S.L. Benfica (handball)

Sport Lisboa e Benfica (Portuguese pronunciation: [sɨˈpɔɾ liʒˈβo.ɐ i βɐ̃jˈfikɐ] (listen)), commonly known as Benfica, is a professional handball team based in Lisbon, Portugal.

Benfica
Full name	Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Nickname(s)	As Águias (The Eagles) Os Encarnados (The Reds)
Founded	8 May 1932 (90 years ago) (1932-05-08) (parent club in 1904)
Arena	Pavilhão da Luz Nº 2
Capacity	1,800
President	Filipe Gomes^[1]
Head coach	Chema Rodríguez
Captain	Paulo Moreno
League	Andebol 1
2021–22	Andebol 1, 3rd of 16
Club colours
Home Away
Website Official site

Benfica play in the top tier domestic league, Andebol 1, and hold home matches at the Pavilhão da Luz Nº 2. Since its inception in 1932, Benfica have won 7 Portuguese League titles, 6 Portuguese Cups, 2 Portuguese League Cups, and 7 Portuguese Super Cups. Internationally, Benfica won the EHF European League in 2021–22, becoming the first Portuguese club to win the competition.

In addition to the club's men's reserve team, Benfica B, playing in the second division,^[2] Benfica also has a women's team, who are the current Portuguese champions, having won 8 League titles, 7 Cups, and 2 Super Cups.

History

Beginning

Founded on 8 May 1932, Benfica's handball section endured a troubled start shortly after being founded. It was inactive from 1939 to 1942–43 because of a conflict between Benfica and the Portuguese Handball Federation.^[3] Until the 1960s, handball was played by eleven players, and after 1962–63, in another dispute with the federation, Benfica closed the eleven players team and opted for the current team handball.^[4] The handball section did not achieve success until 1961–62, being overshadowed by the football, cycling, basketball and roller hockey sections of the club during that time.

Golden years

After a period of dominance by crosstown rivals Sporting CP, Benfica experienced great success in the 1980s and early 1990s, when was led by coach Eugene Troffin, and later by Ângelo Pintado,^[5] along with players such as Paulo Bunze, Swedish international Fredrik Appelgren,^[6] Dogărescu, Covaciu and Drăgăniță,^[7] goalkeeper João Santa Bárbara, wingman Mário Gentil,^[8] Vasco Vasconcelos, Luís Lopes and Rui Ferreira;^[9] Benfica won four national championships, three Portuguese Cup and two Portuguese Super Cup.

Decay

In the 1997–98 season, club president João Vale e Azevedo decided to shut down the section.^[10] It was restarted in the next season, but from the Regional Championship, four divisions away from the top flight.^[11]

Rebuilding years

In 2005, after years in anonymity, Benfica hired former ABC Braga coach, Aleksander Donner, on a three-year deal.^[12] Because of a dispute between Liga and the Handball Federation, which managed the Divisão de Elite, there were two simultaneous championships. In the 2005–06 season, Benfica played in the Divisão de Elite. In 2006–07, Benfica joined the Liga Portuguesa de Andebol along with Sporting CP. During that season, Benfica won their first title since 1994, the League Cup.^[13] In the following season, Benfica finally achieved their first league title since 1990.^[14] Despite the success, Aleksander Donner did not renew his contract at the end of the season.^[15]

Recent years

To replace Donner, Benfica hired José António Silva, who won three titles in three years: the 2008–09 League Cup, 2010–11 Portuguese Cup^[16] and 2010 Super Cup.^[17] In the 2010–11 season, Benfica reached the final of the EHF Challenge Cup, but lost to Slovene side RK Cimos Koper.^[18] In 2011–12, José António Silva was replaced by another former ABC Braga coach, Jorge Rito.^[19] With him, Benfica finished fourth in league for the first time.^[20] On 2 September 2012, Jorge Rito won Benfica's fourth Super Cup trophy.^[21] The season ended with only a second place in the league.^[22] In 2013–14, Benfica's performances worsened, and the team finished the league in fourth place. Jorge Rito did not renew his contract and was replaced by Mariano Ortega.^[23][24] On 3 April 2016, Benfica, who had beaten rivals FC Porto in the semi-finals the day before,^[25] beat Lisbon rivals Sporting in the final and conquered their fifth Portuguese Cup, ending a four-year trophy drought.^[26][27]

Current squad

Squad for the 2022–23 season^[28]

Goalkeepers 16   Nikola Zorić 25   Sergey Hernández 41   Gustavo Capdeville Left wingers 08   Jonas Källman 27   Arnaud Bingo Right wingers 14   Afonso Mendes 19   Carlos Martins 23   Ole Rahmel Line players 13   Paulo Moreno (c) 22   Alexis Borges 77   Vladimir Vranjes 99   Guilherme Carvalho

Left backs 09   Arnau García 28   Leandro Semedo 34   Luciano Silva 44   Petar Đorđić Central backs 05   Martim Ferraz 07   Ádám Juhász 24   Ander Izquierdo 97   Ricardo Rocha Right backs 11   Belone Moreira 30   Demis Grigoraș 33   Tadej Kljun

Results in international competition

Note: Benfica score is always listed first.^[29]
H = home match; A = away match

Season	Competition	Round	Opposition	Score
1962–63	European Cup	Round 1	Atlético Madrid BM	13–6
1975–76		Round 1	CB Alicante	Withdrew
1982–83		Round 1	FC Barcelona	25–32 18–32
1983–84		Round 1	ATSE Graz	25–25 (H) 20–29 (A)
1987–88	EHF Cup Winners' Cup	Round 1	Atlético Madrid BM	21–20 (H) 11–29 (A)
1989–90	European Cup	Round 1	FC Barcelona	20–18 (H) 17–28 (A)
1990–91		Round 1	Red Boys Differdange	28–18 (H) 26–28 (A)
		Round 2	USAM Nîmes	23–21 (H) 23–31 (A)
1993–94	EHF City Cup	1/16 Finals	Pallamano Rubiera	27–19 (H) 20–22 (A)
		1/8 Finals	ETO Győri	24–21 (A) 19–17 (H)
		1/4 Finals	PSG Asnieres Hand-Ball	27–32 (A) 25–28 (H)
1995–96		1/16 Finals	ZMC Amicitia Zürich	19–30 (A) 30–27 (H)
1996–97		1/16 Finals	Borec Veles	18–15 (A) 32–14 (H)
		1/8 Finals	Horn Sittardia	21–14 (H) 15–29 (A)
1997–98		1/16 Finals	ESN Vrilissia	26–21 (A) 30–12 (H)
		1/8 Finals	Trabzon Belediyespor	27–20 (H) 30–30 (A)
		1/4 Finals	Academia Octavio Vigo	22–32 (A) 25–23 (H)
1998–99		1/16 Finals	BSV Wacker Thun	0–10 (A) 0–10 (H)
2002–03	EHF Cup Winners' Cup	Round 3	Dennis Turku	14–26 (A) 17–25 (H)
2007–08	EHF Challenge Cup	Round 3	HC "Mojkovac"	46–22 (A) 46–26 (H)
		1/8 Final	Shakhtar-Academiya	33–26 (A) 21–25 (H)
		1/4 Final	CSU Poli-Izometal Timişoara	32–22 (H) 22–21 (A)
		1/2 Final	UCM Sport Reșița	31–26 (H) 25–32 (A)
2008–09	EHF Champions League	Qualification Round 1	A1 Bregenz	38–34 (H) 28–35 (A)
2008–09	EHF Cup	Round 2	RK Lovćen	26–28 (A) 24–23 (H)
2009–10		Round 2	H/C "Tbilisi"	34–21 (H) 29–25 (A)
		Round 3	SKIF Krasnodar	29–28 (A) 35–30 (H)
		Round 4	TBV Lemgo	30–27 (A) 18–31 (H)
2010–11	EHF Challenge Cup	Round 3	CSA Steaua București	43–29 (H) 23–29 (A)
		Last 16	HC "Motor-ZNTU-ZAS"	33–28 (A) 30–23 (H)
		Quarter-finals	Radnički Kragujevac	28–29 (A) 29–21 (H)
		Semi-finals	Partizan Dunav Osiguranje	30–36 (A) 33–25 (H)
		Finals	RK Cimos Koper	27–27 (H) 27–31 (A)
2011–12	EHF Cup Winners' Cup	Round 3	HC Lovćen-Cetinje	25–21 (A) 26–14 (H)
		Last 16	Pandurii Târgu Jiu	33–27 (A) 41–24 (H)
		Quarter-finals	HC Celje Pivovarna Lasko	23–29 (A) 31–30 (H)
2012–13	EHF Cup	Round 1	Pfadi Winterthur	28–21 (A) 27–27 (H)
		Round 2	Loacker Südtirol Team	32–20 (H) 40–25 (H)
		Round 3	HBC Nantes	21–29 (A) 28–21 (H)
2013–14		Round 2	Haukar	34–22 (A) 34–19 (H)
		Round 3	Pick Szeged	25–31 (A) 24–25 (H)
2014–15	EHF Challenge Cup	Round 3	FyllingenBergen	33–32 (H) 28–25 (H)
		Last 16	HB Dudelange	36–30 (H) 28–24 (H)
		Quarter-finals	KS Azoty-Puławy	37–29 (A) 32–31 (H)
		Semi-final	Odorheiu Secuiesc	29–31 (A) 25–27 (H)
2015–16		Round 3	ÍBV Vestmannaeyjar	28–26 (A) 34–26 (H)
		Last 16	A.C. Filippos Verias	34–14 (H) 23–26 (A)
		Quarter-finals	St. Petersburg HC	24–20 (H) 25–27 (A)
		Semi-finals	FyllingenBergen	35–22 (H) 29–27 (A)
		Finals	ABC/UMinho	22–28 (H) 29–25 (A)
2016–17	EHF Cup	Qualification Round 2	Käerjeng	31–26 (H) 33–30 (A)
		Qualification Round 3	KS Azoty-Puławy	29–34 (A) 24–18 (H)
		Group D	MT Melsungen	22–32 (A) 26–24 (H)
			Helvetia Anaitasuna	33–28 (H) 28–35 (A)
			Riihimäki Cocks	23–21 (A) 26–25 (H)
2017–18		Qualification Round 1	HC Dinamo Pančevo	39–20 (H) 28–35 (H)
		Qualification Round 2	Gwardia Opole	28–24 (H) 21–26 (A)
2018–19		Qualification Round 2	FH Hafnarfjordur	37–32 (H) 34–31 (H)
		Qualification Round 3	TSV Hannover-Burgdorf	36–41 (A) 33–33 (H)
2019–20 (cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic)		Qualification Round 2	RK Dubrava	29–28 (H) 34–16 (H)
		Qualification Round 3	RK Nexe	26–30 (A) 28–24 (H)
		Group A	Bjerringbro-Silkeborg	33–24 (A) (H) cancelled
			MT Melsungen	29–26 (H) (A) cancelled
			Gwardia Opole	29–24 (H) 30–23 (A)
2020–21	EHF European League	Qualification Round 1	Fivers	28–26 (H) 34–38 (A)
2021–22		Qualification Round 1	HC Kriens-Luzern	31–24 (A) 29–18 (H)
		Qualification Round 2	Rhein-Neckar Löwen	31–31 (A) 33–28 (H)
		Group B	HBC Nantes	31–30 (H) 33–33 (A)
			GOG Håndbold	38–39 (A) 25–33 (H)
			Chekhovskiye Medvedi	32–27 (A) 38–35 (H)
			TBV Lemgo	35–30 (H) 30–29 (A)
			Riihimäki Cocks	37–23 (H) 37–32 (A)
		Last 16	Fenix Toulouse Handball	34–38 (A) 36–30 (H)
		Quarter-finals	RK Gorenje Velenje	36–29 (H) 27–27 (H)
		Semi-finals	Orlen Wisła Płock	26–19
		Final	SC Magdeburg	40–39 (a.e.t.)

Honours

According to Benfica's official website^[30]

Domestic competitions

• Portuguese League

Winners (7): 1961–62, 1974–75, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1988–89, 1989–90, 2007–08

• Portuguese Cup

Winners (6): 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 2010–11, 2015–16, 2017–18

• Portuguese League Cup

Winners (2): 2006–07, 2008–09

• Portuguese Super Cup

Winners (7): 1989, 1993, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2022

International competitions

• EHF European League

Winners (1): 2021–22

• EHF European Cup

Runners-up (2): 2010–11, 2015–16

Women's honours

According to Benfica's official website^[31]

• Portuguese League

Winners (8): 1983–84, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2021–22

• Portuguese Cup

Winners (7): 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1991–92, 2021–22

• Portuguese Super Cup

Winners (3): 1990, 1992, 2022

References

1. Dores, Márcia; Nascimento, Diogo (30 July 2019). "Andebol: apresentação à Comunicação Social" [Handball: presentation to the media]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 July 2019.
2. "SL Benfica B". Federaçao de Andebol de Portugal (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 October 2012.
3. "Andebol a caminho dos 80 anos" [Handball on his away to 80 years old]. Em Defesa do Benfica. 5 November 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
4. "Andebol, pergunta e resposta" [Handball, question and answer]. Em Defesa do Benfica. 17 November 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
5. "Angêlo Pintado homenageado" [Angêlo Pintado homage]. Record. 30 June 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
6. "Svenska landslagsmän i handboll 1934–2005" [Swedish internationals 1934–2005]. sporthistoria. 10 August 2012.
7. 1 FEDERAŢIA ROMÂNĂ DE HANDBAL. "ISTORIA HANDBALULUI ROMÂNESC 1921–2014" [History of Romanian handball 1921–2014] (PDF). p. 62.
8. "100 anos, extremo moderno" [100 years, modern wingman]. Record. 15 September 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
9. "Obrigado querido Benfica" [Thanks dear Benfica]. Em Defesa do Benfica. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
10. "José Manuel Antunes: "Tudo farei para manter eclectismo no Benfica"" [José Manuel Antunes "I will do everything to keep amateur sports in Benfica "]. Record. 1 December 1999. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
11. "Andebol: "Cabelos brancos" ajudam mística do novo Benfica" [Handball: "white hair's" help Benfica]. Record. 11 October 1999. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
12. "Donner: "Desafio como no início do ABC"" [Donner "Challenge like in beginning of ABC"]. Record. 20 June 2005. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
13. "Benfica vence Taça da Liga" [Benfica wins League Cup]. Região Sul. 18 January 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
14. "S.L. Benfica – Campeão Nac. Andebol 2007–08 : 1ºParte (Jogo)" [Benfica National Champion 2007–08]. Youtube. 25 May 2008. Archived from the original on 18 December 2021. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
15. "Aleksander Donner deixa andebol encarnado no final da época" [Donner leaves Benfica in end of season]. RTP. 16 April 2008. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
16. "Andebol: Benfica vence Taça 24 anos depois" [Benfica wins Portuguese Cup]. Mais Futebol. 29 May 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
17. "Benfica vence Supertaça" [Benfica wins Portuguese Super Cup]. Sol Noticias. 22 January 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
18. "BENFICA PERDE JOGO DA 2.ª MÃO DA FINAL DA CHALLENGE CUP" [Benfica loses Challenge Cup final]. Banhadas de Andebol. 22 May 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
19. "Jorge Rito é o novo treinador do andebol do Benfica" [Jorge Rito new coach of Benfica]. TSF. 11 July 2011. Retrieved 10 August 2012.
20. "Madeira SAD 27–26 Benfica". Vivaaobenfica. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 15 August 2012.
21. "Benfica vence 4ª Supertaça" [Benfica win's 4th Super Cup]. Vivaaobenfica. 2 September 2012. Retrieved 2 September 2012.
22. "Campeonato Nacional Seniores Masculinos – 1.Divisao – 2012/2013" [Handball Championship 2012/13]. fpa.pt.
23. "Jorge Rito deixa comando técnico do andebol do Benfica" [Jorge Rito leaves position as head coach]. visao. 27 May 2014.
24. "Mariano Ortega: "Representar o Benfica é uma responsabilidade"" [Mariano Ortega: "To represent Benfica is a responsibility"]. slbenfica.pt. 2 June 2014. Retrieved 3 June 2014.
25. "Andebol: Benfica vence FC Porto no último segundo e está na final da Taça" [Handball: Benfica beat FC Porto in the last second and is in the Portuguese Cup final]. Maisfutebol (in Portuguese). 2 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
26. "Benfica vence Taça de Portugal de andebol" [Benfica win handball Portuguese Cup]. Maisfutebol (in Portuguese). 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
27. "Andebol conquista 5.ª Taça de Portugal" [Handball conquer fitth Portuguese Cup]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). 3 April 2016. Retrieved 3 April 2016.
28. "Team". S.L. Benfica. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
29. "European Handball Federation – S.L. Benfica". European Handball Federation. Retrieved 27 March 2017.
30. "Palmarés" [Honours]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 July 2019.
31. "Palmarés" [Honours]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 July 2019.

Further reading

• Perdigão, Carlos; Pires, Fernando (2004). 100 Anos de Lenda [100 Years of Legend] (in Portuguese) (First ed.). Diário de Notícias. pp. 254–257. ISBN 972-9335-52-4.

External links

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