Could Benfica members elect a new President later this month?

With the Benfica Presidential elections less than 3 weeks away on October 25 a surprise candidate has taken the lead in polls as Joao Noronha Lopes currently sits at around 40% of the popular vote taken, while incumbent President Rui Costa sits with around 31% of the popular vote as the election comes down to the wire.

Benfica club regulations state that the elected President requires 50% of the popular vote before they can be named President of the club, so if no candidate reaches that mark on the 25th, than there will be a run off between the top two vote getters.

Noronha Lopes has become very popular with the younger members of the club who are looking for a new direction and a clean break from the Luis Filipe Vieira era. While older voters and those less likely to answer polls lean towards Rui Costa continuing as the clubs head.

Speaking of Luis Filipe Vieira, it looks like club members have had enough of the former Benfica President as based on poll results he sits a distance fourth with under 10% of the popular vote. Now what would a change at the top mean for newly appointed manager Jose Mourinho? I guess we will have to wait for election day to find out.