S.L. Benfica (volleyball)

Sport Lisboa e Benfica, commonly known as Benfica, is a professional volleyball team based in Lisbon, Portugal, that plays in the Portuguese first division, where they are the current champions.

Benfica

Full name	Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Nickname	As Águias (The Eagles) Os Encarnados (The Reds)
Founded	31 May 1939 (1939-05-31)
Ground	Pavilhão da Luz Nº 2 (Capacity: 1,800)
Head coach	Marcel Matz[1]
Captain	Hugo Gaspar
League	League A1
2018–19	1st
Website	Club home page
Uniforms
Home Away
Championships
8

Benfica have won 8 Portuguese league titles, a record 17 Portuguese Cup and a record 9 Portuguese Super Cup. As of October 2019, Benfica is ranked 26th in the men's European clubs ranking.[2]

History

Beginning

Founded on 31 May 1939, Benfica is one of the oldest Portuguese volleyball teams.[3] Not having the success and notability of other club sections such as basketball and roller hockey, Benfica's volleyball team won their first title 27 years after being founded.

Road to the first title

From 1965–66 to 1979–80, Benfica played 10 Portuguese Cup finals, winning 7.[4] In 1980–81, led by coach Fernando Luís, Benfica finally achieved their first league title, with players such as Luís Quelhas, Manuel Silva, Jorge Infante, José Barros, João Abelho, Pedro Barros, Ilídio Ramos, and already with a young José Jardim appearing in some matches.[5]

Second title and disbandment

In a vibrating match against local rivals Sporting CP, trailing 2–0 at Nave de Alvalade, Benfica, now led by captain José Jardim, alongside teammates Nuno Brites, Luís Quelhas, Nilson Júnior, Eduardo Gallina, Miguel Silva, Márcio Karas, Davidkov, and Radoslav Peytchev, managed to recover the disadvantage and win the match 3–2, claiming their second title.[6][7][8]

In the 1993–94 season, then club president Jorge de Brito decided to disband the volleyball team. The following president, João Vale e Azevedo, restarted it in 1996–97 but in the Third Division. Former player José Jardim led Benfica back to the first tier in 2000 with the help of players such as André Cabacinha, Nuno Brites, António Silva, and captain José Fernandez.[9][10]

Third title

In 2004–05, with coach José Jardim and players such as Brazilians Adriano Lamb, Renato Júnior, André França, Roberto Purificação, André Lukianetz, as well as Portuguese players André Lopes, Carlos Teixeira, António Silva, Rui Guedes, António Seco, José Simões, Bruno Feteira, and Pedro Fiúza, Benfica won the third title for the section, plus their 11th Portuguese Cup.[11][12]

Between championships

The next season, important players, such as Adriano Lamb, Renato Junior and André França, left, and Benfica only managed to win the Portuguese Cup[12][13] and reach the quarter-finals of CEV Top Teams Cup.[14]

In the 2006–07 season, Benfica won their third Portuguese Cup in a row and 12th overall.[15]

Three years later, in 2010–11, Benfica signed Hugo Gaspar and Flávio Cruz, who were later joined by Roberto Reis in 2011–12,[16][17] all players from the Portugal national team.[18] In spite of these investments, the team failed to win the league, coming runners-up to Fonte Bastardo in the first season, and then to Sporting de Espinho in the second one.[19][20] Nevertheless, Benfica managed to win the Portuguese Cup and Super Cup in 2010–11,[21][22] and another Portuguese Cup in 2011–12.[23]

Back-to-back titles

In 2012–13, Portuguese international Flávio Cruz left for Espinho and was replaced by Brazilian Willian Reffati.[24][25] A new setter, Brazilian Rafael "Vinhedo", was also contracted to replace Ronaldo "Royal" and Robert Koch.[26] Benfica started the season by winning their third Super Cup, defeating Espinho 3–0.[27]

On 4 May 2013, Benfica defeated league title holders Espinho 3–2 and conquered their fourth championship, after a seven-year wait and three consecutive second places.[28] After SC Espinho protested at the Portuguese Volleyball Federation on a basis of a technical error, the final match was annulled and scheduled to be replayed on 12 May. Still, Benfica won the replay match 3–1.[28][29] In the following season, on 4 May 2014, Benfica successfully defended their league title by defeating Fonte Bastardo 3–1; consequently, they secured their first back-to-back titles ever.[30]

On 9 May 2015, Benfica won a third consecutive league title for the first time in their history, winning away 3–0 away to Fonte Bastardo in the fifth and final match (3–2).[31] Moreover, Benfica also won the Portuguese Cup and Super Cup, thus winning all domestic competitions. On 3 October 2015, Benfica won a fifth consecutive Super Cup and became the club with most trophies in that competition (6).[32]

Results in international competition

Note: Benfica score is always listed first.

Season	Competition	Round	Opposition	Score
1981–82	CEV Champions Cup	Qualification round	Olympiacos S.C.	0–3 (H) 0–3 (A)
1990–91	CEV Cup Winners' Cup	Withdrew	—	—
1991–92	CEV Champions Cup	First qualification round	Lausanne UC	1–3 (A) 3–0 (H)
		Second qualification round	OK Partizan	1–3 (A) 3–2 (H)
1992–93	CEV Cup Winners' Cup	Withdrew	—	—
1993–94[33]	CEV Cup Winners' Cup	First qualification round	Grupo Duero Soria	2–3 (H) 0–3 (A)
2005–06	CEV Top Teams Cup	Group C	OK Vojvodina	2–3 (H) 1–3 (A)
			Vegyész RC-Kazincbarcika	3–1 (H) 3–2 (A)
			C.V.M. Tomis Constanța	0–3 (A) 3–0 (H)
		Quarter-final	CV Palma	0–3 (A) 1–3 (H)
2014–15	CEV Challenge Cup	Round of 32	OK Partizan	3–1 (A) 3–1 (H)
		Round of 16	Fonte Bastardo	3–2 (H) 3–0 (A)
		Quarter-final	Ethnikos Alexandroupolis	3–0 (H) 3–2 (A)
		Semi-final	CMC Ravenna	3–0 (H) 2–3 (A)
		Final	Vojvodina NS Seme Novi Sad	1–3 (A) 3–2 (H)
2015–16	CEV Challenge Cup	Second qualification round[34]	Biogas Volley Näfels	3–0 (A) 3–1 (H)
		Round of 32[35]	Topvolley Antwerpen	3–1 (H) 2–3 (A)
		Round of 16[36]	Istanbul BBSK	1–3 (A) 3–0 (H)
		Quarter-final[37][38]	Ethnikos Alexandroupolis	3–1 (H) 3–2 (A)
		Semi-final[39]	Calzedonia Verona	3–2 (A) 1–3 (H)
2016–17	CEV Challenge Cup	Round of 32	Biogas Volley Näfels	3–2 (H) 2–3 (A)
		Round of 16	Chaumont VB 52	0–3 (H) 3–2 (A)
2017–18	CEV Challenge Cup	Second qualification round	C.S. Remat Zalău	3–1 (H) 3–2 (A)
		Round of 32	UVC Holding Graz	3–0 (H) 3–0 (A)
		Round of 16	Steaua București	3–2 (A) 3–1 (H)
		Quarter-final	Bunge Ravenna	1–3 (A) 2–3 (H)
2018–19	CEV Challenge Cup	Second qualification round	Pafiakos Pafos	3–0 (H) 3–0 (A)
		Round of 32	Iraklis V.C.	3–0 (H) 3–0 (A)
		Round of 16	VM Zalău	3–0 (H) 3–1 (A)
		Quarter-final	Belgorie Belgorod	0–3 (A) 3–1 (H)
2019–20	CEV Champions League	First qualification round	Mladost Brcko	3–0 (A) 3–0 (H)
		Second qualification round	OK Budva	3–0 (H) 3–1 (A)
		Third qualification round	Mladost Zagreb	20 Nov (H) 27 Nov (A)

Players

Current squad

As of 12 October 2019[40][41]

No.	Nationality	Player	Birthdate	Height	Position
1	Brazil	Raphael Oliveira	(1984-03-08) 8 March 1984	195	Outside hitter
3	Portugal	André Lopes	(1982-09-12) 12 September 1982	195	Outside hitter
4	Austria	Peter Wohlfahrtstätter	(1989-03-10) 10 March 1989	204	Middle blocker
7	Portugal	Ivo Casas	(1992-09-21) 21 September 1992	180	Libero
8	Portugal	Hugo Gaspar (captain)	(1982-09-02) 2 September 1982	201	Opposite hitter
9	Trinidad and Tobago	Marc-Anthony Honoré	(1984-06-12) 12 June 1984	198	Middle blocker
10	Portugal	Afonso Guerreiro	(1994-12-28) 28 December 1994	200	Outside hitter
11	Brazil	Théo Lopes	(1983-08-31) 31 August 1983	199	Opposite hitter
14	Portugal	Miguel Sinfrónio	(1999-03-18) 18 March 1999	192	Middle blocker
16	Brazil	Flávio "Zelão" Soares	(1982-08-16) 16 August 1982	198	Middle blocker
17	Portugal	Tiago Violas	(1989-03-27) 27 March 1989	192	Setter
18	Brazil	André Aleixo	(1990-12-21) 21 December 1990	190	Outside hitter
20	Portugal	Nuno Pinheiro	(1984-12-31) 31 December 1984	193	Setter
22	Portugal	João Simões	(1999-04-17) 17 April 1999	180	Libero

Out on loan

[42]

• José Jardim at Caldas S.C.
• João Alves at Vitória S.C.

Honours

According to Benfica's official website[43]

Men's

Domestic

• Portuguese Championship

Winners (8): 1980–81, 1990–91, 2004–05, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2018–19

• Portuguese Cup

Winners (18) – record: 1965–66, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1989–90, 1991–92, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19

• Portuguese Super Cup

Winners (9) – record: 1990, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019

European

• CEV Challenge Cup

Runners-up: 2014–15

Women's

• Portuguese League

Winners (9): 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75

• Portuguese Cup

Winners (2): 1972–73, 1973–74

References

1. Trindade, João Paulo (29 May 2018). "Marcel Matz é o novo treinador de voleibol" [Marcel Matz is the new volleyball coach]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). Retrieved 31 May 2018.
2. Eurotopteams
3. Alberto Miguéns (21 October 2011). "Uma Por Semana: Voleibol" [One per week: Volleyball]. Em Defesa do Benfica. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
4. Alberto Miguéns (2 April 2012). "Obrigado! Querido! Benfica!" [Thank you, dear Benfica]. Em Defesa do Benfica. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
5. Carlos Perdigão; António M. Morais; José de Oliveira Santos (1989). Benfica 85 anos de História [Benfica 85 years of History] (in Portuguese) (1 ed.). Portugal: Edição JML. p. 76. Depósito Legal [Deposit number]: 32848/89.
6. Alberto Miguéns (5 October 2011). "Dia 39 302 SLB" [Day 39 302 SLB]. Em Defesa do Benfica. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
7. "Voleibol: "Velhas" glórias sofrem no banco" [Volleyball: "Old" players suffer on the bench]. Record. 15 April 2005. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
8. "Voleibol: Jogo especial marca reencontro de amigos" [Volleyball: Special match sets new friends gathering]. Record (in Portuguese). 31 October 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
9. Carlos Martiano (21 March 2000). "José Jardim: "Voleibolistas do Benfica são amadores profissionais" [José Jardim: Benfica's volleyball players are profissional... amateurs]. Record. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
10. "Voleibol: Benfica regressa ao escalão principal" [Volleyball: Benfica return to top tier]. Record (in Portuguese). 19 March 2000. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
11. "Voleibol: Benfica candidato a lugares de topo" [Volleyball: Benfica is contender for top placings]. Record (in Portuguese). 30 September 2004. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
12. "Voleibol: Águias confiantes querem voar alto" [Volleyball: Confident eagles want to fly high]. Record (in Portuguese). 24 September 2005. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
13. "Voleibol: Benfica reconquista Taça de Portugal" [Volleyball: Benfica retain Portuguese Cup]. Record (in Portuguese). 28 February 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
14. "Voleibol: Benfica afastado da Top Teams Cup" [Benfica knocked out of Top Teams Cup]. Record (in Portuguese). 18 January 2006. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
15. "Voleibol: Benfica conquista 12.ª Taça de Portugal" [Benfica conquer their 12th Portuguese Cup]. Record (in Portuguese). 25 April 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
16. "Hugo Gaspar é reforço do Benfica" [Hugo Gaspar joins Benfica]. Expresso. 2 July 2010. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
17. Ângela Marques; Marco Rebelo (12 April 2012). "Flávio Cruz e Roberto Reis confessam paixões" [Flávio Cruz and Roberto Reis confess their passions]. S.L. Benfica. Archived from the original on 17 May 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
18. "Convocatória Liga Mundial 2012" [Squad list for the 2012 World League]. Voleibolportugues. 7 April 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
19. "Fonte Bastardo campeão pela primeira vez" [Fonte Bastardo are champions for the first time]. Público. 30 April 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
20. "Sp. Espinho campeão na Luz" [Espinho become champions at Luz]. Público. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
21. "Kibinho: "Quero deixar a minha marca no Benfica"" [Kibinho: "I want to leave my mark at Benfica"]. Record (in Portuguese). 30 June 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
22. "Benfica vence Fonte Bastardo e conquista Supertaça de Voleibol" [Benfica beat Fonte Bastardo and conquer Volleyball Super Cup]. Jornal de Notícias. 5 October 2011. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
23. "Benfica conquista Taça de Portugal" [Benfica conquer Portuguese Cup]. Record (in Portuguese). 1 April 2012. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
24. "Benfica contrata Flávio Cruz" [Benfica sign Flávio Cruz]. SAPO Desporto (in Portuguese). 15 July 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
25. "Reffati acerta com Benfica" [Reffati signs for Benfica]. Noticiasmundovolei. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
26. "Vinhedo no Benfica" [Vinhedo signs for Benfica]. Noticiasmundovolei. 24 July 2012. Retrieved 11 August 2012.
27. "SC Espinho – Benfica, 0–3: Voleibol conquista 3.ª Supertaça" [SC Espinho - Benfica, 0–3: Volleyball team win third Super Cup]. Record (in Portuguese). 23 June 2018. Retrieved 5 October 2012.
28. "Finalíssima entre Benfica e Sp. Espinho para repetir" [Final between Benfica and Espinho to be replayed]. Record (in Portuguese). 8 May 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
29. "Benfica-Sp. Espinho, 3–1". Record (in Portuguese). 12 May 2013. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
30. "Benfica revalida título de campeão" [Benfica retain league title]. Record (in Portuguese). 4 May 2014. Retrieved 23 June 2018.
31. "Benfica tricampeão nacional" [Benfica "tri" national champions]. Record (in Portuguese). 9 May 2015. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2015.
32. https://desporto.sapo.pt/voleibol/artigo/2015/10/03/benfica-conquista-quinta-supertaca-de-voleibol-consecutiva
33. "CEV - Confédération Européenne de Volleyball". cev.lu.
34. https://www.rtp.pt/noticias/outras-modalidades/benfica-segue-em-frente-na-challenge-cup-de-voleibol_d875078
35. https://desporto.sapo.pt/voleibol/artigo/2015/12/17/benfica-qualifica-se-para-os-oitavos-da-taca-challenge-de-voleibol
36. http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/modalidades/istanbul-bbsk/voleibol-benfica-nos-quartos-da-taca-challenge
37. https://www.cev.lu/Competition-Area/CompetitionNews.aspx?ID=881&NewsID=22613
38. https://www.cev.lu/Competition-Area/CompetitionNews.aspx?NewsID=22729&ID=881
39. https://www.cev.lu/Competition-Area/CompetitionNews.aspx?NewsID=22821&ID=881
40. "Equipa principal" [Main squad]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). Retrieved 24 December 2018.
41. "Voleibol já iniciou a pré-época" [Volleyball team has started pre-season]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). 16 August 2018. Retrieved 28 August 2018.
42. "Empréstimos no voleibol" [Volleyball loans]. S.L Benfica (in Portuguese). 6 July 2017. Retrieved 6 July 2017.
43. "Palmarés" [Achievements]. SL Benfica.pt. 7 August 2012.

External links

• Official website (in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French)