SL Benfica - Going back to the top

[CowRonaldo]

SL Benfica - Going back to the top

Team Info:
Full name: Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Nicknames: As Águias (The Eagles). O Glorioso (The Glorious one)
Founded: 28 February 1904
Ground: Estádio da Luz
Chairman: Luís Filipe Vieira
Manager: Quique Sanchez Flores
League: Portuguese Liga Sagres
2007-08: Portuguese BWINLIGA, 4th

Recent Club History:

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 ('96) and finished in embarrassing positions such as 6th in '00/'01 and 4th in '01/'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.

The New Era (2004-Present)
In 2004 the club regained some of its sporting prowess, with a new president and the manager Jose Antonio Camacho, winning the first title in eight years (the Portuguese cup, won against Mourinho's FC Porto in the final), and in 2004–2005 the first national championship in eleven years, this time with Giovanni Trapattoni as coach. In 2005/2006 Benfica won the Portuguese supercup for the 4th time.
In the 2005-06 Champions League, Benfica managed to reach the quarter-finals, defeating Manchester United 2-1 in the decisive group stage encounter, and then overcoming the 2005 European champions Liverpool F.C. 3-0 on aggregate. However Benfica lost in the Quarter Finals to the eventual winner F.C. 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 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 20th August 2007 Jose Antonio Camacho returned to SL Benfica on a 2-year contract, a more or less desperate move as Benfica was facing a vital Champions League qualifying game against F.C. Copenhagen, ending with an away win by 1-0 that granted Benfica a place in 2007-08 Champions League where they exited the competition at the group stage. They then parachuted to the UEFA Cup where they were defeated by Spanish debutants, Getafe CF.

On May 22nd 2008, the former Valencia manager, Quique Sanchez Flores was appointed as the clubs new manager. Benfica failed to gain a top three finish in the Portuguese Liga 2007-08 and will play the UEFA Cup this year.

Stadium Info:

Full name: Estádio do Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Common Name: Estadio da Luz
Location: Lisbon, Portugal
Opened: 25 October 2003
Owner: Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Surface: Grass
Field dimensions: 105 x 68 m
Construction cost: $133 million
Capacity: 65,647

Home Kit - Away Kit:

Squad:
# - Position - Player
1 GK José Moreira
4 DF Luisão (captain)
5 DF Léo
6 MF José Antonio Reyes
7 FW Óscar Cardozo
8 MF Kostas Katsouranis
9 FW Mantorras
10 MF Pablo Aimar
11 MF Javier Balboa
12 GK Quim
13 MF Fellipe Bastos
14 DF Maxi Pereira
15 MF Ruben Amorim
16 FW Urretavizcaya
17 FW Freddy Adu
18 MF Binya
19 FW Ariza Makukula
20 MF Ángel Di María
21 FW Nuno Gomes
23 DF David Luiz
24 MF Carlos Martins
25 DF Jorge Ribeiro
26 MF Hassan Yebda
27 DF Sidnei
28 DF Miguel Vítor
30 FW David Suazo
31 GK Moretto

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Feel like doing this ahead of time. I'm looking forward to doing this since not many people do a Portuguese league.

[Mercurial]

Very nice start buddy, good luck with Benfica.

[Tubbsy]

yeah good luck and as u said not many people do potugese teams

[Mercurial]

Where do you reckon the design team for the Emirates Stadium got their inspiration.

[CowRonaldo]

Here's some information on summer signings of Benfica. Some interesting stuff about our real life signings.

Ruben Amorim - Belenenses - Free
Jorge Ribeiro - Boavista - Free
Hassan Yebda - Le Mans - Free
Javier Balboa - Real Madrid - 4 million €
Carlos Martins - Recreativo Huelva - 3 million €
Jonathan Urretavizcaya - River Plate - 1.26 million €
Pablo Aimar - Real Zaragoza - 6,5 million €
Sidnei - Sport Club Internacional - 5 million € (50%)
José Antonio Reyes - Atlético de Madrid - 2.65 million € (loan with part acquisition - 25%)
Moretto - AEK Athens - Return from loan
David Suazo - Inter Milan - Loan

Total spending: ▼ 22,410,000 €


Quique Flores comments Q&A on signings:

Q: Benfica spent quite a lot of money on players this summer, why is that?
A: Last season was very disappointing for a team of this level, Benfica only reached 4th place. We want to restore Benfica back to a winning team, and these signings will help.

Q: What was influential in being able to make such high profile signings?
A: Rui Costa has become the sporting director and his negotiation process has worked well in convincing players to come.

Q: Which are Benfica's best signings?
A: Obviously Aimar, it is great to have such a talented player. Reyes is also a great player, we will get him back in form at Benfica.

Q: Which signing will benefit you tactically?
A: Suazo will fit the tactics very well. He is probably the fastest player in the Portuguese league now which will be the perfect combination for Cardozo who relies on his strength. Cardozo scored more than 20 goals in all competitions, and he can get even more this season with a good partner.

Q: Best signings for value?
A: I was pleased to obtain Carlos Martins for only 3 million. He is starting to make callups to the Portugal national team and is a good midfielder with a strong long shot. Hassan Yebda has impressed in preseason, to get him for free was great.

Q: Did you sign any promising players?
A: Yes, Jonathan Urretavizcaya is one. He is an 18 year old striker/winger from Uruguay with great ball control and dribbling skills. He has scored 8 goals in 14 games in the Uruguayan league is is impressive for someone so young.

[DannyB]

When did you get Sauzo??

What kinda away kit sponser do you have?

[CowRonaldo]

Originally Posted by DannyBRonaldo

When did you get Sauzo??

What kinda away kit sponser do you have?

Suazo is loaned from Inter, it happened near the end of the window. He scored his first game against Napoli, but he got injured cause some idiot slide tackled him.

And it's a frog, yes.

[Robalenko]

What an awesome shirt sponser. I intend to follow this, as I don't see many good Portugal ones. Please don't let me down

[DannyB]

I know he's loaned from Inter. I just didn't know he'd gone.

Frog for a sponser

[CowRonaldo]

Freddy Adu loan canceled.

Freddy Adu was planned to have been loaned to AS Monaco of French Ligue 1, but plans have changed at the last minute. After viewing Freddy Adu for the US National Team, the Benfica staff has decided he has a place in the squad. Freddy Adu performed well in his sub appearances last season, however changes in management and struggles in the league later prevented him from getting much time. "Adu will definitely have more time on the field this season, he deserves it," said Quique Flores when asked about the subject.

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Main reason I've done this is because loans aren't programmed into the manager mode. If I transfer him before the season starts, won't have to buy him.

I wish the Benfica staff had this opinion in real life though.

[Patuh]

Luisão (captain) ??

[SoccerMagic94]

It's good to see you're doing a club which strays way from the norm. Good Luck

[CowRonaldo]

Originally Posted by Patuh

Luisão (captain) ??

I don't really see anyone else who would be captain. Am I forgetting someone?

BTW, I haven't made an update in a few days because I forgot my e-mail login. But I remembered it today.

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Benfica target a right-back.
When asked if there were going to be any more summer transfers for Benfica, manager Quique Flores replied "All we need is a right-back." Last year's starter Nelson was recently sold to Real Betis which seems the reason for this transfer. "We are short in this position, and that's all the transfers we will need until the winter window."

Some rumoured targets are:




Paulo Ferreira, Chelsea





Alvaro Arbeloa, Liverpool






Christian Zaccardo, Wolfsborg

[CowRonaldo]

Anyone have any opinions about the RB situation?

[Recon10]

Zaccardo, He Doesnt Play For Scum!

[.DJ]

Ferriera would be a good choice for the team

[CowRonaldo]

Thanks for the replies.

Anything you guys would like to see? I can only get the game on Oct 14th, so yeah.

[Chelsea11]

I'd say go for Ferreira...but I'm aslo a Chelsea fan

[The Stig]

You have the best username ever
(CowRonaldo)

[CowRonaldo]

Originally Posted by Ronaldo7Rooney

I'd say go for Ferreira...but I'm aslo a Chelsea fan

It works for me too, the more Portuguese the better.

[Chelsea11]

yeah, I think Zaccardo would be unrealistic, but Arebola would be more realistic than Zaccardo, but Ferreira is the most realistic

[CowRonaldo]

I'll finally have the game tomorrow in the US here, so I'm going to continue with this, don't worry guys.

BTW, does PS3 manager mode have preseason friendlies or not? If not I'll just use kick-off for some. I'll need some practice anyway.


Benfica announce 4 pre-season friendlies.

Feyenoord ------- Blackburn Rovers --- Boca Juniors ----- Inter Milan

[JulianBere]

Good start.

[CowRonaldo]

Match Report: SL Benfica vs. Feyenoord

Benfica started the game off during a sunny day in Portugal and immeadiately imposed some possession tactics. Things were looking a bit shaky being the first full game these players have played together. However, Benfica's confidence would surely go up when they took the lead at the 20th minute. Katsouranis made a nice pass to Cardozo who made a first touch pass for Reyes. Reyes beat the defense and took a shot that was blocked, however Cardozo was there to apply the finish.

7 minutes later, Feyenoord managed to tie the game. A cross came from the left and Makaay smartly positioned himself to send in a good header. At 42 minutes, Benfica had a close chance to level with Suazo charging in the box and attempting a pass to Reyes, but the pass was blocked. Half-time score: 1-1.

Benfica came attacking at the beginning of the 2nd half. Cardozo passed to Suazo outside the box, but the shot wasn't too strong and the goalkeeper caught it. The pressure was piling on Feyenoord, with Cardozo hitting the post inside the box after a very nice passing move. Very unlucky for Benfica. Full-time score: 1-1.


Cardozo celebrates his goal.

Official MOTM: Maxi Pereira
Quique's MOTM: O. Cardozo

[CowRonaldo]

Match Report: Blackburn vs. Benfica

V.

Benfica will play the same line-up used against Feyenoord:
Quim
Maxi Pereira - Luisao - David Luiz - Leo
Aimar - C. Martins - Katsouranis - Reyes
Suazo - Cardozo

Benfica started the game off well. The first notable chance was a Katsouranis shot from outside the box that forced the goalkeeper to make a save. Benfica continued to play well and were rewarded in the 32nd minute with a Daivd Suazo header off a corner. Half-time score 1-0.

The second half saw some familiar scenes from the last match. Cardozo was denied another goal by the post. Blackburn did not do anything special, with their only chance of Santa Cruz being punched out by Quim. Maxi Pereira also put in another good performance, and could possibly bench the newcoming RB if he continues. Full-time score 1-0.

Qfficial MOTM: Maxi Pereira
Quique's MOTM: Carlos Martins