S.L. Benfica
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| S.L. Benfica | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Sport Lisboa e Benfica | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nickname(s) | As Águias (The Eagles) O Glorioso (The Glorious One) Encarnados (The Reds) Lampiões (Lamps) |
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| Founded | 1904 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ground | Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal |
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| Capacity | 65,647 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chairman |  Luis Filipe Vieira |
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| Manager | Fernando Santos |
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| League | BWINLIGA | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005-06 | Liga, 3rd | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Sport Lisboa e Benfica (commonly referred to as simply Benfica, S.L. Benfica and in many fan anthems as SLB; pron. IPA [spɔɾ liʒ'boɐ i bɐ̃ĩ'fikɐ]) is an eclectic multisports club based in Lisbon, Portugal, best known for its football team.
The club was formed as a result of a merger in 1908 between Sport Lisboa, founded in 1904, and Grupo Sport Benfica. Also known to its fans by the nickname "Glorioso" (Glorious One), Benfica is, along with Sporting Clube de Portugal and F.C. Porto, one of the "big three" football clubs in Portugal. As a club oriented to multiple sports, Benfica fields teams in basketball, rink hockey, futsal, volleyball, handball, rugby, cycling, athletics, and others.
In total, Benfica have won several international titles in these sports, namely: the rink hockey CERS Cup in 1991, three Iberian Cups, one Torneio Ibérico in rugby, and five athletics European Cups.
SL Benfica has the biggest fan base among Portuguese clubs, having also the biggest number of supporters outside of Portugal.[citation needed] 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, Macao, South Africa, Switzerland, and United States).[1] It is also the biggest club in the world in number of associates (registered paying supporters), with a current (November 2006) number of 160,392, a fact which was attested by the Guinness Book of Records on 10th November 2006.[1] [2][3]
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[edit] 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, "Out of many, one". An eagle flies from one side of the Estádio da Luz to the other before every home match.
It is said to be the only club in the world whose official anthem is sung by a tenor, Luis Piçarra, and the classic musician Antonio Vitorino d'Almeida has written a symphony to commemorate the club's first 100 years.
[edit] Football
Benfica have been a dominant force in Portuguese football since the 1930s and are record holders of the national championship and cup titles. Major rivals are FC Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal.
In 1950 Benfica won the Latin Cup, a precursor of the European Champions' Cup, under the English coach Edward "Ted" Smith, formerly of Millwall F.C.. 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 1961 and 1962, the Lisbon club never managed to win a European trophy again, despite reaching a number of finals. In the Champions Cup deciders against A.C. Milan (1963 and 1990), Internazionale Milano F.C. (1965), Manchester United F.C. (1968) and PSV Eindhoven (1988) in penalty kicks, as well as the UEFA Cup in 1982 against R.S.C. Anderlecht were lost. This constitutes also a record of sorts. In the 1991-1992 European Cup, S.L. Benfica beat Arsenal F.C. 4-2 on aggregate in the round of 16 but lost narrowly in the last 8 in the group stage. In the 2005-2006 Champions League, Benfica managed to reach the quarter-finals, defeating Manchester United by 2-1 in the decisive group stage encounter, and then overcoming the 2004-05 European champions Liverpool F.C. with a 3-0 aggregate. However, Benfica would be eliminated in the Quarter Finals to the eventual winners F.C. Barcelona by an aggregate of 2-0, both goals coming in the second leg in Camp Nou.
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.
During the 1970s, the team faded slightly from the European scene, but remained the main force inside Portuguese football. However, financial problems began undermining the club. In the 1980s the board decided to close the third level in the Estádio da Luz, (which transformed the stadium into one of the biggest in Europe, with a standing room capacity of 120.000) and a questionable signing policy, which included squads composed of well over 30 players, signing players for hefty sums without any sporting or financial return, such as fading Portuguese star Paulo Futre in the early 1990s, resulted in several problems.
Recently, the club has regained some of its sporting prowess, and in 2004–2005 won their first national championship in eleven years.
Benfica play their home games in the Estadio da Luz. It is one of Europe's largest sporting stadiums and hosted the many games during the Euro 2004 competition, most notably hosting the final. For that purpose it had been completely rebuilt.
[edit] History
SL Benfica was founded as result of a merger in 1908 between Sport Lisboa, founded in 1904, and Grupo Sport Benfica. Also known to its fans by the nickname "Glorioso" (Glorious), Benfica is, along with Sporting and Porto, one of the "Big Three" clubs in Portugal.
During the first five years the European Cup was won by Real Madrid C.F., but Benfica was keen to stop this when they won the 1961 and 1962 European cup putting a halt to Real Madrid's dominance. In 1961, Benfica beat Hearts F.C. 5-1 on aggregate score, Rapid Wien 4-1 also on aggregate score, and F.C. Barcelona 3-2 in the final. The legendary team was lead by Eusébio, José Águas, Costa Pereira, and Mário Coluna. In 1962 after defeating Tottenham Hotspur in the semi-final, Benfica faced Real Madrid in the final. At the time, one player at Real Madrid was paid more than the entire Benfica squad,[citation needed] but Eusébio scored two goals in the final, which Benfica won 5-3. In their latest run in the Champions League SL Benfica made it to the quarter-finals in 2006 after knocking out 2005 European champions Liverpool F.C. with a 3-0 overall score in the two legs.
The days of the Portuguese international Eusébio were Benfica's most glory filled years. Eusébio was part of the team that beat Real Madrid in 1962 European Cups to add to the previous year victory over Spanish giants Barcelona and Iberian arch-rivals Real Madrid. Eusébio became an instant superstar in 1966 after he led Portugal to third place in the 1966 FIFA World Cup where he was the top scorer with nine goals to his name. He is considered one of Benfica's and Portugal's biggest names. In 1962, he won the European Cup, scoring two goals in the final against Ferenc Puskás and Alfredo Di Stéfano's Real Madrid C.F.. Benfica won 5-3. He scored 46 goals for Portugal in 64 appearances, and hit 317 goals in 291 League games for Benfica. Overall, his career record was 727 goals in 715 games. He was the leading scorer in the 1966 World Cup where he scored nine goals, including four against North Korea. He was the 1965 European Footballer of the Year and in 1968 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 5 cup wins. He scored an outrageous 727 goals in 715 matches wearing Benfica's jersey. Eusébio was the all-time leading scorer for his country, with 41 goals (in 64 matches), until Pauleta surpassed his record against Latvia on October 12, 2005. His last game for the Selecção was a 2-2 draw with Bulgaria on October 19, 1973 in a World Cup qualifier. Eusébio's jersey number is currently retired in honor by Benfica.
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 considerer a quick impact at the Estádio da Luz when in his first season he won the Portuguese Championship and finishied runner-up in the UEFA Cup. After a second Championship the following year, Eriksson moved to Italy with A.S. 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 A.C. Milan, Sven also won another league title in 1991.
Michel Preud'homme was a famous goalkeeper from Belgium known for his great saves. 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 the net, during the 1994 World Cup where he was part of the most valuable players (MVP's). 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.
José Antonio Camacho was appointed the new coach of Benfica on November 29, 2002. He would replace Jesualdo Ferreira, who was sacked after a poor start of his team. Two years later, his team won the Portuguese Cup and the runners-up of the Portuguese SuperLiga.
While at Benfica Giovanni Trapattoni was a big part of the team as he led Benfica in the 2004-2005 season to its first Liga Championship in 11 years beating F.C. Porto in the process. He woke up one of the best Portuguese strikers, Nuno Gomes in the squad. Trapattoni also was a big part of staff for his counter-attacking strategies paid off.
In August 2006, Benfica qualified for the UEFA Champion's League in Group F, alongside Manchester United F.C., Celtic FC, and F.C. Copenhagen, after defeating Austria Vienna 4-1 on aggregate in the qualification games with two wonderful goals from Nuno Gomes.However, they failed to advance to the knockout stages, as Manchester United beat them 3-1 to qualify alongside Celtic FC. Benfica will play in the UEFA cup as a result. Notably, Benfica have signed Greek international and Euro 2004 winner Kostas Katsouranis along side Portuguese football legend Rui Costa from AC Milan. Benfica have also recently signed Mexican Francisco Fonseca. They have turned down a €20m offer from Valencia CF for Simao Sabrosa who did not want to leave Benfica and Lisbon. Ronald Koeman left Benfica after somewhat disappointing performances, with Benfica's president Luis Filipe Vieira replacing him with Fernando Santos.
[edit] Estádio da Luz
The Estádio da Luz (pron. IPA: [(ɨ)ʃ'tadiu dɐ luʃ]), officially named the Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica and commonly mistranslated as "Stadium of Light", is a football stadium in Lisbon, Portugal, the home of SL Benfica. It is also called A Catedral ("The Cathedral") by Benfica's supporters.
Luz is actually the area of Lisbon in which the Estádio da Luz stands and the word luz happens to also mean "light". Hence the misnomer "Stadium of Light" in English usage. The Stadium of Light in Sunderland, England may well have been inspired by this Lisbon incorrect nickname, though it has other well established reasons for bearing the name.
It hosted several matches in the 2004 European Football Championship, including the final. 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 65,400.
[edit] Supporters
In Portugal, over 60% of the population who likes competitive football, are said to be Benfica sympathisers.[citation needed] Benfica has large support abroad, especially in the former Portuguese colonies of Angola and Mozambique, as well as among Portuguese citizens living across Europe, and the large diaspora in South Africa, Canada and the United States. A small number os supporters can also be found in Brazil. Since the 2004-2005 championship, club membership figures have seen a significant increase. In April 2006 the number of club members surpassed 150,000.[4] Since July 2006, S.L. Benfica has 153,000 members, 1,000 more than Manchester United. S.L. Benfica is since 2006, the club with the most associates (registered paying supporters) in the world. [5]
[edit] Current squad
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[edit] Squad changes during the winter break of the 2006/07 season
In:
- Derlei - from Dynamo Moscow
David Luiz - from Vitória- Fábio Coentrão - from Rio Ave FC- At Rio Ave FC until end of Season
Out:
- Alcides - to PSV Eindhoven
Francisco "Kikin" Fonseca - to Tigres- Ricardo Rocha - to Tottenham
Out on loan:
- Diego - to Grêmio
- Manduca - to AEK
- Marcel - to São Paulo
- Rodolfo Lima - to Portimonense
- Manuel Fernandes - to Everton
- José Fonte - to Estrela Amadora
- Tiago Gomes - to Estrela Amadora
- Hélio Roque - to Olivais e Moscavide
- Fernando Alexandre - to Olivais e Moscavide
- Bruno Costa - to Odivelas
Azar Karadas- to 1. FC Kaiserslautern
Andrei Karyaka- to FC Saturn Moscow Oblast
[edit] Junior Team "A"
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[edit] Noted former players
The legendary Eusébio, whose statue stands near Benfica's stadium is a symbol of the club and of Portuguese football.
Important or famous players in Benfica's history include:
[edit] Retired numbers
S.L. Benfica has retired the number of Hungarian player Miklós Fehér, who died of cardiac arrhythmia in January 2004 after falling unconscious during a match for the Portuguese Liga.
- 29
Miklós Fehér, Striker, 2001 - 2004
[edit] Former coaches
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[edit] Team honours
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 1938-1939 season. The previous format continued in renamed form as the cup competition.
- European Champions' Cup: 2 (1961, 1962); 5 times runner-up (1963, 1965, 1968, 1988, 1990)
- Latin Cup: 1 (1950); 1 time runner-up (1957)
- Portuguese League (I Divisão, I Liga, Superliga, Liga): 31 (2005, 1994, 1991, 1989, 1987, 1984, 1983, 1981, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1965, 1964, 1963, 1961, 1960, 1957, 1955, 1950, 1945, 1943, 1942, 1938, 1937, 1936)
- former Portuguese Championship (between 1921–1922 and 1937–1938): 3 (1935, 1931, 1930)
- Portuguese Cup: 24 (2004, 1996, 1993, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1983, 1981, 1980, 1972, 1970, 1969, 1964, 1962, 1959, 1957, 1955, 1953, 1952, 1951, 1949, 1944, 1943, 1940)
- SuperCup Cândido de Oliveira: 4 (2005, 1989, 1985, 1981)
[edit] Other sports
[edit] Athletics
Athletics is a sport with a great tradition in Benfica's history. Nowadays, Carlos Calado specialised in the long jump, is among Benfica's athletics biggest names.
[edit] Basketball
S.L. Benfica are a top club in Portugal. One of its most memorable moments was when Benfica's basketball team won an 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.
[edit] Billiards
The club has a billiards department whose players compete in the main national and international competitions.
[edit] 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, and once again for two seasons in 1999 and 2000. 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, and after some interruptions and delays, approved in 2006 the re-introduction of a cycling department to start in 2007. The team will join the UCI Professional Continental Division. The Head of this department is the former cyclist Orlando Rodrigues.
[edit] Futsal
Benfica have a professional futsal team since 2002. Since then Benfica won 2 Portuguese championships, 2 Portuguese cups and two Portuguese Supercups. Benfica also reached the final of the UEFA Cup in the 2003/04 season. Benfica's last trophy in Futsal was their second Portuguese Supercup against their all-time rivals, Sporting Clube de Portugal, after having lost to them the Championship and the Portuguese Cup.
Women's Futsal: Taça Nacional winner: 2004/2005, 2005/2006 Taça Distrital AFL winner: 2004/2005, 2005/2006 Campeão Distrital (District of Lisbon Champion): 2004/2005, 2005/2006, 2006/2007 Taça Ibérica winner: 2007
[edit] Gymnastics
The club has a gymnastics department.
[edit] Handball
The Handball honours of Benfica include 6 Portuguese championships, 3 Portuguese cups and 3 Portuguese supercups. The club dominated Portuguese handball in the 80's, but since 1994 Benfica have won nothing in this sport. In fact, this section had been inactive between 1997 and 2004.
[edit] Rink hockey
S.L. Benfica is the club in the world who practice this sport for the longest time without interruptions. The team are currently playing in the Primeira Divisão (First Division). The club has won many domestic competitions (20 Portuguese championships, 11 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 alongside rivals F.C. Porto and Óquei Clube de Barcelos rink hockey teams.
[edit] Rugby
Benfica have won many Portuguese championships in this sport, with Associação Académica de Coimbra, C.D.U.P., G.D. Direito and C.F. Os Belenenses being other powerful competitors. Benfica have also won the Iberian Cup.
Women's Rugby Champion in 2006/2007.
[edit] Swimming
S.L. Benfica's swimming department is among the best in Portugal.
[edit] Table tennis
The club has a table tennis department.
[edit] Triathlon
World champion Vanessa Fernandes in women's triathlon is currently the most notable athlete of this department.
[edit] Volleyball
Benfica have an important history in the Portuguese volleyball. The club won 3 Portuguese championships (the last one in 2004/05) and 10 Portuguese cups.
[edit] Water polo
Benfica's Waterpolo only appeared in a few years and as no relevance in Portuguese waterpolo as they have only waterpolo school, for children, and no Senior team.
[edit] References
- ^ Casas e Filiais, Sport Lisboa e Benfica, accessed December 2006
[edit] External links
- Official website:
- Other important website:
- Official supporters websites:
- Portuguese football links:
