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'{{About|football team|the basketball team|S.L. Benfica (basketball)|the futsal team|S.L. Benfica (futsal)}} {{Redirect|Benfica}} {{Infobox Football club | clubname = S.L. Benfica | current = 2010–11 Portuguese Liga | image = [[File:SL Benfica logo.svg|200px]] | fullname = Sport Lisboa e Benfica | short name = Benfica | nickname = ''Águias'' (Eagles)<br />''Encarnados'' (Reds)<br />''O Glorioso'' (The Glorious One)<br />''Diabos Vermelhos'' (Red Devils)<br />''SLB'' (Acronym for Sport Lisboa e Benfica)<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica">{{Cite web|url=http://www.pfutebol.com/team_profiles/Benfica.htm |title=Team Profile – Benfica |publisher=Pfutebol.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref> | founded = 28 February 1904<br />as ''Grupo Sport Lisboa'' (Lisbon Sport Group)<ref name="Fundação - SL Benfica.pt">{{Cite web|url=http://www.slbenfica.pt/Clube/Historia/Fundacao/fundacao.asp |title=Fundação – SL Benfica.pt |publisher=Slbenfica.pt |date= |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref> | ground = [[Estádio da Luz|Estádio da Luz<br /><small>(Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica)</small>]] <br />[[Lisbon]], [[Portugal]] | capacity = 65,647<ref name="planetbenfica.co.uk">{{Cite web|url=http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/page.php?9 |title=planetbenfica.co.uk |publisher=planetbenfica.co.uk |date= |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref> | chrtitle = President | chairman = [[Luís Filipe Vieira]] | manager = [[Rui Costa]] | coach = [[Jorge Jesus]] | league = [[Portuguese Liga]] | season = [[2009–10 Portuguese Liga|2009–10]] | position = [[Portuguese Liga]], 1st | website = http://www.slbenfica.pt | pattern_la1=_benfica1011h | pattern_b1=_slbenficah2010 | pattern_ra1=_benfica1011h | pattern_sh1=_benfica0910h | pattern_so1=_3_stripes_white | leftarm1=FF0000 | body1=FF0000 | rightarm1=FF0000 | shorts1=FFFFFF | socks1=FF0000 | pattern_la2=_slbenficaa2010 | pattern_b2=_slbenficaa2010 | pattern_ra2=_slbenficaa2010 | pattern_sh2=_benfica1011a | pattern_so2=_benfica1011a | leftarm2=000000 | body2=000000 | rightarm2=000000 | shorts2=000040 | socks2=000040 |}} '''Sport Lisboa e Benfica''' ({{IPA-pt|spɔɾ liʒˈboɐ i bɐ̃ȷ̃ˈfikɐ}}; {{Euronext|SLBEN}}), commonly known as simply '''Benfica''' or '''SLB''' and, occasionally, as '''Benfica Lisbon''', is a multi-[[sports club]] based in [[Lisbon]], [[Portugal]]. Although they successfully compete in a number of different sports, Benfica is mostly 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 (Portugal)|Big Three]], football clubs in Portugal, with [[F.C. Porto|Futebol Clube do Porto]] and [[Sporting Clube de Portugal]] being the other two clubs, Benfica's biggest rivals.<ref name="planetbenfica.co.uk"/> 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 ({{lang-pt|Primeira Divisão}}) of Portuguese football.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> On 28 February 1904, Sport Lisboa e Benfica (originally known as '''Grupo Sport Lisboa''', {{lang-en|Lisbon Sport Group}}) was founded during a meeting in the southwest part of Lisbon involving 24 young men, led by [[Cosme Damião]].<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/><ref name="Fundação - SL Benfica.pt"/> 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 [[Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> As a multiple sport club, Benfica has departments for [[basketball]], [[roller hockey]], indoor football (known as [[futsal]]), [[volleyball]], [[Team handball|handball]], [[beach soccer]], [[water polo]], [[Rugby football|rugby]], and [[cycling]], among others.<ref name="planetbenfica.co.uk"/> 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]], [[United Kingdom]], [[Japan]], [[Luxembourg]], [[Macau]], [[Mexico]], [[Switzerland]], and [[United States]].<ref name="planetbenfica.co.uk"/> Currently, Benfica has the largest number of supporters worldwide for a Portuguese club, with a total number of around 14 million.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://translate.google.com/translate?sourceid=navclient&hl=en&u=http%3a%2f%2fsomosbenfica.blogspot.com%2f2009%2f01%2fas-verdades-deturpadas-da-histria-do_13.html |title=Vox Populi, Luís Recto & Jorge Sá |publisher=Translate.google.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref> On 9 November 2006, Benfica was acknowledged by [[Guinness World Records]] as having the largest number of paying club members (known as {{lang-pt|sócios}}) in the world, with 160,398 paid members.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/gwrday/portugal_teameffort.aspx |title=Guinness World Records – S.L. Benfica |publisher=Guinnessworldrecords.com |date=2006-11-09 |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://diariodigital.sapo.pt/news.asp?section_id=129&id_news=249986 |title=Diário Digital |publisher=Diariodigital.sapo.pt |date= |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref> 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.<ref name="Maisfutebol">{{Cite web|author=Por Redacção com RG |url=http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/benfica/benfica-socios/1092779-1456.html |title=Maisfutebol |publisher=Maisfutebol |date=2009-10-01 |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref><ref name="Planet Benfica">{{Cite web|url=http://www.planetbenfica.co.uk/news.php |title=Planet Benfica |publisher=Planet Benfica |date= |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref> As of 23 June 2010, Benfica has a reported 218,216 paid club members. ==History== === The foundation and first years (1904–1910)=== {{S.L. Benfica sections}} 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 jjjjjjjehy23h1dh564do4e564r56 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.<ref name="Fundação - SL Benfica.pt"/> 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 (Portugal)|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 [[Santa Maria de Belém|Belém]] area of Lisbon to the present-day [[Benfica (Lisbon)|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> 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 [[C.F. Os Belenenses|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 [[C.F. Os Belenenses|Clube de Futebol Os Belenenses]] was made worse by further losses due to the creation of [[Casa Pia A.C.|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> 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 football|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 [[F.C. Porto|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> 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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> ===The 1950s=== Benfica's first major international football success happened in 1950 when they won the [[Latin Cup]] by defeating [[FC Girondins de Bordeaux|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 (1954)|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> ===The golden era (1960–1970)=== Benfica was the first team to break [[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]]'s dominance in the early [[UEFA Champions League|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 [[A.C. Milan|Milan]] (1963), [[Internazionale Milano F.C.|Internazionale]] (1965), and [[Manchester United F.C.|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 [[Portuguese Liga|Championships]] (1960, '61, '63, '64, '65, '67, '68, and '69), three [[Cup of Portugal|Portuguese Cups]] (1961, '64, and '69), and two European Champions Cup (1961 and '62).<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> ===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 [[AFC Ajax|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 [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|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 (1954)|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 Eindhoven|PSV]] and [[A.C. Milan|Milan]], respectively. Domestically, Benfica won three more championships (1989, '91, and '94) and one Portuguese Cup (1993).<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> ===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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> ===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 [[UEFA Champions League 2005-06|2005–06]] [[UEFA Champions League|Champions League]], Benfica managed to reach the quarter-finals, defeating [[Manchester United]] 2–1 in the decisive group stage encounter, and then overcoming the [[UEFA Champions League 2004-05|2005]] European champions [[Liverpool F.C.|Liverpool]] 3–0 on aggregate. However Benfica lost in the Quarter Finals to the eventual winner [[FC Barcelona|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 F.C.|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 (Portuguese football manager and former player)|Fernando Santos]] after only one match in the league (a tie against the recently promoted [[Leixões S.C.|Leixões]]), at time when Benfica was facing a vital Champions League qualifying game against [[F.C. Copenhagen|Copenhagen]]. Benfica granted a place in the [[UEFA Champions League|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 CF|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 [[Portuguese Liga 2007–08|2007–08]] season, placing the team in the UEFA Cup for the upcoming season.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> On 22 May 2008, former [[Valencia CF|Valencia]] manager [[Quique Sánchez Flores]] was appointed as the clubs new manager for the new season.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> 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 [[S.C. Braga|Sporting de Braga]] manager [[Jorge Jesus]] on 17 June. On 12 July 2009, Benfica tied 2–2 against [[FC Sion|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 [[FC Shakhtar Donetsk|Shakhtar Donetsk]] 2–0, with goals coming from Cardozo and [[Carlos Jorge Neto Martins|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 [[S.C. Olhanense|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 Sabrosa|Simão]] played versus Benfica in an Atlético uniform. On 24 July, in their sixth friendly, they beat [[Sunderland F.C.|Sunderland]] 2–0 with goals coming from Cardozo and [[Maximiliano Pereira|Maxi Pereira]]. On 26 July, in their seventh friendly, Benfica won the prestigious [[Amsterdam Tournament]] against [[AFC Ajax|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 F.C.|Portsmouth]] 4–0 with Cardozo scoring two first-half goals and [[Weldon Santos de Andrade|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 S.C.|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 [[A.C. Milan|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 [[Portuguese Liga 2009–10|2009–10 Portuguese Liga]], [[2009–10 Taça de Portugal|Cup of Portugal]], and [[2009–10 Portuguese League Cup|Portuguese League Cup]], as well as for international competition in the [[2009–10 UEFA Europa League|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 [[F.C. Porto|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 Taça da Liga Final|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 [[2009–10 Portuguese Liga|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]].<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.uefa.com/memberassociations/association=por/news/newsid=1486467.html|title=Cardozo seals title for Benfica|date=2010-05-09|work=UEFA.com|publisher=[[UEFA]]|accessdate=2010-05-10}}</ref> ==Club statistics and records== {{Main|List of S.L. Benfica records and statistics}} [[Nené]] presently holds records for number of total appearances for Benfica with 575 games played. Benfica's all time top goalscorer is [[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 Portuguese Liga|1972–73]] season and has a European winning streak record of 29 games between [[1971–72 Portuguese Liga|1971–72]] and [[1972–73 Portuguese Liga|1972–73]]. ==Symbols== [[Image:Águia.jpg|thumb|230px|The emblem of Benfica at the entrance to the stadium.]] 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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> ==Stadium== {{Main|Estádio da Luz}} The Estádio da Luz ({{IPA-pt|(ɨ)ˈʃtadiu dɐ ˈluʃ}}), officially named the ''Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica'', which translated means, "Stadium of Light," is a [[football (soccer)|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, Tyne and Wear|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 [[UEFA Euro 2004|2004 European Football Championship]], including the final match. The previous Benfica stadium (also called "[[Estádio da Luz (1954)|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/><ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/><ref name="planetbenfica.co.uk"/> {{col-begin-small}} {{col-2}} [[Image:LuzLissabon.jpg|center|thumb|500px|A view inside Benfica's stadium.]] {{col-2}} [[Image:S7000272 2.JPG|center|thumb|500px|A view outside Benfica's stadium.]] {{col-end}} ==Training centre and youth academy== Benfica owns state-of-the-art training facilities in [[Seixal]]. The complex is called the [[Futebol Campus|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/><ref>[http://www.slbenfica.pt/Info/Clube/CentroEstagio/centrodeestagio_home.asp Caixa Futebol Campus]{{Dead link|date=June 2010}}</ref> ==Supporters== In Portugal, a large number of Portuguese are said to be Benfica sympathisers. 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]]).<ref>[http://www.slbenfica.pt/Info/Clube/CasaseFiliais/info_mundo.asp ''Casas e Filiais'', Sport Lisboa e Benfica]. Retrieved December 2006.</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://soccernet.espn.go.com/columns/story?id=368264&root=mls&cc=3888 |title=Dell'Apa: Making a Portuguese connection with the MLS - MLS - ESPN Soccernet |publisher=Soccernet.espn.go.com |date=2006-05-17 |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref> In July 2006, Benfica had 143,000 members, 1,000 more than [[Manchester United F.C.|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.<ref name="Maisfutebol"/><ref name="Planet Benfica"/> 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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.benfiquistas.org |title=Benfiquistas.org |publisher=Benfiquistas.org |date= |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.serbenfiquista.com |title=Ser Benfiquista.com |publisher=Ser Benfiquista.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref> ==Rivalries== {{Main|Derby de Lisboa|O Clássico|Big Three (Portugal)}} 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 [[F.C. Porto|FC Porto]], in the so-called "classic". This rivalry has grown in the last 20 years. Together with Sporting, they form the [[Big Three (Portugal)|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 C.F.|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 **[[Advertising|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]].<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/><ref>[http://www.slbenfica.pt/incslb/pdf/Prospecto%20Admissão%20Sport%20Lisboa%20e%20Benfica-Futebol,%20SAD.pdf Prospectus for Admission of Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol SAD to Euronext Lisbon stock exchange]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.cmvm.pt/NR/exeres/B5BC2955-8B45-4B27-BE17-30F8A3E92321.htm |title=Portuguese Securities Market Commission (CMVM – Comissão do Mercado de Valores Mobiliários) approved the Prospectus of Sport Lisboa e Benfica – Futebol SAD for admission to the Euronext Lisbon stock exchange |publisher=Cmvm.pt |date= |accessdate=2010-06-15 |archiveurl = http://web.archive.org/web/20080120001952/http://www.cmvm.pt/NR/exeres/B5BC2955-8B45-4B27-BE17-30F8A3E92321.htm |archivedate = January 20, 2008}}</ref><ref name="euronext.com">{{Cite web|url=http://www.euronext.com/trader/companyprofile/companyprofilev2-18661-EN-PTSLB0AM0010.html?selectedMep=5 |title=NYSE Euronext Company Profile: Benfica – Futebol SAD (SLBEN) |publisher=Euronext.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref> '''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".<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/><ref>[http://www.record.pt/noticia.asp?id=748329&idCanal=11 Luís Filipe Vieira: 'We will not lose the majority' (Benfica) President responds to takeover bid from Joe Berardo about the IPO]</ref> 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.<ref name="euronext.com"/> ==Clubs inspired after Benfica== {{See also|List of S.L. Benfica filiations}} Being the most successful Portuguese club, Benfica has many followers around the world who have created clubs in honour of Benfica, specially in [[Community of Portuguese Language Countries|Portuguese-speaking countries]] and [[Europe]]an countries with a significant [[Portuguese people|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 [[Angola]]n'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|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)|Luxembourg City]], in the [[Hamm, Luxembourg|Hamm]] quarter, in [[Luxembourg]]; [[Benfica (Santa Cruz)]] based in [[Santa Cruz, Cape Verde|Santa Cruz]], in the island of [[Santiago, Cape Verde|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 affiliations or satellite clubs that S.L. Benfica has, with some of them sharing the same board as their [[farm team|parent club]]. For instance, Benfica's current president, [[Luís Filipe Vieira]], was also president of [[F.C. Alverca]], a well-known satellite club for Benfica, who also played in the Portuguese Liga. Most of all these clubs inspired by Benfica were later [[Affiliate (commerce)|affiliated]] with it as means to show their friendship with one another. ==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, [[C.F. Os Belenenses|CF Os Belenenses]], and [[Casa Pia A.C.|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[Ribeiro dos Reis]]: One of the players in Portugal's very first international friendly (against [[Spain national football team|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 [[Portuguese Football Federation|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[Guilherme Espírito Santo|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 Lantres de Carvalho|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[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 [[Portugal national football team|Portuguese national team]].<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[Mário Coluna]]: was a [[Mozambique|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[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 (footballer)|Rui Águas]], who played for [[F.C. Porto|FC Porto]] in 1988 and for Benfica in 1990, scored two goals against [[FC Steaua Bucureşti|Steaua Bucureşti]] in the 1988 Champions Cup semi-final to take Benfica to the final after 20 years of absence.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[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 de Figueiredo|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 C.F.|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 ([[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]], 1–2 in [[Wembley Stadium (1923)|Wembley]]), 1965 ([[F.C. Internazionale Milano|Internazionale]], 0–1 in [[San Siro]]), 1968 ([[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]], 1–4 AET in Wembley), 1983 ([[R.S.C. Anderlecht|RSC Anderlecht]], 0–1 in Belgium, 1–1 in Portugal in the [[UEFA Cup 1982–83|UEFA Cup]]), 1988 ([[PSV Eindhoven|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[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 Augusto Torres|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[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 national football team|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).<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[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 Madrid C.F.|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[Eusébio]]: The days of the [[Portugal|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 C.F.|Real Madrid]]. Benfica won 5–3. He scored 46 goals for [[Portugal national football team|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 [[Korea DPR national football team|North Korea]]. He was the 1965 European Footballer of the Year, and in 1968, he was the first winner of the [[European Golden Boot|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 national football team|Latvia]] on 12 October 2005. His last game for the ''Selecção'' was a 2–2 draw with [[Bulgaria national football team|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]].<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[Humberto Coelho]]: Considered by many{{Who|date=March 2009}} 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]].<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[António José Conceição Oliveira|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 04 Leverkusen|Bayer Leverkusen]] (4–4) or [[Sporting Clube de Portugal|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[Manuel Bento]]: Probably the greatest Portuguese goalkeeper ever. Since his debut in the ''Selecção'' until his last game against [[England national football team|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 [[1984 UEFA European Football Championship|UEFA Euro 84]], specially after a spectacular exhibition against [[France national football team|France]] (2–3). He was hired in 1972 and ended his career in 1991.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[Shéu Han]]: "The Red General", of Mozambican and [[China|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 [[R.S.C. Anderlecht|RSC Anderlecht]] from winning the trophy. Even today, he is the team secretary and very popular among the fans.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[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 national football team|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 S.C.|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[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.<ref name="Team Profile - 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 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 [[UEFA Cup 1982-83|1983 UEFA Cup]]. After a second Championship the following year, Eriksson moved to [[Italy]] with [[A.S. Roma|AS Roma]] where he won the [[Italian Cup|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 [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] final with players like prolific striker [[Mats Magnusson]], and where they were runners-up to [[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]]. Eriksson also won another league title in 1991.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[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 [[S.L. Benfica (basketball)|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[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 [[ACF Fiorentina|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[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 Conceição|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 Neves|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 [[Golden Generation|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 Clube de Portugal|Sporting CP]].<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[Michel Preud'homme]]: was a famous [[Goalkeeper (association football)|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[Panchito Velasquez]]: the [[Argentina|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 Sabrosa|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.<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> *[[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. *[[Nelson Évora|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 [[2008 Summer Olympics|Beijing Olympic games]], Vanessa won a silver medal at only 22 years old. *[[Telma Monteiro]]: Winner of the silver medal in the under-52&nbsp;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&nbsp;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 (futsal)|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 C.F.|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 [[Real Madrid C.F.|Madrid FC]] in 1913''': Still not known by the royal name, the [[Spain|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 C.F.|Real Madrid]]'s international historic record. * '''Benfica 12 – 2 [[F.C. Porto|Porto]] in 1943''': In the 5th round of the 1942\43 national championship, [[FC Porto]] suffered their biggest defeat ever in the championships. [[Júlio Correia da Silva|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 Clube de Portugal|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 Lantres de Carvalho|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 F.C.|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, [[Xico (footballer)|Francisco Ferreira]]. On 3 May 1949, in the [[Jamor|National Stadium]], [[Grande Torino|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 air disaster|Superga]], nearby [[Turin]], killing all the Italian football squad aboard. * '''Benfica 2 – 1 [[FC Girondins de Bordeaux|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 [[Estádio Nacional|national stadium]]. Surpassing [[S.S. Lazio|SS Lazio]] in semi-finals, Benfica met the French champions, [[FC Girondins de Bordeaux|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 [[Júlio Correia da Silva|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 [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] in 1961''': For the first time, Benfica reached a [[European Cup and Champions League finals|European Cup final]] in [[European Cup 1960-61|1960/61]]. Their opposition was the giant and highly favorited [[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]]. Benfica defeated ''Barca'' 3–2, becoming the first club to win the [[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]] besides [[Real Madrid]], who had won the previous 5 finals. * '''Benfica 5 – 3 Real Madrid in 1962''': In [[European Cup 1961-62|61/62]] Benfica reached the [[European Cup and Champions League finals|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 [[Alfredo Di Stéfano|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 Champion Clubs' Cup|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 [[European Cup 1964-65|1964/65 Champions Cup]]'s season and Benfica demolished the [[Spain|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 [[Estádio da Luz (1954)|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. * '''[[F.C. Internazionale Milano|Internazionale]] 1 – 0 Benfica in 1965''': The fourth [[European Cup and Champions League finals|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 people|Portuguese]] players, as well as a symbolical trophy to the club, considering Benfica the "morally victorious" side of this strange final. * '''[[AFC Ajax|Ajax]] 1 – 3 Benfica in 1969''': Counting for the first leg of [[European Cup 1968-69|1968\69 Champion's Cup]]´ quarter-finals, Benfica won in a heavily [[snow]]ed [[Association football pitch|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 [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1981-82|1981–82 Cup Winners' Cup]] edition, when [[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|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 [[Cup of Portugal|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 Clube de Portugal|Sporting]]. At half-time Benfica were already winning 5–0. * '''[[A.S. Roma|Roma]] 1 – 2 Benfica in 1983''': A magnificent victory in [[Italy]] over a great [[A.S. Roma|Roma team]] that became [[Serie A 1982-83|Italian champions]] that year, and reached the [[European Cup 1983-84|Champions cup final]] in the following year. * '''Benfica 5 – 0 Sporting in 1986''': Game for the 1/4 finals of the [[Cup of Portugal|Portuguese Cup]] and Benfica were able to equal the victory of 1978. * '''Benfica 2 – 0 [[FC Steaua Bucureşti|Steaua Bucureşti]] in 1988''': 2ª hand of the semi-finals of the Champions Cup of the [[European Cup 1987-88|87/88]] season. With an astonishing attendance of 120.000, Benfica won 2–0 at [[Gheorghe Hagi]]'s Steaua and reached the [[European Cup and Champions League finals|final]]. * '''Benfica 1 – 0 [[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] in 1990''': 2ª hand of the semi-finals of the Champions Cup of the [[European Cup 1989-90|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 F.C.|Arsenal]] 1 – 3 Benfica in 1991''': Game for the 2° round of the [[European Cup 1991-92|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 [[1990-91 in English football|English champions]] from the [[European Champion Clubs' Cup|most important competition]] in [[Europe]]. * '''[[Bayer 04 Leverkusen|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 [[UEFA Cup Winners' Cup 1993-94|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 F.C.|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 [[UEFA Champions League 2005-06|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 F.C.|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]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/competitions/uefacup/fixturesresults/round=2000037/match=2000828/report=rp.html |title=Benfica goal rush flattens Toffees |publisher=Uefa.com |date= |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|author=Europa League |url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/166/europa-league/2009/10/22/1577692/player-ratings-benfica-5-0-everton |title=Player Ratings: Benfica 5–0 Everton |publisher=Goal.com |date=2009-10-22 |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref> * '''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 [[F.C. Porto|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== {{Main|List of S.L. Benfica honours}}<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/> {{See also|List of S.L. Benfica seasons}} 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=== {{Main|S.L. Benfica in Europe}} {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''1950 Latin Cup''' {| |- style="background:#9799f3;" !Stage !Opponent !Result !Replay |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/2 |[[S.S. Lazio|Lazio]] | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|3–0 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |Final |[[FC Girondins de Bordeaux|Girondins Bordeaux]] |3–3 ([[Extra time|a.e.t.]]) |2–1 ([[Extra time|a.e.t.]]) |} {{col-2}}<div style="text-align:left"> '''1957 Latin Cup''' {| |- style="background:#9799f3;" !Stage !Opponent !Result |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/2 |[[AS Saint-Étienne|Saint-Étienne]] |1–0 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |Final |[[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] |0–1 |}{{col-end}} {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''[[1960–61 European Cup]]''' {| |- style="background:#9799f3;" !Stage !Opponent !Home !Away |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |Pre. Round |[[Heart of Midlothian F.C.|Hearts]] |3–0 |2–1 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1st Round |[[Újpest FC|Újpesti Dózsa]] |6–2 |1–2 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/4 |[[Aarhus Gymnastikforening|AGF]] |3–1 |4–1 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/2 |[[SK Rapid Wien|Rapid Vienna]] |3–0 |1–1 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |Final |[[FC Barcelona|Barcelona]] | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|3–2 |} {{col-2}}<div style="text-align:left"> '''[[1961–62 European Cup]]''' {| |- style="background:#9799f3;" !Stage !Opponent !Home !Away |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1st Round |[[FK Austria Wien|Austria Wien]] |5–1 |1–1 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/4 |[[1. FC Nuremberg|Nuremberg]] |6–0 |1–3 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/2 |[[Tottenham Hotspur F.C.|Tottenham Hotspur]] |3–1 |1–2 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |Final |[[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|5–3 |}{{col-end}} {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''[[1962–63 European Cup]]''' {| |- style="background:#9799f3;" !Stage !Opponent !Home !Away |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1st Round |[[IFK Norrköping|Norrköping]] |5–1 |1–1 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/4 |[[Dukla Prague]] |2–1 |0–0 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/2 |[[Feyenoord]] |3–1 |0–0 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |Final |[[A.C. Milan|Milan]] | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|1–2 |} {{col-2}}<div style="text-align:left"> '''[[1964–65 European Cup]]''' {| |- style="background:#9799f3;" !Stage !Opponent !Home !Away |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |Pre. Round |[[FC Aris Bonnevoie|Aris]] |5–1 |5–1 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1st Round |[[FC La Chaux-de-Fonds|La Chaux-de-Fonds]] |5–0 |1–1 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/4 |[[Real Madrid C.F.|Real Madrid]] |5–1 |1–2 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/2 |[[Győri ETO FC|Vasas ETO Györ]] |4–0 |1–0 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |Final |[[Internazionale]] | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|0–1 |}{{col-end}} {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''[[1967–68 European Cup]]''' {| |- style="background:#9799f3;" !Stage !Opponent !Home !Away |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1st Round |[[Glentoran F.C.|Glentoran]] ([[Away goals rule|a]]) |0–0 |1–1 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |2nd Round |[[AS Saint-Étienne|Saint-Étienne]] |2–0 |0–1 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/4 |[[Vasas SC|Vasas]] |3–0 |0–0 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/2 |[[Juventus F.C.|Juventus]] |2–0 |1–0 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |Final |[[Manchester United F.C.|Manchester United]] | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|1–4 ([[Extra time|a.e.t.]]) |} {{col-2}}<div style="text-align:left"> '''[[1982–83 UEFA Cup]]''' {| |- style="background:#9799f3;" !Stage !Opponent !Home !Away |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1st Round |[[Real Betis]] |2–1 |2–1 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |2nd Round |[[K.S.C. Lokeren Oost-Vlaanderen|Lokeren]] |2–0 |2–1 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |3rd Round |[[FC Zürich|Zürich]] |4–0 |1–1 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/4 |[[A.S. Roma|Roma]] |1–1 |2–1 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/2 |[[CS Universitatea Craiova|Universitatea Craiova]] ([[Away goals rule|a]]) |0–0 |1–1 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |Final |[[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]] |1–1 |0–1 |}{{col-end}} {{col-begin}} {{col-2}} '''[[1987–88 European Cup]]''' {| |- style="background:#9799f3;" !Stage !Opponent !Home !Away |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1st Round |[[KF Partizani Tirana|Partizani Tirana]] |4–0 |w/o |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |2nd Round |[[Aarhus Gymnastikforening|AGF]] |1–0 |0–0 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/4 |[[R.S.C. Anderlecht|Anderlecht]] |2–0 |0–1 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/2 |[[FC Steaua Bucureşti|Steaua Bucureşti]] |2–0 |0–0 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |Final |[[PSV Eindhoven|PSV]] | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|0–0 ([[Extra time|a.e.t.]]) 5–6 ([[Penalty shootout (association football)|p.s.]]) |} {{col-2}}<div style="text-align:left"> '''[[1989–90 European Cup]]''' {| |- style="background:#9799f3;" !Stage !Opponent !Home !Away |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1st Round |[[Derry City FC|Derry City]] |4–0 |2–1 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |2nd Round |[[Budapest Honvéd FC|Budapest Honvéd]] |7–0 |2–0 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/4 |[[FC Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk|Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk]] |1–0 |3–0 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |1/2 |[[Olympique de Marseille|Marseille]] ([[Away goals rule|a]]) |1–0 |1–2 |- style="background:#d0e7ff;" |Final |[[A.C. Milan|Milan]] | colspan="2" style="text-align:center;"|0–1 |}{{col-end}} ===National Titles=== [[Image:Benfica Campeão 2005 2.jpg|thumb|300px|Fans invade the field after Benfica wins the [[2004-05 in Portuguese football|2004-05 Portuguese Liga]] championship.]] *'''[[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 in Portuguese football|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 *'''[[Taça de Portugal#1922 - 1938: Campeonato de Portugal|Campeonato de Portugal]] (Championship of Portugal, 1921–1938):''' **'''Winners (3):''' 1929–30, 1930–31, 1934–35 **''Runners-up (1):'' 1937–38 *'''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 da Liga#Taça Ribeiro dos Reis|Taça de Ribeiro dos Reis]] (Ribeiro dos Reis Cup):''' **'''Winners (3):''' 1963–64, 1965–66, 1970–71 *'''[[Taça de Portugal#1912 - 1918: Taça de Portugal (Taça do Império, unofficial)|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):'''<ref name=EC>Up until 1992, the European football’s premier club competition was the European Champion Clubs' Cup; since then, it has been the ''[[UEFA Champions League]]''.</ref> ** '''Winners (2):''' [[1960–61 European Cup|1960–61]]; [[1961–62 European Cup|1961–62]] ** ''Runners-up (5): ''[[1962–63 European Cup|1962–63]]; [[1964–65 European Cup|1964–65]]; [[1967–68 European Cup|1967–68]]; [[1987–88 European Cup|1987–88]]; [[1989–90 European Cup|1989–90]] *'''[[UEFA Europa League]] (formerly UEFA Cup):''' **''Runner-up (1):'' [[1982–83 UEFA Cup|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 (football)|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 **''Runners-up (20):'' 1906–07, 1908–09, 1910–11, 1914–15, 1918–19, 1921–22, 1922–23, 1927–28, 1928–29, 1929–30, 1934–35, 1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38, 1940–41, 1941–42, 1942–43, 1943–44, 1944–45, 1946–47 ===Award Winners=== ;Ballon d'Or The following players have won the [[Ballon d'Or]] whilst playing for Benfica: *{{Flag icon|POR}} [[Eusébio]]&nbsp;– [[Ballon d'Or 1965|1965]] ;European Golden Boot The following players have won the [[European Golden Boot]] whilst playing for Benfica: *{{Flag icon|POR}} [[Eusébio]] (42 goals)&nbsp;– 1968 (First winner) *{{Flag icon|POR}} [[Eusébio]] (40 goals)&nbsp;– 1973 ==Players== ===Current squad === *''As of 28 August 2010.''<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.slbenfica.pt/Informacao/futebol/plantel/plantel.asp |title=Sport Lisboa e Benfica |publisher=Slbenfica.pt |date= |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.zerozero.pt/equipa.php?id=4 |title=Sport Lisboa e Benfica |publisher=zerozero.pt |date=2010-05-20 |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/noticia.aspx?id=0865a3b2-ad51-401c-bfd3-548be43f3b4a&idCanal=00000011-0000-0000-0000-000000000011 |publisher=www.record.xl.pt |date=2010-07-10 |accessdate=2010-07-10|title=Gaitán herda o 20 de Di María}}</ref> {{Fs start}} {{Fs Player|no=1|nat=Portugal|name=[[José Moreira|Moreira]]|pos=GK}} {{Fs Player|no=2|nat=Brazil|name=[[Airton Ribeiro Santos|Airton]]|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=3|nat=Portugal|name=[[Fábio Faria]]|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=4|nat=Brazil|name=[[Luisão]]|pos=DF|other=[[captain (football)|vice-captain]]}} {{Fs player|no=5|nat=Portugal|name=[[Ruben Amorim]]|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=6|nat=Spain|name=[[Francisco Javier García|Javi García]]|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=7|nat=Paraguay|name=[[Óscar Cardozo]]|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no=8|nat=Argentina|name=[[Eduardo Salvio]]|pos=FW|other=on loan from [[Atlético Madrid]]}} {{Fs player|no=10|nat=Argentina|name=[[Pablo Aimar]]|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=11|nat=Argentina|name=[[Franco Jara]]|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no=12|nat=Spain|name=[[Roberto Jiménez Gago|Roberto]]|pos=GK}} {{Fs player|no=13|nat=Brazil|name=[[Júlio César Jacobi|Júlio César]]|pos=GK}} {{Fs player|no=14|nat=Uruguay|name=[[Maximiliano Pereira|Maxi Pereira]]|pos=DF}} {{Fs mid}} {{Fs player|no=15|nat=Portugal|name=[[Roderick Miranda]]|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=16|nat=Brazil|name=[[Felipe Jácomo Menezes|Felipe Menezes]]|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=17|nat=Portugal|name=[[Carlos Jorge Neto Martins|Carlos Martins]]|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=18|nat=Portugal|name=[[Fábio Coentrão]]|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=19|nat=Brazil|name=[[Weldon Santos de Andrade|Weldon]]|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no=20|nat=Argentina|name=[[Nicolás Gaitán]]|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=21|nat=Portugal|name=[[Nuno Gomes]]|pos=FW |other=[[captain (football)|captain]]}} {{Fs player|no=22|nat=Portugal|name=[[Luís Filipe (Portuguese footballer)|Luís Filipe]]|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=23|nat=Brazil|name=[[David Luiz]]|pos=DF |other=[[captain (football)|3rd-captain]]}} {{Fs player|no=25|nat=Portugal|name=[[César Peixoto]]|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=27|nat=Brazil|name=[[Sidnei Rechel da Silva Junior|Sidnei]]|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=30|nat=Argentina|name=[[Javier Saviola]]|pos=FW}} {{Fs player|no=31|nat=Brazil|name=[[Alan Kardec]]|pos=FW}} {{Fs end}} '''Reserve Players''' {{Fs start}} {{Fs player|no=–|nat=Brazil|name=[[Leandro da Silva (footballer born 1989)|Leandro Silva]]|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=–|nat=Côte d'Ivoire|name=[[Marc Zoro]]|pos=DF}} {{Fs player|no=24|nat=Equatorial Guinea|name=[[Javier Balboa|Javier Ángel Balboa]]|pos=MF}} {{Fs player|no=9|nat=Angola|name=[[Mantorras]]|pos=FW}} {{Fs end}} <!---This section is for current squad only. For recent transfers see individual season's article---> ===Benfica Juniors=== {{Main|S.L. Benfica Juniors}} ===Retired numbers=== {{Main|Retired numbers in association football}} 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 {{Flag icon|Hungary}} [[Miklós Fehér]], [[Forward (association football)#Striker|Striker]], 2001–2004 === Notable former players === {{notable players}} *Category: [[:Category:S.L. Benfica footballers|S.L. Benfica footballers]] *List of notable football players in Benfica's history: {{col-begin-small}} {{col-5}} '''1904–1950''' *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Alberto Augusto]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Alfredo Valadas]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Álvaro Gaspar Pinto|Alvaro Gaspar Pinto]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Arsénio Trindade Duarte]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Cosme Damião]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Eduardo José Corona|Corona]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Guilherme Espírito Santo|Espírito Santo]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Félix Assunção Antunes|Félix]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Francisco Alves Albino|Francisco Albino]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Francisco "Xico" Ferreira|Xico Ferreira]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Francisco Moreira]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Gustavo Antunes Teixeira|Gustavo Teixeira]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Júlio Correia da Silva|Julinho]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Joaquim Fernandes da Silva]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Luís Xavier]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[António Ribeiro dos Reis|Ribeiro dos Reis]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Manuel Sallouminas Sousa]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Alexandre Khadivão Da Banna]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Tamanqueiro (Portuguese footballer)|Tamanqueiro]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Rogério Lantres de Carvalho|Rogério "Pipi"]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Rogério de Sousa]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Vítor Silva]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Paulo Joaquim]] {{col-5}} '''1951–1970''' *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Ângelo Gaspar Martins|Ângelo]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[António Simões]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Adolfo António da Cruz Calisto|António Calisto]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Artur Correia]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Costa Pereira]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Fernando Cruz|Cruz]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Fernando Caiado]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Domiciano Cávem|Cavém]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Eusébio]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Francisco Calado]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Francisco Palmeiro]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Germano]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[José Águas]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[José Augusto]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[José Bastos]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Jaime Graça]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Mário Coluna]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Mário João]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Raúl Machado]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Joaquim Santana Silva Guimarães|Santana]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Manuel Francisco Serra|Serra]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[José Augusto Torres|Torres]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Zézinho]] {{col-5}} '''1971–1990''' *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Álvaro Magalhães]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[António Henriques Jesus Oliveira|António Oliveira]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Artur Jorge Braga Melo Teixeira|Artur Jorge]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Humberto Coelho]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Rui Jordão]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[António Bastos Lopes|Bastos Lopes]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Carlos Manuel]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Eurico Gomes]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Fernando Chalana]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Diamantino Miranda|Diamantino]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Frederico Rosa|Frederico]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Jorge Martins]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[José António Bargiela|José António]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[José Henrique]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[José Luís]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Manuel Bento]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Minervino Pietra]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Tamagnini Nené|Nené]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Neno (footballer)|Neno]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Rui Águas (footballer)|Rui Águas]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Reinaldo Gomes]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[António da Silva Samuel|Samuel]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Shéu Han|Shéu]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Silvino Louro|Silvino]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[António José Conceição Oliveira|Toni]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[António Veloso]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Vítor Baptista]] *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[Elzo Coelho]] *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[Giovânio Bonfim|Wando]] *{{Flag icon|Denmark}} [[Michael Manniche|Manniche]] *{{Flag icon|Guinea}} [[Alberto Fonseca|Alberto]] *{{Flag icon|SFR Yugoslavia}} [[Zoran Filipović]] *{{Flag icon|Sweden}} [[Glenn Strömberg]] *{{Flag icon|Sweden}} [[Mats Magnusson]] *{{Flag icon|Zaire}} [[Tueba Menayane|Tueba]] {{col-5}} '''1990s''' *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Paulo Sousa]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[João Vieira Pinto|João Pinto]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Paulo Futre]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Maniche]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Rui Costa]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Paulo Bento]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Abel Xavier]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Vitor Paneira]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Dimas Teixeira]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[César Brito]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[António Pacheco]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Hernâni Neves]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Hélder Cristóvão|Hélder]] *{{Flag icon|Angola}} [[Vata Matanu Garcia|Vata]] *{{Flag icon|Argentina}} [[Claudio Caniggia]] *{{Flag icon|Belgium}} [[Michel Preud'homme]] *{{Flag icon|Bolivia}} [[Erwin Sánchez]] *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[Valdo Filho|Valdo]] *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[Carlos Mozer|Mozer]] *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[Ricardo Gomes]] *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[Isaías Marques Soares|Isaias]] *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[Aldair]] *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[Alexandre da Silva Mariano|Amaral]] *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[William Amaral de Andrade|William]] *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[Edilson]] *{{Flag icon|CRO}} [[Mario Stanić]] *{{Flag icon|England}} [[Brian Deane]] *{{Flag icon|England}} [[Scott Minto]] *{{Flag icon|Paraguay}} [[Carlos Gamarra]] *{{Flag icon|Russia}} [[Vasili Kulkov]] *{{Flag icon|Russia}} [[Alexander Mostovoi]] *{{Flag icon|Russia}} [[Sergei Yuran]] *{{Flag icon|Russia}} [[Sergei Ovchinnikov]] *{{Flag icon|Sweden}} [[Jonas Thern]] *{{Flag icon|Sweden}} [[Stefan Schwarz]] {{col-5}} '''2000s''' *{{Flag icon|Hungary}} [[Miklós Fehér]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Fernando Meira]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Miguel Monteiro|Miguel]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Petit (Portuguese footballer)|Petit]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Simão Sabrosa|Simão]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Tiago Mendes|Tiago]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Nuno Gomes]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Manuel Fernandes (footballer born 1986)|Manuel Fernandes]] *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Fábio Coentrão]] *{{Flag icon|Angola}} [[Mantorras]] *{{Flag icon|Czech Republic}} [[Karel Poborský]] *{{Flag icon|Netherlands}} [[Pierre van Hooijdonk]] *{{Flag icon|Germany}} [[Robert Enke]] *{{Flag icon|Germany}} [[Hans-Jörg Butt]] *{{Flag icon|Slovenia}} [[Zlatko Zahovič]] *{{Flag icon|Algeria}} [[Hassan Yebda]] *{{Flag icon|Spain}} [[Carlos Marchena]] *{{Flag icon|Spain}} [[José Antonio Reyes]] *{{Flag icon|Argentina}} [[Ángel di María]] *{{Flag icon|Argentina}} [[Pablo Aimar]] *{{Flag icon|Argentina}} [[Saviola]] *{{Flag icon|Italy}} [[Fabrizio Miccoli]] *{{Flag icon|Greece}} [[Panagiotis Fyssas]] *{{Flag icon|Greece}} [[Georgios Karagounis]] *{{Flag icon|Greece}} [[Kostas Katsouranis]] *{{Flag icon|Serbia}} [[Ljubinko Drulović]] *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[Geovanni Deiberson Maurício|Geovanni]] *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[Leonardo Lourenço Bastos|Léo]] *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[Ramires]] *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[Luisão]] *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[David Luiz]] *{{Flag icon|Paraguay}} [[Óscar Cardozo]] {{Col-end}} {{col-begin-small}} {{col-2}} [[File:EusebioSLB.jpg|thumb|300px|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.]] {{col-2}} [[File:EUSÉBIO DA SILVA FERREIRA.jpg|center|thumb|300px|Another view of the statue of [[Eusébio]].]] {{col-end}} ==Coaches== ===Current coaching staff=== <!--Instructions how to use these templates are in the bottom--> {{Fb cs header}} {{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Head Coach |s={{Flag icon|POR}} [[Jorge Jesus]] }} {{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Assistant Coach |s={{Flag icon|POR}} [[Minervino Pietra|Pietra]] }} {{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Assistant Coach |s={{Flag icon|POR}} Miguel Quaresma }} {{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Assistant Coach |s={{Flag icon|POR}} Raul José }} {{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Goalkeeper Coach |s={{Flag icon|POR}} Luís Matos }} {{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Physical Fitness Coach |s={{Flag icon|POR}} Mário Monteiro }} {{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Technical Observer |s={{Flag icon|POR}} Marco Pedroso }} {{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Scout |s={{Flag icon|POR}} [[Rui Águas]] }} {{Fb cs staff |bg= |p=Scout |s={{Flag icon|POR}} José Sampaio }} {{Fb cs footer|u=28 August 2010 |s=[http://www.zerozerofootball.com/equipa.php?id=4 ZeroZeroFootball]|date=September 2010}} <!-- Template:Fb cs staff (Football - coach staff - staff) Parameters bg : background color. y = yes; blank = no p : staff position s : staff Template:Fb cs footer (Football - coach staff - footer) Parameters u : date of last update s : source --> ===Former coaches=== <!-- FORMER coaches only! --> {{Main|List of S.L. Benfica managers}}<ref name="Team Profile - Benfica"/><ref>[http://dn.sapo.pt/especiais/interior.aspx?content_id=1004395&especial=Benfica&seccao=DESPORTO Os 57 treinadores do Benfica], Diario de Noticias. {{pt icon}}</ref> {{col-begin-small}} {{col-3}} *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Manuel Goularde]] : 1904–1908 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Cosme Damião]] : 1908–1926 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Ribeiro dos Reis]] : 1926–1929 *{{Flag icon|England}} [[Arthur John]] : 1929–1931 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Ribeiro dos Reis]] : 1931–1934 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Vítor Gonçalves]] : 1934–1935 *{{Flag icon|Hungary}} [[Lipót Hertzka]] : 1935–1939 *{{Flag icon|Hungary|1940}} [[János Biri]] : 1939–1947 *{{Flag icon|Hungary|1946}} [[Lipót Hertzka]] : 1947–1948 *{{Flag icon|England}} [[Edward "Ted" Smith]] : 1948–1952 *{{Flag icon|Argentina}} [[Alberto Zozaya]] : 1952–1953 *{{Flag icon|Argentina}} [[José Valdivieso]]: 1954 *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[Otto Glória]] : 1954–1959 *{{Flag icon|Hungary}} [[Béla Guttmann]]: 1959–1962 *{{Flag icon|Chile}} [[Fernando Riera]] : 1962–1963 *{{Flag icon|Hungary}} [[Lajos Czeizler]] : 1963–1964 *{{Flag icon|Romania|1952}} [[Elek Schwartz]] : 1964–1965 *{{Flag icon|Hungary}} [[Béla Guttmann]]: 1965–1966 {{col-3}} *{{Flag icon|Chile}} [[Fernando Riera]] : 1966–1967 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Fernando Cabrita]]: 1967–1968 *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[Otto Glória]] : 1968–1970 *{{Flag icon|England}} [[Jimmy Hagan]] : 1970–1973 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Fernando Cabrita]]: 1973–1974 *{{Flag icon|SFR Yugoslavia}} [[Milorad Pavić (footballer)|Milorad "Michel" Pavić]] : 1974–1975 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Mário Wilson]]: 1975–1976 *{{Flag icon|England}} [[John Mortimore (footballer)|John Mortimore]]: 1976–1979 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Mário Wilson]]: 1979–1980 *{{Flag icon|Hungary}} [[Lajos Baróti]]: 1980–1982 *{{Flag icon|Sweden}} [[Sven-Göran Eriksson]] : 1982–1984 *{{Flag icon|Hungary}} [[Pál Csernai]] : 1984–1985 *{{Flag icon|England}} [[John Mortimore (footballer)|John Mortimore]]: 1985–1987 *{{Flag icon|Denmark}} [[Ebbe Skovdahl]] : 1987 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Antonio José Conceição Oliveira|Toni]] : 1987–1989 *{{Flag icon|Sweden}} [[Sven-Göran Eriksson]] : 1989–1992 *{{Flag icon|SFR Yugoslavia}} [[Tomislav Ivić]] : 1992 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Antonio José Conceição Oliveira|Toni]] : 1992–1994 {{col-3}} *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Artur Jorge Braga Melo Teixeira|Artur Jorge]] : 1994–1995 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Mário Wilson]]: 1995–1996 *{{Flag icon|Brazil}} [[Paulo Autuori]] : 1996–1997 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Manuel José]] : 1997 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Mário Wilson]]: 1997 *{{Flag icon|Scotland}} [[Graeme Souness]] : 1997–1999 *{{Flag icon|Germany}} [[Jupp Heynckes]] : 1999–2000 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[José Mourinho]] : 2000 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Antonio José Conceição Oliveira|Toni]] : 2000–2002 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Jesualdo Ferreira]] : 2002 *{{Flag icon|Spain}} [[José Antonio Camacho]] : 2002–2004 *{{Flag icon|Italy}} [[Giovanni Trapattoni]] : 2004–2005 *{{Flag icon|Netherlands}} [[Ronald Koeman]] : 2005–2006 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Fernando Santos (Portuguese footballer)|Fernando Santos]] : 2006–2007 *{{Flag icon|Spain}} [[José Antonio Camacho]] : 2007–2008 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Fernando Chalana]] : 2008 *{{Flag icon|Spain}} [[Quique Flores]] : 2008–2009 *{{Flag icon|Portugal}} [[Jorge Jesus]] : 2009-2010 {{col-end}} ==Other sports== ===Archery=== {{Main|S.L. Benfica (archery)}} The [[archery]] section has won the Portuguese National Championship 9 times and the Portuguese Cup 1 time. In addition to these national titles, they have won the Tornoi Européen de Nimes FITA once. It is one of the most successful Portuguese archery clubs. ===Athletics=== {{Main|S.L. Benfica (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=== {{Main|S.L. Benfica (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 [[Virtus Bologna|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 (soccer)|football]], basketball is not nearly as popular with the population as [[football (soccer)|football]]. Just as in [[football (soccer)|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. ===Beach soccer=== {{Main|S.L. Benfica (beach soccer)}} In recent years, the club started to develop a team capable of winning major titles, in part due to the growth the sport has witnessed in Portugal and world-wide. ===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&nbsp;kg kickboxing-world champion, [[Bruno Carvalho]], is one of Benfica's athletes. ===Cycling=== {{Main|S.L. Benfica (cycling team)}} [[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=== {{Main|S.L. Benfica (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=== {{Main|S.L. Benfica (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 (event)|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&nbsp;kg category, [[Telma Monteiro]], has joined Benfica.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.record.pt/noticia.asp?id=753106&idCanal=313 |title=Telma Monteiro joins Benfica |publisher=Record.pt |date=2010-05-25 |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref> The section is fully established on January 21, 2008, when the club will inaugurate their first ever [[Tatami]] [[mat]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.slbenfica.pt/Informacao/Modalidades/Judo/Noticias/noticiasjudo_judotapeteportasabertas_110108_32756.asp |title=Sport Lisboa e Benfica |publisher=Slbenfica.pt |date= |accessdate=2010-06-15}}</ref> Ana Monteiro, Sandra Borges, Teresa Mirrado and André Januário are among other athletes of the section. ===Paintball=== Benfica has achieved a big importance in Portuguese Paintball in the last years, the S.L. Benfica Paintball team, created in 2008 won the National Portuguese Gold(Top Portuguese Division)Paintball Championship 3 times in a row; 2008, 2009 and 2010, the Portuguese Cup in 2008. At international level also won the SPL Millenium European Paintball Series in 2009 and 3 SPL Millenium European Paintball Series Challenges; the World Cup of Toulouse in 2008, the European Masters Cup of Bitburg in 2008 and the Campaign Cup of London in 2009. Hugo Domingues of S.L. Benfica Paintball team is one of the best world Paintballers. In 2010 the S.L. Benfica Paintball team participate in the top Millenium European Paintball Series Competition, the CPL(Champions Profissional Paintball League). ===Rink hockey=== {{Main|S.L. Benfica (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 [[Europe]]an 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=== {{Main|S.L. Benfica (rugby union)}} Benfica have won many Portuguese championships in rugby, with [[Académica de Coimbra - rugby union|Académica de Coimbra]], [[Centro Desportivo Universitário do Porto|C.D.U.P.]], [[Grupo Desportivo Direito|Direito]] and [[C.F. Os Belenenses (rugby)|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. The Casa do Benfica no Porto(House of SL Benfica in Porto) won the FIPS-MER World Championship Shore Angling Clubs in 2006[http://www.fepyc.es/download%5CCompeticiones%5CClasificaciones%5C6MC01%5CMundial-Liga%20de%20Clubes.pdf] and a Silver Medal in 2010[http://www.fepyc.es/download%5CCompeticiones%5CClasificaciones%5C0MC03%5CCampeonato%20del%20Mundo%20Mar-costa%20Clubes%20Portugal.jpg] ===Swimming=== {{Main|S.L. Benfica (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=== {{Main|S.L. Benfica (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== {{Reflist}} ==External links== {{External links|date=September 2010}} *{{Official website|http://www.slbenfica.pt}} {{pt icon}} *[http://www.slboogle.com SLBoogle, the Team's Google Custom Search] *[http://www.transfermarkt.co.uk/en/benfica-lissabon/startseite/verein_294.html Benfica transfer news at Transfermarkt] (Translated to English from German) *[http://www.goal.com/en/teams/portugal/362/benfica Benfica news at Goal] *[http://soccernet.espn.go.com/team?id=1929&cc=5901 Benfica news at ESPNsoccernet] *[http://www.portugoal.net/index.php/benfica Benfica news at Portugoal] *[http://www.portuguesesoccernewslinks.com/benfica.html Benfica news at PSNL Soccer] *[http://www.zerozerofootball.com/equipa.php?id=4 Benfica transfer news at Zerozero] *[http://en.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/teams/club=50147/profile/index.html Benfica Profile at UEFA] *[http://pt.uefa.com/teamsandplayers/teams/club=50147/profile/index.html Benfica Profile at UEFA] {{pt icon}} *[http://www.zerozero.pt/equipa.php?id=4 Benfica transfer news at Zerozero] {{pt icon}} *[http://www.abola.pt/clubes/index.aspx?id=40&t=3 Benfica news at A Bola] {{pt icon}} *[http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/benfica Benfica news at Maisfutebol] {{pt icon}} *[http://www.ojogo.pt/26-214/artigo877412.asp Benfica news at O Jogo] {{pt icon}} *[http://www.record.xl.pt/futebol/nacional/1a_liga/benfica/default.aspx Benfica news at Record] {{pt icon}} *[http://desporto.sapo.pt/benfica/ Benfica news at SAPO Desporto] {{pt icon}} {{S.L. Benfica}} {{S.L. Benfica matches}} {{S.L. Benfica seasons}} {{UEFA Champions League}} {{Portuguese Liga}} {{Football in Portugal}} [[Category:S.L. Benfica| ]] [[Category:Portuguese football clubs|Benfica]] [[Category:Sport in Lisbon]] [[Category:Sports clubs established in 1904|Benfica]] [[Category:Sports teams in Portugal]] [[Category:Association football clubs established in 1904|Benfica]] [[Category:Companies listed on the Euronext exchanges]] [[Category:Publicly traded sports companies|Benfica]] [[Category:Multi-sport clubs]] [[ar:بنفيكا]] [[az:Benfika (Lissabon)]] [[bg:Бенфика Лисабон]] [[ca:Sport Lisboa e Benfica]] [[cs:Sport Lisboa e Benfica]] [[da:S.L. Benfica]] [[de:Benfica Lissabon]] [[el:Μπενφίκα]] [[es:Sport Lisboa e Benfica]] [[eu:SL Benfica]] [[fr:Benfica Lisbonne]] [[ga:Sport Lisboa e Benfica]] [[gl:Sport Lisboa Benfica]] [[ko:SL 벤피카]] [[hr:S.L. Benfica]] [[id:SL Benfica]] [[it:Sport Lisboa e Benfica]] [[he:בנפיקה ליסבון]] [[ka:ბენფიკა (საფეხბურთო კლუბი)]] [[la:Sport Lisboa e Benfica]] [[lt:SL Benfica]] [[hu:SL Benfica]] [[mr:एस.एल. बेनफीका]] [[nl:SL Benfica (voetbalclub)]] [[ja:SLベンフィカ]] [[no:SL Benfica]] [[pl:SL Benfica]] [[pt:Sport Lisboa e Benfica]] [[ro:S.L. Benfica]] [[ru:Бенфика]] [[simple:S.L. Benfica]] [[sk:SL Benfica]] [[sl:Benfica]] [[sr:ФК Бенфика]] [[fi:SL Benfica]] [[sv:SL Benfica]] [[tr:SL Benfica]] [[uk:Бенфіка (футбольний клуб)]] [[zh:本菲卡足球俱樂部]]'