Do You Buy Into The “New” Benfica?

By: Greg | July 17th, 2008

In the past fifteen seasons, Benfica have won only two league championships and two league cups. After this most recent, disastrous campaign when they finished fourth and “qualified” for the UEFA Cup, Benfica’s powers that be decided that it was time to take a new direction. They decided to be somewhat bold and hired Rui Costa to head up all football-related operations (sort of like a General Manager in American sports).

O Maestro then opened his summer overhaul by bringing Quique Flores, a boss with Champions League pedigree and most recently manager of Spanish Primera side Valencia. With Flores on board and ready to roll, Ol’ Number 10 hit the transfer market hard. With Maniche’s brother, Portuguese international Jorge Ribeiro already signed prior to him coming on board to strengthen the defense, he brought in largely unproven midfielder Hassan Yebda from French side Le Mans on a free.

Then, after losing on-loan Cristian Rodriguez to Porto, Rui hit up Spanish minnows Real Madrid and managed to wrangle winger Javier Balboa from them for four million Euros. While in Spain, he also secured the signature of Portuguese international attacking midfielder Carlos Martins from Recreativo Huelva. Still unsatisfied with his summer spending spree, Rui traveled down to South America and stole away 18-year old striker Jonathan Urretavizcaya from River Plate to inject some youth into the squad.

Today, his transfer tempest probably began to wind down as he secured the services of Argentinian international midfielder Pablo Aimar from Real Zaragoza in a swap which sees 6.5 million Euros and promising young Portuguese winger Fábio Coentrão headed in the other direction. Zaragoza have the option to sign Fábio Coentrão permanently after this season.

So, the money’s been spent. The attack has certainly been fortified. Beloved Rui Costa is at the helm. Quique Flores is going to be stalking the sidelines. Is this, “new” Benfica ready to restore the luster which was reserved for the “old” teams?

While the matches are obviously played on the pitch and not in the transfer market, I’d still say that the moves Benfica have made over the summer do a decent job of showing its massive supporter base that they won’t take fourth place and the UEFA Cup lying down. At least if this is all a big huge fuck up, the Portuguese media will probably initially be very reluctant to heap criticism on a national hero such as Rui Costa. Initially reluctant, that is.