Rui Costa re-elected as Benfica President

In a thrilling election that went down to a run off, Rui Costa has been re-elected as Benfica President and will be in charge of the club for the next four years, defeating challenger Joao Noronha Lopes who made a strong case to dethrone the incumbent President.

The former Portuguese football legend, who first took the helm in 2021, gained 65.89% of the votes, showcasing strong support from the club's passionate fanbase. Benfica supporters set an all-time record for voter turnout for a sports club with 93,081 votes cast yesterday a testament to the club's global following.

Rui Costa praised his opponent for a respectful campaign, emphasizing that it is now time for unity and promising more victories on and off the pitch for the club going forward. 

As Benfica faces competitive challenges in the Portuguese League and in Europe, Costa hopes that his leadership continuity will stabilize the club. Fans hope that this cements the club's direction going forward and are optimistic of commencing a new era of glory.