Nene (Striker)
Years Active (1968-1986)
Benfica Career (1968-1986)
Born: November 20, 1949 (71 years old)
Nene spent his entire senior career at Benfica a rarity in today's modern game, spending almost 20 years with the club before retiring at the age of 37. Nene was named the Portuguese player of the year in 1971 while competing with Benfica legend Eusebio at the club and was a member of Benfica's losing UEFA Cup 1982-83 finalists. Nene won a total of ten Portuguese League championships, seven Taca de Portugal and two Super Cups while scoring 371 goals for Benfica across all competitions sitting third all time on the club scoring list behind only Eusebio's 473 and Jose Aguias' 379.
Nene also earned 66 caps with the Portuguese national side scoring 22 goals and was a member of the nations 1984 Euro semi-finalists. The individual highlight of Nene's international career came in that same tournament were his late winner against Romania saw the Quinas clinch a spot in the knockout stage in their last game of the group stage qualifying.
Nene will always be regarded as one of the best players to don the Benfica jersey and from those lucky enough to have watched the player in his prime would admit that he was one of the quicker #7's, Nene would be immortalized on the clubs legends row, if one ever existed as his 575 club appearances are the most by any player to wear the Benfica colours.