History Of Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Sport Lisboa e Benfica , commonly referred to as Benfica, is a multisports club based in Lisbon, Portugal. Although, they compete in a number of different sports, Benfica is mainly known for its football team. Historically, Benfica has been one of the most successful football clubs in Portugal and is one of the "Três Grandes" or Big Three football clubs in Portugal, with FC Porto and Sporting CP being the other two clubs.
Benfica was one of the founding members of the Portuguese Liga in 1933, and, together with FC Porto and Sporting CP, they have never been relegated from the First Division (Primeira Divisão) of Portuguese football.
On 28 February 1904, Sport Lisboa e Benfica (originally known as Grupo Sport Lisboa (Lisbon Sport Group)) was founded during a meeting in the southwest part of Lisbon involving 24 young men, led by Cosme Damião. As a result of this meeting, one of the most popular and successful football clubs in Portugal was created, as well as one of the most internationally recognized football clubs in the world.
Domestically, Benfica has won a total of 31 Portuguese Liga (Portuguese League) titles, 24 Portuguese Cup (Taça de Portugal, Portugal Millenium Cup) titles, 1 Portuguese League Cup (Taça da Liga, Carlsberg Cup) title, and 4 Portuguese SuperCup (Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira) titles. Internationally, Benfica has won 2 European Cup (currently UEFA Champions League titles, Latin Cup title, and 1 Iberian Cup title. In addition, the football club has 7 UEFA Champions League finals appearances, UEFA Cup (currently UEFA Europa League) finals appearance.
As a multiple sport club, Benfica has departments for basketball, roller hockey, indoor football (known as futsal), volleyball, handball, water polo, rugby, cycling, and other athletics. Due to the success and popularity of the football club, Benfica has built the biggest fan base among the “tres grandes” or big three clubs (Benfica, Porto, and Sporting) in Portugal. Benfica also has one of the biggest fan bases in the world with many supporters outside of Portugal in countries like Andorra, Angola, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, France, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Luxembourg, Macao, Switzerland, and United States. Currently, Benfica has the largest number of supporters worldwide for a Portuguese club with a total number of around 14 million.
On 9 November 2006, Benfica was acknowledged by Guinness World Records as having the largest number of paying club members (known as Sócios) in the world with 160,398 paid members.
Benfica was one of the founding members of the Portuguese Liga in 1933, and, together with FC Porto and Sporting CP, they have never been relegated from the First Division (Primeira Divisão) of Portuguese football.
On 28 February 1904, Sport Lisboa e Benfica (originally known as Grupo Sport Lisboa (Lisbon Sport Group)) was founded during a meeting in the southwest part of Lisbon involving 24 young men, led by Cosme Damião. As a result of this meeting, one of the most popular and successful football clubs in Portugal was created, as well as one of the most internationally recognized football clubs in the world.
Domestically, Benfica has won a total of 31 Portuguese Liga (Portuguese League) titles, 24 Portuguese Cup (Taça de Portugal, Portugal Millenium Cup) titles, 1 Portuguese League Cup (Taça da Liga, Carlsberg Cup) title, and 4 Portuguese SuperCup (Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira) titles. Internationally, Benfica has won 2 European Cup (currently UEFA Champions League titles, Latin Cup title, and 1 Iberian Cup title. In addition, the football club has 7 UEFA Champions League finals appearances, UEFA Cup (currently UEFA Europa League) finals appearance.
As a multiple sport club, Benfica has departments for basketball, roller hockey, indoor football (known as futsal), volleyball, handball, water polo, rugby, cycling, and other athletics. Due to the success and popularity of the football club, Benfica has built the biggest fan base among the “tres grandes” or big three clubs (Benfica, Porto, and Sporting) in Portugal. Benfica also has one of the biggest fan bases in the world with many supporters outside of Portugal in countries like Andorra, Angola, Australia, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Cape Verde, France, Germany, Guinea-Bissau, Luxembourg, Macao, Switzerland, and United States. Currently, Benfica has the largest number of supporters worldwide for a Portuguese club with a total number of around 14 million.
On 9 November 2006, Benfica was acknowledged by Guinness World Records as having the largest number of paying club members (known as Sócios) in the world with 160,398 paid members.
