S.L. Benfica (volleyball)

Benfica

Full name	Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Founded	31 May 1939 (1939-05-31)
Ground	Pavilhão da Luz Nº 2 (Capacity: 1,800)
Chairman	Rui Mourinha
Manager	José Jardim
League	League A1
2014–15	1st
Website	Club home page
Uniforms
Home Away

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 volleyball team based in Lisbon, Portugal. Benfica play in the first division as defending champions, having won three consecutive league titles.

History

Beginning

Founded on 31 May 1939, it is one of the oldest Portuguese volleyball clubs.^[1] Never achieving the success and notability of other sections like basketball and roller hockey, Benfica won its first title 27 years after its foundation.

Road to the first title

Starting in 1965–66 until 1979–80, Benfica was present at 10 Portuguese Volleyball Cup finals, winning 7 and losing 3.^[2] In 1980/81, Benfica finally achieved its first championship, led by coach Fernando Luís, with players like Luís Quelhas, Manuel Silva, Jorge Infante, José Barros, João Abelho, Pedro Barros, Ilídio Ramos ^[3] and already with a young José Jardim appearing in some matches.^[4]

Second title and disbandment

In a vibrating game against Sporting CP, trailing 2–0 at Nave de Alvalade, Benfica led now by captain José Jardim, plus others like Nuno Brites,^[5] Luís Quelhas, Nilson Júnior, Eduardo Gallina, Miguel Silva, Márcio Karas, Davidkov ^[6] and Radoslav Peytchev ^[7] managed to recover the disadvantage and win 3–2, claiming its second title. ^[8] In 1993–94, then president Manuel Damásio decided to disband the volleyball team. The next president João Vale e Azevedo restarted it in 1996–97, but in Third Division. Former player José Jardim lead them back to Portuguese Volleyball League A1 in 2000 with the help of players like André Cabacinha, Nuno Brites, António Silva and captain José Fernandez. ^[9]

Third title

In 2004–05, a team coached by José Jardim, with players like the Brazilians Adriano Lamb, Renato Júnior, André França, Roberto Purificação, André Lukianetz, plus Portuguese André Lopes, Carlos Teixeira, António Silva, Rui Guedes, António Seco, José Simões, Bruno Feteira and Pedro Fiúza ^[10] win the third title for the section, plus the Portuguese Cup^[11][12][13]

Between championships

The next season, important players like Adriano Lamb, Renato Junior and André França left,^[14] and Benfica only managed to win the Portuguese Cup.^[15] and reach the quarter-finals of the Top Teams Cup.^[16]

In 2006–07, Benfica won their third Portuguese Cup in a row.^[17]

In 2010–11 season, Benfica acquired Hugo Gaspar ^[18] and Flavio Cruz, which were later joined by Roberto Reis in 2011–2012,^[19][20] all players of the Portugal men's national volleyball team.^[21] In spite of this investments, the team failed to win the league, coming runners-up to Fonte Bastardo in the first season,^[22] and then Sporting Espinho in the latter.^[23] Still, Benfica managed to win the Portuguese Cup ^[24] and Super Cup ^[25] in 2010–11, and another Portuguese Cup in 2011–2012.^[26]

Dominance

In 2012–13, Flavio Cruz left for Espinho^[27] and was replaced by Brazilian Willian Reffati.^[28] A new setter to replace Ronaldo "Royal" and Robert Koch was also acquired, Brazilian Rafael "Vinhedo".^[29] Benfica started the season by winning their third Super Cup by defeating Espinho (3–0).^[30]

On 4 May 2013, Benfica defeated title holders Espinho (3–2) and conquered their fourth championship after a 7-year wait and three consecutive second places.^[31] After a SC Espinho protest with the Portuguese Volleyball Federation on a basis of a technical error, the match at May 4 was annulled and the game ordered to be repeated. Benfica won the replay match by 3–1^[32][33] On 4 May 2014, Benfica successfully defended their title, defeating Fonte Bastardo by 3–1, winning their first back-to-back championship.^[34]

On 9 May 2015, Benfica won a third consecutive league title, for the first time in their history, winning at Fonte Bastardo (0–3) in the fifth and final match (2–3).^[35] They also won the Portuguese Cup and Super Cup thus winning all the domestic competitions. On 3 October 2015, they won a fifth consecutive Super Cup and became the club with most trophies in that competition (6).^[36]

Results in European competitions

Season	Competition	Round	Opposition	Score
1981–82	CEV Champions Cup	Qualification round	Olympiacos S.C.	0–3 (H) 0–3 (A)
1990–91	CEV Cup Winners' Cup	Withdrew
1991–92	CEV Champions Cup	First qualification round	Lausanne UC	1–3 (A) 3–0 (H)
		Second qualification round	OK Partizan	1–3 (A) 3–2 (H)
1992–93	CEV Cup Winners' Cup	Withdrew
1993–94	CEV Cup Winners' Cup	First qualification round	Grupo Duero Soria	2–3 (H) 0–3 (A)
2005–06	CEV Top Teams Cup	Group C	OK Vojvodina	2–3 (H) 1–3 (A)
			Vegyész RC-Kazincbarcika	3–1 (H) 3–2 (A)
			C.V.M. Tomis Constanța	0–3 (A) 3–0 (H)
		Quarter-final	CV Palma	0–3 (A) 1–3 (H)
2014–15	CEV Challenge Cup	Round of 32	OK Partizan	3–1 (A) 3–1 (H)
		Round of 16	Fonte Bastardo	3–2 (H) 3–0 (A)
		Quarter-final	Ethnikos	3–0 (H) 3–2 (A)
		Semi-final	CMC Ravenna	3–0 (H) 2–3 (A)
		Final	Vojvodina NS Seme Novi Sad	1–3 (A) 3–2 (H)

^[37]

Current squad

As of 30 September 2015^[38]

No.	Nationality	Player	Birth Date	Height	Position
1	Brazil	Paulo Renan	(1985-03-16) 16 March 1985	188	Setter
2	Canada	Justin William Duff	(1988-05-10) 10 May 1988	202	Opposite hitter
3	Portugal	André Lopes	(1982-09-12) 12 September 1982	195	Middle hitters
5	Portugal	Roberto Reis	(1980-03-02) 2 March 1980	188	Middle hitters
6	Brazil	Danilo Gelinski	(1990-03-13) 13 March 1990	188	Setter
7	Portugal	Ivo Casas	(1992-09-21) 21 September 1992	180	Libero
8	Portugal	Hugo Gaspar	(1982-09-02) 2 September 1982	201	Outside hitter
9	Netherlands	Mart Van Werkhoven	(1991-12-11) 11 December 1991	208	Opposite hitter
10	Portugal	João Oliveira	(1995-07-31) 31 July 1995	198	Middle hitters
11	Bulgaria	Ivan Kolev	(1987-01-02) 2 January 1987	198	Middle hitters
12	Cuba	Joan Diaz "Ché"	(1983-10-21) 21 October 1983	201	Outside hitter
16	Brazil	Flávio Soares "Zelão"	(1982-08-16) 16 August 1982	196	Opposite hitter
19	Brazil	Robertto Rychard	(1996-01-29) 29 January 1996	175	Libero

Honours

According to the official website^[39]

Men

Domestic

• Portuguese Championship: 6

1980–81, 1990–91, 2004–05, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15

• Portuguese Cup: 15 (record)

1965–66, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1989–90, 1991–92, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15

• Portuguese Super Cup: 6 (record)

1990, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

European

• CEV Challenge Cup: Runners-up 2014–15

Women

• Portuguese League: 9

1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75

• Portuguese Cup: 2

1972–73, 1973–74

References

External links

• Official website (Portuguese)

Liga A1 2013–14 clubs AA Espinho Fonte Bastardo Caldas Sport Clube Castêlo da Maia CA Madalena Clube K Marítimo Esmoriz GC GC Vilacondense Benfica SC Espinho Vitória SC