FM16: SL Benfica - out with the old, in with the new

[kingjericho]

Sport Lisboa e Benfica 2015/16 club thread

History

Early years (1904–1950)

On 28 February 1904, a group of former students from the Real Casa Pia de Lisboa and members of Associação do Bem met at the back of Farmácia Franco on Rua de Belém. Their goal was to form a social and cultural football club which would be called Sport Lisboa. There were a total of 24 people who attended the meeting, including the 18-year-old co-founder and future soul of the club, Cosme Damião. In this meeting, José Rosa Rodrigues was appointed as club president, along with Daniel Brito as secretary and Manuel Gourlade as treasurer. It was defined that the club colours would be red, to symbolise bravery, and white, for peace. The founders also decided that the crest would be composed of an eagle (symbolising high aspirations), the motto "E pluribus unum" (defining union between all club members) and a football ball.

On 1 January 1905, they played their first match ever, winning 1–0 against Campo de Ourique. Despite important victories in the first few years, the club suffered due to poor operating conditions, namely the football dirt field Terras do Desembargador. As a result, in 1907, eight players joined Sporting CP, located across the city. This event started the rivalry between the clubs.

On 13 September 1908, Sport Lisboa acquired Grupo Sport Benfica by mutual agreement and changed its name to Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Despite the club merger, they continued their respective club operations. For Sport Lisboa they maintained the football team, the shirt colours, the eagle symbol and the motto. For Grupo Sport Benfica they maintained the field Campo da Feiteira, the main directors and the club house. Both clubs determined that the foundation date should coincide with Sport Lisboa's (1904) given that it was the most recognised club and quite popular in Lisbon due to its football merits. In regard to the crest, a cycling wheel was added to Sport Lisboa's to represent the most important sport of Grupo Sport Benfica. Furthermore, the two entities of the new club had simultaneous members who helped stabilise operations, which later increased the success of the merger. However, problems with the club's rented field remained. In 1913, Benfica moved to their first football grass field, Campo de Sete Rios. Four years later they moved to Campo de Benfica due to a high rent. In 1925, they moved to their own stadium, Estádio das Amoreiras, and this was the place where Benfica won their first national titles.

The Portuguese league began in 1934, and after finishing third in the first edition, Benfica won the next three championships in a row (1935–36, 1936–37, 1937–38). In 1940, Benfica won their first Taça de Portugal. In 1941, Benfica moved to Estádio do Campo Grande. Throughout the 1940s, Benfica won three Primeira Liga (1941–42, 1942–43, 1944–45) and four Taça de Portugal (1940, '43, '44, '49). János Biri achieved the first double for the club in 1943.

Rise to dominance (1950–1960)

Benfica's first international success happened in 1950 when they won the Latin Cup (the only Portuguese club to do so), defeating Bordeaux with a golden goal from Julinho at the Estádio Nacional in Lisbon, with Ted Smith as coach. They reached another final of the competition in 1957 but lost to Real Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu.

With Joaquim Ferreira Bogalho elected as president in 1952 and the arrival of coach Otto Glória in 1954, Benfica became more modernised and professional, and moved into the original Estádio da Luz with an initial seating capacity of 40,000; expanded to 70,000 in 1960.

During the 1950s, Benfica won three Primeira Liga (1949–50, 1954–55, 1956–57 – they were champions in 1955 but Sporting CP played the 1955–56 European Cup instead) and six Taça de Portugal (1951, 1952, 1953, 1955, 1957, 1959), achieving the second double in 1955 and the third one in 1957. In addition to these successes, Benfica was able to end the decade with the basic foundations in place, enabling the club to enter the 1960s as one of the best in European football.

Golden age (1960–1970)

Led by coach Béla Guttmann,[16] Benfica was one of two teams, along with Barcelona, to break Real Madrid's dominance in European Champion Clubs' Cup by winning two consecutive European Cup, the first against Barcelona in 1961 (3–2) at the Wankdorf Stadium and the second one against Real Madrid in 1962 (5–3) at the Olympic Stadium.

Later on, Benfica reached another three European Cup finals but lost them to Milan in 1963 (2–1) at the Wembley Stadium, to Inter Milan in 1965 (1–0) at the San Siro, and to Manchester United in 1968 (4–1) again at the Wembley Stadium, where they were presented with European Team of the Year by France Football.

The 1960s were the best period of the club, in which Benfica won eight Primeira Liga (1959–60, 1960–61, 1962–63, 1963–64, 1964–65, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69), three Taça de Portugal (1962, 1964, 1969) and two European Cup (1960–61, 1961–62). Their fourth domestic double was achieved in 1964 with Lajos Czeizler and the fifth one in 1969 with Otto Glória.

Many of their successes in this decade were achieved with Eusébio – the only player to have won a Ballon d'Or for a Portuguese club – Coluna, José Águas, José Augusto, Simões, Torres, and other notable players, who formed the team of 1963–64, which set a club record of 103 goals in 26 league matches. During their golden decade, Benfica was ranked first in European football three times.

Dominance and decline (1970–1994)

During the 1970s, they faded slightly from the European scene, but remained as the main force of Portuguese football, winning six Primeira Liga (1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1976–77) and two Taça de Portugal (1970, 1972). Jimmy Hagan led the club to three consecutive Primeira Liga and one Taça de Portugal between 1970 and 1973, achieving the club's sixth double in 1972. In the same year, Benfica attracted Europe-wide attention when they reached the semi-finals of the European Cup, where they were eliminated on aggregate (1–0) by Ajax of Johan Cruyff.

In 1972–73, Benfica became the first club in Portugal to last a whole season without defeat, winning 28 matches – 23 consecutively – out of 30, and drawing 2. In that season, Eusébio became Europe's top scorer with 40 goals, in what was his penultimate season as a Benfica player. They scored 101 goals, breaking the 100 goals mark for the second time in the club history, and conceded 13 goals.

In the late 1970s, early 1980s, the club had some corporate management problems but the team managed to keep up to their standards. In 1981, Lajos Baróti secured the seventh double for Benfica by winning the Primeira Liga and the Taça de Portugal. Later, under the guidance of Sven-Göran Eriksson, the club won two consecutive Primeira Liga (1982–83, 1983–84) and one Taça de Portugal (1983), achieving their eighth double, and reached the final of the UEFA Cup in 1983 but lost on aggregate score to Anderlecht. In the same year, Benfica also won the Iberian Cup II, beating Athletic Bilbao on aggregate. Eight years later, they were runners-up against Atlético de Madrid in Iberian Cup III.

Following the completion of improvements to the stadium, Benfica decided to open the third tier of the Estádio da Luz, which transformed it into the biggest stadium in Europe and third largest in the world, with an 120,000 seating capacity (up to 135,000 when spectators stood behind the goals). In 1986–87, John Moltimore won the Primeira Liga and Taça de Portugal, obtaining the ninth double for Benfica.

From 1988 to 1994, Benfica made a huge financial investment in an effort to win another European Cup, reaching two European Cup finals in 1988 and 1990 but lost them to PSV (on penalties) and Milan (1–0), respectively. During the same period of time, Benfica won three Primeira Liga (1988–89, 1990–91, 1993–94) and one Taça de Portugal (1993). In 1988–89, led by coach Toni, they only conceded 15 goals in 38 league matches, a club record.

Crisis and recovery (1994–2009)

Financial trouble dating back to the 1980s when Benfica completed the third tier (Terceiro Anel) of the Estádio da Luz, along with large investments on players, started to deteriorate the club finances. The rampant spending and a questionable signing policy, which allowed for squads composed of well over 30 players, further aggravated the problem.

Consequently, the period from 1994 through 2003 was the worst in their history. During this time, Benfica only won the Taça de Portugal in 1996, suffered their biggest defeat in European competitions (7–0 against Celta de Vigo) in 1999, and had their lowest Primeira Liga finishing positions, such as sixth in 2000–01 and fourth in 2001–02. The club entered in default during João Vale e Azevedo's three-year presidency, which further damaged the club finances and credibility, while from 1994 to 2003, eleven managers shared the seat including Mário Wilson, thrice. It was also during this period, in 2001, that Benfica signed Simão for €12 million, and decided to build the new Estádio da Luz, which would eventually cost €162 million.

In the 2003–04 season, with a new president, Luís Filipe Vieira, and coach José Antonio Camacho, who had joined in 2002, Benfica won their 24th Taça de Portugal defeating José Mourinho's Porto in the final (2–1). They ended an eight-year silverware drought and dedicated the trophy to Miklós Fehér, who had died in January 2004.

In 2004–05, with Giovanni Trapattoni as coach, Benfica won their 31st league title, ending an eleven-year title drought. Later on, the club president, manager, and first-team players travelled to Hungary to deliver the Portuguese championship gold medal to Fehér's parents.

In 2005–06, Benfica won their fourth Supertaça against Vitória de Setúbal (1–0). In Europe, Benfica reached the quarter-finals of UEFA Champions League, beating Manchester United 2–1 in the decisive group stage encounter, and then overcoming the European champions Liverpool 3–0 on aggregate. However, Benfica lost in the quarter-finals to Barcelona by an aggregate of 2–0, both goals coming during the second leg at Camp Nou.

In 2006–07, Benfica found themselves again facing Manchester United in a decisive Champions League group match in which the winner would advance. However, this time the Red Devils prevailed, gaining revenge in a 3–1 win.

In 2007–08, Camacho returned to Benfica on a two-year contract, following the sacking of Fernando Santos after one match in the Primeira Liga (a tie at promoted Leixões), at a time when Benfica was facing a vital Champions League qualifying match against Copenhagen. A successful move since Benfica guaranteed a place in the Champions League after beating Copenhagen 1–0, but exited the competition at the group stage and were put into UEFA Cup, where they lost to Getafe twice. Camacho resigned in March 2008. Afterwards, with Fernando Chalana as an interim manager, they failed to gain a top three finish in the league and were placed in the UEFA Cup.

In 2008–09, Quique Flores was appointed as coach. He won the club's first Taça da Liga defeating Sporting CP. In the Primeira Liga they finished third and got a place in the UEFA Europa League. In June 2009, Flores resigned after agreeing to a friendly contractual termination.

Recent years (2009–present)

In the 2009–10 season, Benfica signed Jorge Jesus as coach. In March 2010, Benfica beat Porto 3–0 in the Taça da Liga final and won their second consecutive league cup trophy. In Europe, Benfica was drawn against Liverpool in the quarter-finals of the Europa League. At the Estádio da Luz, Benfica defeated Liverpool 2–1 but were eliminated after a 4–1 loss at Anfield. In May 2010, Benfica won their final league match, against Rio Ave, and became champion of the 2009–10 Primeira Liga conquering their 32nd league title and securing a direct entry into the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League. Óscar Cardozo finished as top scorer of Primeira Liga with 26 goals.

In 2010–11, after finishing third in the group stage of UEFA Champions League, Benfica moved to Europa League and progressed to their first European semi-final in eighteen years, seeing off PSV. Nevertheless, they were eliminated on away goals after an aggregate score of 2–2 against Braga. In April 2011, Benfica won the Taça da Liga final against Paços de Ferreira, clinching their third consecutive title in the competition. Then, they finished second in Primeira Liga.

In 2011–12, Benfica reached the quarter-finals of the Champions League, being eliminated by Chelsea; won their fourth consecutive Taça da Liga, and was second in Primeira Liga, qualifying directly to the 2012–13 UEFA Champions League. Óscar Cardozo was the top scorer of Primeira Liga for the second time, with 20 goals. In January 2012, Benfica was ranked eighth in World Club Ranking by IFFHS.

In 2012–13, after coming third in the Champions League group stage, they reached the Europa League final eliminating Fenerbahçe, but lost 2–1 to 2012 European champions Chelsea. It was the ninth European final overall for Benfica and the first since the 1990 European Cup final. Domestically, Benfica was second in Primeira Liga by one point, despite leading before the penultimate day. They reached the semi-finals of the Taça da Liga but lost on penalty shoot-out against Braga. They reached the final of the Taça de Portugal but lost (1–2) against Vitória de Guimarães.

The 2013–14 season was one of the best in their history as Benfica won their 33rd champions title; won their fifth Taça da Liga, without conceding a goal (record); reached the Europa League final for a second consecutive time, without defeat (record), losing it on penalties to Sevilla; and won their 25th Taça de Portugal, achieving their tenth double and an unprecedented treble in Portuguese football. They completed the season unbeaten at home in all five competitions, and had the best defence of all European leagues with 18 goals conceded. In January 2014, Benfica was ranked tenth in World Club Ranking by IFFHS. 2014 was also marked by the deaths of club legends Eusébio and Coluna.

Benfica started the 2014–15 season by winning the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, thus establishing a new Portuguese record of all four domestic titles won in a year. In August 2014, RSSSF ranked Benfica as the best team in UEFA competitions since 2009, fourth since 2004, and seventh in the all-time ranking. On 17 May 2015, Benfica won their 34th league title, clinching their first back-to-back titles since 1984. On 29 May, Benfica won their sixth Taça da Liga (record), defeating Marítimo 2–1, and became the Portuguese club with most titles won (75). In June 2015, Benfica signed Rui Vitória as coach. They started the 2015–16 season by losing the domestic Super Cup to Sporting.

[kingjericho]

Club Details

Year founded: 1904

President: Luís Filipe Vieira

Current manager: Rui Vitória

Club captain: Luisão

Vice captain: Nico Gaitán

Country: Portugal

League: Primeira Liga

Fierce rivals: Porto (historic), Sporting (historic)

Other rivals: Belenenses (historic)

Legends: Eusébio, Cosme Damião

Icons: Mário Coluna, José Águas, José Augusto, Humberto Coelho, Costa Pereira, José Torres, Bella Gutman, Fernando Chalana, António Simões, Nené, Cavém, Simão Sabrosa, João Vieira Pinto, Rui Costa, Oscar Cardozo, Shéu, Toni, Bento, Sven-Goran Eriksson



Estádio da Luz

Capacity: 65647

Corporate facilities: Average

Training facilities: Excellent

Youth facilities: Superb

[kingjericho]

Senior squad

Goalkeepers

Júlio César / Éderson

Defenders

Bruno Rodrigues / André Almeida / Luisão / Jardel / Lisandro López / Francisco Ferreira / Sílvio / Nélson Semedo / Eliseu

Midfielders

Ljubomir Fejsa / Andreas Samaris / Bryan Cristante / Eduardo Salvio / Gonçalo Guedes / Nicolás Gaitán / Filip Djuricic / Pizzi / Talisca / Mehdi Carcela / Victor Andrade / Adel Taarabt

Forwards

Jonas / Kostas Mitroglou / Raúl Jiménez

B squad

Goalkeepers

Paulo Lopes / Miguel Santos / André Ferreira / Thierry Graça

Defenders

Buta / Alexandre Alfaiate / Victor Lindelöf / Pedro Rebocho / Yuri Ribeiro / João Nunes / Ricardo Carvalho / João Lima / Rúben Dias / Vitaly Lystzov / Emir Azemovic / Pawel Dawidowicz / Alexis Scholl

Midfielders

Gilson Costa / Pedro Rodrigues / Jim Varela / Gonçalo Rodrigues / Jorge Pereira / Nuno Santos / João Teixeira / Bilal Ould-Chikh / Renato Sanches / Francisco Vera / Diogo Gonçalves / Filipe Ferreira / Marvin Loría / Clésio Bauque / Sancidino Silva / Hildeberto Pereira / João Carvalho / Elbio Álvarez

Forwards

Oliver Sarkic / Zé Gomes / Juan San Martín

Analysis

Overall, the squad has quality and it should be enough for the domestic competitions.

The strong points are in the midfield, where there are many viable options for every position, and you have a choice to setup the midfield as you wish due to the variety of quality players available.

The weak points are the full back positions. The only really solid option is Nélson Semedo, since the other players are either not good enough or are ageing. You should focus your first transfer targets here.

Also, the squad has three good strikers, but it is a bit short if you wish to use a tactic with two strikers. Jonas is also ageing so you might want to consider adding another player here in the mid-term.

Some key players are ageing (Júlio César, Luisão, Eliseu, Jonas) but there is still quality here to explore for at least the next two season.

You mighy also want to take a look at some players on loan. The likes of Marçal, Luis Fariña, Ola John, and Jonathan Rodríguez can be valid options for Benfica.

The B squad is your pot of gold. Even if you don't want to risk short-term success, some players here can become first teams very soon. It's an investment worth the time.

Tactical setup

As you can see, many schemes can be applied for this squad.

It's up to you to choose the best and win some trophies!

[PandoraBox]

You have to update the team icons

good luck

[iolodavanki]

I can really recommend a save with Benfica since I am having a blast with a mix of bought talent with what is coming through the youth ranks of the club. Renato Sanches, Goncalo Guedes, Semedo, Bryan Cristante and Joao Nunes are all top, top prospects. Add to that Gaitan, Talisca, Samaris etc. Salvio was broken using the beta data base so I had to sell him (Ledley King syndrome)

In 17/18 I sold players for £182 M, for example, without seriously depleting my talent reserves. Among the sold players were Semedo, Raul Jimenez, Samaris, Ayoze Perez (sold for a profit), Salvio (all sold between £25-35M+clauses).

Some friendly recommendations:

I would recommend looking at bringing Tevez back to Europe. Keep hold of the youth coming through (Guedes, Nunes, Sanches, Cristante). I also put a lot of cash into bringing in Bernardo Silva (£30M) from Monaco since he has Benfica as a favourite club. Raphael Guerreiro is another exciting Portuguese talent that I loved watching at the U21 Euros IRL this summer and he should be available for around 7-10M. Andre Almeida is a very handy player to have so keep him happy and he will be a solid player for you as FM16 can throw a lot of injuries your way. Lindelof, the Swedish young defender, also comes good if you give him some game time now and then. Use your SLB B team. Other players that I have brought in without it costing me an arm and a leg are: Rajkovic, Lincoln, Nacho, Thiago Maia, Ahmed Musa, Jesus Vallejo (loan), Gabriel Barbosa (loan).

Another thing worth noting is that during my first season, Porto were unstoppable with a 30-3-1 quota, with me inflicting their only loss and also drawing away to Porto. So don't despair if this happens to you. Now, in January 2018, I am well on top.

Also, at the very start of the game, I would recommend going for a top striker. I was able to get Ayoze Perez for 20M by selling Fejsa and Djuricic. Jimenez might get you goals but I felt the stable of strikers at the club was rather weak compared to the rest of the team.

Happy hunting!

[PandoraBox]

Another friendly recommendation is to buy a backup keeper, (Dragowski comes in mind) Julio Cesar is injury prone

[Pipson]

Just bought the game, gonna give my one and only fav club a tryout 1st before heading towards England (where i currently live atm)

[Pipson]

I have to say that there is alot of good young players in the team but im also loosing so many players as teams come and activate their transfer clause.

Just finish my 1st season won the league, cup and league cup.

[kingjericho]

That's a great season! Can you post some screenies of your season? Did you have any youngsters stand out?

[Bigpapa42]

Another friendly recommendation is to buy a backup keeper, (Dragowski comes in mind) Julio Cesar is injury prone

I have eyed up Dragowski in a couple of games. When I put in a bid, the Polish club countered with like $25m. Have you landed him and how pricey was he?

[vozzon]

Like the look on benfica's team this year, might have a go once i finish a few seasone with my gunners save.

Would anyone be able to post some future screen shots of Guedes and renato sanchez?

[Pipson]

I might just start my current save again, the thing is that benfica has so many good players comming back on loan and players comming through from the ya that you dont really need to spend any money ps Ze Gomes is gonna be beast. I might start my save again and possibly hardly spend any money or go for a really young team atm in my current save i have 30 players in my team all who can be in the starting 11. So im getting too many issues players moaning about not getting 1st team.

[clarinet]

I

1st aprouch to FM 16 with favorite team SLBenfica.

Very good 1st season: won all compts except Champions...defeated in the Final to Barça.

Some transfers.

http://prntscr.com/9b2urp

2nd season also good with some good loans (Martial wow) lost champions in quarters with City

http://prntscr.com/9b2vgr

In this new FM more easy to sell, so also more interesting to play for me.

For last a big thanx to Mister Vodu for the amazing tactic.

Cheers

[clarinet]

http://prntscr.com/9cbcmo

WTF semi final 3rd season...wow

[kingjericho]

Looks good

[clarinet]

3rd season Champions

http://prntscr.com/9cm142

Nice,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[Ronaldo Beckham]

What was the tactic you used, is there a download link please as I have just started a new save with Benfica.

[clarinet]

Here we go mate.... sory so late,, Its from portuguese Tactic master mister Vodu

[BoobyBlah]

I'm into my second season at Benfica now. The youth in this club are amazing.

Renato Sanches is possibly the best midfielder I've used on this game.

[vossmaj]

Maybe Karl-Heinz Rummenigge saw this post. Bayern just bought him.

[PandoraBox]

Many great youths left. Zé Gomes had a fantastic season, as a 16yo scored more than 30 goals in the u19 league + 7 youth champions league goals and now he's playing for Portugal in the u17 european championship and already scored 3 goals in 2 games João Filipe is also destroying fullbacks

But there are plenty more great youngsters. Ederson just got called for Copa America for Brazil, Lindelof became a regular player for Benfica and Sweden National Team and plenty of teams have been scouting him.

Shamefully Luka Jovic and Saponjic haven't been that great.

[kingjericho]

Jovic has potential and can become quite good if developed properly.

As for Saponjic I think he's another one those players that came in the "pack" with Jovic. Like Andres Diaz came with Di Maria, Filip Markovic with his brother, and so on.

[BoobyBlah]

Took me 4 seasons but finally won the Champions League. Still didn't help me keep hold of a couple of my players that I wanted to though.

Fairly proud that at least half my team is still homegrown though. Helps when your youth academy keeps throwing up the goods.