup to Belenenses^[42] and then the league to Sporting.^[43]

Recent years (2010–present)

In the 2010–11 season, coach Paulo Fernandes, who had just won the league for Sporting, replaced European champion André Lima.^[44] Ricardinho left^[45] and was replaced by Diece.^[46] Another addition was Diego Sol who arrived from Belenenses, and Teka from Sporting.^[47][48] In this season Benfica lost the Portuguese Cup^[49] and then the league in three matches, despite winning the regular phase.^[50] In European competitions, Benfica finished fourth in the 2010–11 UEFA Futsal Cup.^[51]

In 2011–12, Benfica added Marcão, Dentinho and Bruno Coelho.^[52] The season was better than the previous one as Benfica won all three competitions they entered: the Super Cup,^[53] Portuguese Cup^[54] and the league.^[55] Ricardinho returned in January on a 6 month-loan^[56] but failed to make an impact, being suspended for three matches in the final.^[57][58]

In 2012–13, Benfica hired Vitor Hugo^[59] and Nené.^[60] On 2 September 2012, they won their sixth Super Cup against Modicus (5–3) and tied with Sporting in terms of overall titles (17).^[61] After a series of bad results, including an early exit of the UEFA Futsal Cup,^[62] Paulo Fernandes was sacked and replaced by João Freitas Pinto.^[63] However, Benfica failed to retain the league title, losing 3–1 in the final against Sporting.^[64] In the offseason, Benfica did not renew the contract of Davi, Diego Sol, Diece, Marinho and César Paulo, replacing them with Ricardo Fernandes, Pablo del Moral, Rafael Henmi, Serginho, Bruno Pinto, Paulinho, Alan Brandi and Ivo Oliveira.^[65]

On 14 June 2015, Benfica became Portuguese champions for the seventh time and achieved their seventh double, defeating Sporting on penalties (2–3) in the fourth match of playoffs final.^[66][67][68] Benfica also became the first team to reach the playoff finals without defeat.

On 30 August 2015, Benfica beat AD Fundão 6–3 and won the Super Cup for a record seventh time.^[69]

Season to season

Results in international competitions

As of match played 3 October 2015^{[70][71][72][73][74]}

Season	Competition	Round	Opponent	Score
2003–04	UEFA Futsal Cup	1st Qualification Round Group 8	Kaskada Gračanica	11–0
			Athina 90	12–0
			CD Shop Mozart Danilovgrad	4–2
		2nd Qualification Round Group B	Prato Calcio a 5	5–2
			MNK Split	7–0
			Action 21 Charleroi	5–4
		Final	Boomerang Interviú	1–4 (A) 4–3 (H)
2005	Intercontinental Futsal Cup	Qualification Round Group B	Fire Fox Tokyo	11–0
			Boomerang Interviú	1–8
		3rd/4th Place	Carlos Barbosa	0–4
2005–06	UEFA Futsal Cup	1st Qualification Round Group 3	Tal-Grig Yerevan	3–2
			Ararat Nicosia	5–0
			Aramis Futsal Club	8–0
		2nd Qualification Round Group A	Kairat Almaty	3–3
			PB Morlanwelz	1–1
			Boomerang Interviú	2–4
2006–07	European Futsal Cup Winners Cup	Qualification Round Group A	Spartak Shelkovo	3–3
			Azkar Lugo	8–5
		Final	Lobelle de Santiago	3–5
2007	Intercontinental Futsal Cup	Qualification Round Group A	Nagoya Oceans	5–0
			Carlos Barbosa	6–1
			Boomerang Interviú	2–3
		Semi-Final	Malwee/Jaraguá	2–6
		3rd/4th Place	Sporting CP	2–4
2007–08	UEFA Futsal Cup	Elite Round Group B	Luparense	2–2
			Dinamo Moskva	4–8
			Municipium Pljevlja	7–3
2008–09		Main Round Group 1	KMN Gorica	2–1
			Athina 90	8–0
			KMF Municipium Pljevlja	6–1
		Elite Round Group D	Hapoel Ironi R.L.	8–1
			Ekonomac Kragujevac	8–1
			Boomerang Interviú	1–2
2009–10		Main Round Group 4	Montenegro Stars Budva	15–1
			Viten Orsha	7–1
			KMN Puntar	4–2
		Elite Round Group 2	FC Marlène	4–0
			MNK Potpican '98	8–1
			Viz-Sinara Ekaterinburg	2–2
		Final Four Semi-Final	Luparense	8–4
		Final Four Final	Interviú	3–2
2011	Intercontinental Futsal Cup	League	Carlos Barbosa	3–4
			Interviú	2–4
			Bank Rbak	8–1
2010–11	UEFA Futsal Cup	Elite Round Group A	Ekonomac Kragujevac	5–2
			Nacional Zagreb	1–0
			Time Lviv	2–1
		Final Four Semi-Final	Montesilvano	0–3
		Final Four 3rd or 4th	Kairat	3–3 (3–5 g.p)
2012–13		Elite Round Group D	Győri ETO FC	3–3
			Luparense	3–2
			Iberia Star	4–7
2015–16		Main Round Group 2	MNK Centar Sarajevo	8–2
			FC Grand Pro Varna	9–2
			KMN Dobovec	6–1
		Elite Round Group D	Ekonomac Kragujevac	–
			Slov-Matic Bratislava	–
			Lokomotiv Kharkiv	–

Current squad

As of 29 June 2015^[75]

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

No. Position Player 1 GK Bebé 2 FW Chaguinha 3 FW Bruno Coelho 5 DF Fábio Cecílio 6 FW Fernando Wilhelm 7 FW Rafael Henmi 8 FW Alessandro Patias 9 DF Gonçalo Alves (captain)

No. Position Player 11 FW Bruno Pinto 12 GK Juanjo 14 FW Alan Brandi 15 GK Cristiano Marques 17 FW Mário Freitas 19 FW Tiago Fernandes 20 FW Ré 23 FW Jefferson

Out on loan

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

No. Position Player 17 FW Ivo Oliveira (at AD Fundão)

Honours

2009–10 UEFA Futsal Cup trophy (centre) at the Museu Benfica

Domestic competitions

According to the official website^[76]

• Liga Portuguesa

Winners (7): 2002–03, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15

• Taça de Portugal

Winners (6): 2002–03, 2004–05, 2006–07, 2008–09, 2011–12, 2014–15 (record)

• Supertaça de Portugal

Winners (7): 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2015 (record)

• Taça de Honra AF Lisboa
• Winner: 2014

European competitions

• UEFA Futsal Cup

Winners: 2009–10^[77]

Runners-up: 2003–04

• European Futsal Cup Winners Cup

Runners-up: 2006–07

Women's honours

Regional competitions

• Lisbon Championship
  • Winners (5): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10

• Lisbon Honour Cup

Winners (10): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13, 2014–15^[78][79]

National competitions

• Portuguese League

Winners (5): 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2009–10

• Portuguese Cup

Winners (1): 2013–14^[80]

• Portuguese Super Cup

Winners (1): 2014^[81]

European competitions

• Iberian Cup

Winners (2): 2006–07, 2008–09

References

External links

• Official website (Portuguese)