SL Benfica
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club secretary = Template:Flagicon Shéu Han | press officer = Template:Flagicon Carlos Garcia | manager = Template:Flagicon Ronald Koeman | league = Liga betandwin.com | season = 2004-05 | position = SuperLiga, 1st | pattern_la1=_whiteshoulders|pattern_b1=_thinwhitesides|pattern_ra1=_whiteshoulders| leftarm1=FF0000|body1=FF0000|rightarm1=FF0000|shorts1=FFFFFF|socks1=FF0000| pattern_la2=|pattern_b2=_thinwhitesides|pattern_ra2=| leftarm2=545C67|body2=545C67|rightarm2=545C67|shorts2=545C67|socks2=545C67| shirtsupplier = Adidas | shirtsponsors = Portugal Telecom |
}} Template:Redirect Sport Lisboa e Benfica (commonly referred to as simply Benfica, SL Benfica or Benfica Lisbon; pron. IPA /Template:IPA/) is a sports club based in Lisbon, Portugal. It is renowned for its football branch, which is its most popular department. The club is result of a merger in 1908 between Sport Lisboa, founded in 1904, with Grupo Sport Benfica. It is also known to its fans by the nickname "Glorioso" (Glorious).
As a club oriented to multiple sports, Benfica fields teams in basketball, rink hockey, indoor football (futsal), volleyball, handball, water polo, rugby, and athletics. In total, Benfica have won ten international titles in these sports: the rink hockey-CERS Cup in 1991, three Iberian Cups, one Torneio Ibérico in rugby, and five in the Athletics European Cup. Historically, the club has also had great national successes in cycling, and is evaluating the re-introduction of a cycling department.
The Sport Lisboa e Benfica has arguably the biggest fan base among Portuguese clubs, having also the biggest number of supporters outside of Portugal. Almost every municipality of Portugal has its own Casa do Benfica (Benfica's Home) local branch, and even in some places all over the world one can find a Benfica's Home (eg. London, Angola, South Africa, United States, Canada, France, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Germany).
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Symbols
The emblem is composed of a eagle (the club's main symbol), 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 Benfica Eagle flies from one side of the Stadio da Luz (Stadium of Light) to the other before every game.
The club motto is E Pluribus Unum, "From many, one".
Football
Benfica have been a dominant force in Portuguese football since the 1930s and are record holders of the national championship and cup titles. Major rivals are FC Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal.
Benfica was the first team to break Real Madrid's dominance in the early European Champions Cup. Having won two European Cups in a row 1961 and 1962, the Lisbon club never managed to win a European trophy again, despite reaching a number of finals. In the Champions Cup deciders against A.C. Milan (1963 and 1990), Internazionale (1965), Manchester United (1968) and PSV (1988), as well as the UEFA Cup in 1982 Anderlecht were lost. This constitutes also a record of sorts.
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 in the side.
During the 1970s, the team faded slightly from the European scene, but remained the main force inside the Portuguese football scene. However, financial problems began undermining the club. In the 1980s the board decided to close the third level in the Estádio da Luz, and a questionable signing policy, which included squads composed of well over 30 players, signing players for hefty sums without any sporting or financial return, such as fading Portuguese star Futre in the early 1990s, resulted in several problems.
Recently, the club has regained some of its sporting prowess, and in 2004–2005 won their first national championship in eleven years.
Benfica play their home games in the Estádio do Benfica, also known unofficially as Estádio da Luz. It is one of Europe's largest sporting stadiums and hosted the Euro 2004 final. For that purpose it had been completely rebuilt.
It is said to be the only Club in the world whose official anthem is sung by a tenor, Luis Piçarra, and the classic musician Antonio Vitorino d'Almeida has written a symphony to commemorate the club's first 100 years.
Fans
The fans of SL Benfica, Benfiquistas, are also often referred by other teams' supporters as Lampiões (red lamps - an offensive nickname used by rivals). In Portugal, over 50% of the population are said to be Benfica sympathisers. Benfica also has large support abroad, especially in the former Portuguese colonies of Angola and Mozambique, as well as Portuguese expatriates living in Canada and the United States. Since the 2004–2005 championship, club membership figures have seen a significant increase.
Team honours
From 1922–1938 the Portuguese Championship was carried out as a knock-out competition. In 1934 an experimental and unofficial League Championship (Campeonato da Ia Liga) was introduced. This tournament was the precursor of the Portuguese league which started with the season 1938/39. The previous format continued in renamed form as the cup competition.
Benfica thrived in the new environment and not only soon became the most successful club in the history of the game in Portugal, but also one of the world's leading teams in the 1960s. In the 2005–2006 European Champions League season SL Benfica made it to the quarter-finals for the first time since 1994.
- European Cup of Champions: 2
- 1962, 1961.
- Portuguese Championship (I Divisão, I Liga, Superliga): 28
- 2005, 1994, 1991, 1989, 1987, 1984, 1983, 1981, 1977, 1976, 1975, 1973, 1972, 1971, 1969, 1968, 1967, 1965, 1964, 1963, 1961, 1960, 1957, 1955, 1950, 1945, 1943, 1942.
- Portuguese Championship (between 1921–1922 and 1937–1938): 3
- 1935, 1931, 1930
- League Championship (1934–1938, unofficial)
- 1938, 1937, 1936
- Portuguese Cup: 24
- 2004, 1996, 1993, 1987, 1986, 1985, 1983, 1981, 1980, 1972, 1970, 1969, 1964, 1962, 1959, 1957, 1955, 1953, 1952, 1951, 1949, 1944, 1943, 1940.
Noted former players
The legendary Eusébio, whose statue stands near Benfica's stadium is a symbol of the club and of Portuguese football.
Other important noted players in Benfica's history include:
Coaches
Former Benfica coaches include:
The 2005–2006 team
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SL Benfica B
Template:Main The SL Benfica B team is the reserve football team of SL Benfica, currently playing in the Portuguese Second Division. The reserve teams in Portugal play in the same football pyramid as their senior team ,rather than in a separate league. However, reserve teams cannot play in the same division as their main team. Therefore the B teams are ineligible for promotion to the SuperLiga or Liga de Honra. Reserve teams are also not permitted to enter the Portuguese Football Cup.
Basketball
SL Benfica are a top club in Portugal and are considered one of the best Basketball sides in Europe but due to Portugal's popularity in Football, Basketball is not as popular as Football. Just as in football Benfica has a major rivalry with FC Porto's basketball team and it usually ends up in arguments between the fans and players. SL Benfica have won many Taça de Portugal (Portuguese Cup) and are currently one of the best sides.
Rink hockey
SL Benfica are Currently playing in the Primeira divisao (First Division) and the club has won many League competions, Domestic Competions, and European Competions. The club's team is considered the best in Portugal along side with rivals FC Porto, Oliveirense, and Óquei Clube de Barcelos rink hockey teams. The club also plays in Major European Competions and are currently one of the best in Europe.
Futsal
[[Category:{{{1|}}} articles with sections needing expansion]]
Volleyball
[[Category:{{{1|}}} articles with sections needing expansion]]Handball
[[Category:{{{1|}}} articles with sections needing expansion]]Water polo
[[Category:{{{1|}}} articles with sections needing expansion]]Rugby
[[Category:{{{1|}}} articles with sections needing expansion]]Athletics
[[Category:{{{1|}}} articles with sections needing expansion]]Athletics is a sport with a great tradition in Benfica's history. Nowadays, Vanessa Fernandes in Women's Triathlon is one of its biggest names.
External links
- Unofficial - SL Benfica Website in Portuguese
- Unofficial - SL Benfica Website in English
- Unofficial - SL Benfica Website in German
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