Sport

Benfica’s greatest XI of all time

When you think of Portuguese football, the iconic red and white of Benfica almost always springs to mind. There’s a good reason for this too. The Lisbon outfit are the most successful club in the country’s history. This comes by winning 80 titles including 37 Primeira Liga trophies. Benfica have also enjoyed success in Europe too with As Aguias winning The European Cup twice – 1961 and 1962. This has seen the side host a wealth of domestic and international stars at the Estadio Do Luz down the years. But who would make Benfica greatest ever XI?

GK: Costa Pereira

During Benfica’s famed run in the 1950s and 1960s, there was only ever one man in goal: Costa Pereira. Pereira’s reputation as a top shot stopper was known across Europe and reflected by his continual success with the club. Pereira won no less than 9 Primeira Liga titles with the club and was a part of squad that won both European Cup titles in 1961 & 1962. He was also named in the World Soccer XI in 1965 underlining his consistency throughout the 1960s. Pereira retired in 1967 having made 253 appearances over a 13-year period.

RB: Antonio Veloso

A player who could be deployed practically anywhere in the backline, Antonio Veloso was often most comfortable on the right flank of defence. Known for his hard tackling and ability to disrupt play, Veloso was a lynchpin for the club in the 1980s and 1990s. This was epitomized by him captaining the club for seven years – one of the longest armband reigns in the club’s history. During this time, Veloso lifted 14 trophies and was part of a side that completed 3 domestic doubles during this period. When he retired in 1995, Veloso had made 419 appearances for Benfica and passed on his knowledge to his son Miguel – a midfielder who has gone on to star for Portugal in the 21^st century.

LB: Zeca

Benfica benefitted from a lot of stars coming from overseas colonies in their past. Zeca was a good example of this. Born and raised in Mozambique, Zeca was a skillful left-back who could also play in midfield from time to time. During a spell of 140 games with the club, Zeca was part of a squad that completed 3 domestic doubles in 1969, 1971 and 1972. After leaving in 1974, he continued to star for sides across Portugal until retiring in 1978.

CB: Humberto Coelho

For two different spells, Humberto Coelho was an anchor that aided and held the backline together for two generations of Benfica squads. His first spell from 1968-1975 was arguably his most successful as he won 10 trophies with the club including three domestic doubles from 1969-1972. His excellent heading and tackling saw interest from abroad and led him to short spells in both France and the USA. After returning from the US in 1977, Coelho rejoined Benfica and used his vast experience to oversee another wave of success on the pitch. He would win three more league titles in 1981, 1983 and 1984 before retiring for good in 1984. The 1974 Portuguese Player of the Year would later turn his hand to management leading several national sides including Portugal and South Korea.

CB: Luisao

Few players have been able to match the longevity and dedication to Benfica quite like Luisao. The Brazilian defender first joined the club in 2003 from Cruzeiro and won everyone over with excellent heading and a smooth passing game. His excellent understanding of the game also saw him captain the side for the first time in 2007. It was from here that Luisao would create history with the club for another decade. The highlight for Luisao would come in the 2013-14 season where he helped Benfica complete their first ever domestic treble winning the Taca Liga and Taca Portugal as well as the Primeira Liga. After retiring in 2018, the Brazilian retired with a host of records for the club including being their longest-serving captain and most decorated player in history with 20 trophies to his name.

CM: Mario Coluna

When it came to Benfica’s raft of success in the 1950s and 1960s, most of the inspiration came from Mario Coluna. The Mozambique-born midfielder was known for unleashing stinging shots from distance as well as creating excellent passes from the middle of the park. Coluna spent 12 years with the club before leaving in 1970 to join French side Lyon. He remains a legend to this day for many fans of the club.

CM: Sheu

For much of the 1970s and 1980s, Benfica’s engine room was powered by the driving runs and sharp passing from Sheu. Having debuted in 1972 for the club, Sheu would feature for the club for the next two decades scoring 33 goals in over 300 games for the club. During this time, the Portugal international won 15 trophies with the club and was involved in the club completing 4 domestic doubles whilst he was in Lisbon. After retiring in 1989, he would return to the club as both a coach and manager throughout the 1990s and 2000s.

CM: Toni

Fewer players have been able to shine as both a player and coach quite like Toni. At Benfica, Toni showed excellence awareness on the pitch to make excellent passes and create chances whenever he sought possible. This led him to be a part of a Benfica side in the 1970s 9 league titles when he was at the club including three successive wins from 1970-1973. It was also here where Toni was named Portuguese Player of the Year in 1972 underlining his role in the team’s success. After retiring in 1981, he would take up coaching with the club where he would go on to manage The Eagles in three separate stints from the 1980s to the early 2000s. He would manage the likes of Sevilla and Bordeaux as well as managing sides across the Middle East.

FW: Nene

Despite starting his career in 1968, few players have managed to have the same impact at Benfica as what Nene did. A player who never struggled to find the net, Nene was someone who could be relied upon to score year after year and make it look easy. He proved this by not only winning Portuguese Footballer of the Year in 1971 but winning the Primeira Liga Golden Boot twice including as late as 1984. Nene’s record-breaking streak with the club included 17 different titles as well as setting the all-time appearance for the club at 577 games. A record which stands to this day.

FW: Jose Aguas

One of the first true talismanic strikers for Benfica, Jose Aguas was streets ahead of his rivals on the pitch. Not only was he particularly nimble but he was deceptively agile in the air. This leaping aerial ability made him the perfect target man to score no matter who he played against. He would score in both the club’s European Cup triumphs in the early 1960s and was crowned Golden Boot winner on no less than 5 occasions. After leaving to join Austria Vienna in 1964, Aguas had a prolific record in front of goal scoring 290 times in just 280 games – a stunning record that few have matched since.

FW: Eusebio

Not only was Eusebio one of Portugal’s biggest stars of his time – he was the iconic figure for Benfica. His pace and deadly finishing abilities were able to destroy the very best defences across Europe particularly when unleashing from close range. The aptly-named “Black Panther” was at the heart of Benfica’s success in the 1960s and 1970s averaging 25 goals a season in his prime. He best tally came in the 1967-68 season where he scored a staggering 42 goals in just 24 games. It was this sort of form that saw him win 11 league titles with the club as well a host of cup competitions. The 2xPortuguese Player of the Year winner underlined his legendary status when he left Benfica in 1975 having scored 473 goals in 440 games. It makes him the club’s all-time top scorer and a revered legend that will be adored for generations to come.