The decade is over and what a decade it was for Benfica as the club returned to its glory days as the second half of the decade came around. Benfica finished the decade winning 6 League titles from 2010-2019 the highest by any club in Portugal, Benfica also added 6 Taca da Liga crowns, 4 Portuguese Super Cup titles and 2 Taca de Portugal crowns for a total of 18 trophies during the decade. The club also appeared in two Europa League Finals although they lost in both cases the club would like to snap its 50+ year drought without a UEFA trophy. The decade was also a money maker for the club as it came out on top of Europe with €953M in player sales since 2010 and Joao Felix's summer 2019 sale of €126M accounting for 13% of this total alone.
I now take a look at the best starting XI for Benfica this decade:
Keeper: Ederson (2015-2017)
Back up: Jan Oblak (2014-2017)
Right Back: Maxi Pereira (2010-2015)
Back Up: Nelson Semedo (2015-2017)
Center Backs: Luisao (2010-2018), Ezequiel Garay (2011-2014)
Back Ups: Ruben Dias (2017-2019), Jardel (2011-2019)
Left Back: Alex Grimaldo (2016-2019)
Back Up: Eliseu (2014-2018)
Midfielders: Pizzi (2014-2019), Nico Gaitan (2010-2016), Nemanja Matic (2011-2014), Eduardo Salvio (2012-2019)
Back Ups: Pablo Aimar (2010-2013), Enzo Perez (2011-2015), Renato Sanches (2015-2016), Rafa Silva (2016-2019)
Forwards: Jonas (2014-2019), Oscar Cardozo (2010-2014)
Back Ups: Konstantinos Mitroglou (2015-2017), Lima (2012-2015)
There you have my Benfica Team of the Decade and boy what a decade it has become here is to the next decade being even better.
Benfica have made their first move of the 2020 winter transfer window landing defensive midfielder Julian Weigl from German side Borussia Dortmund for a reported €20M. Dortmund has gone as far as confirming the move today on their social media accounts. The purchase price for Weigl would be tied with the second highest transfer fee that Benfica have paid to acquire a player matching that of Raul de Tomas' move this summer from Real Madrid. The acquisition of Weigl should be bad news for a couple of Benfica's current midfield players with Fejsa, Samaris and Florentino looking to be on the outs with the club. Florentino though is more likely to leave the club on loan for the rest of the season as the club is not in a hurry to give up the players rights without someone meeting the buyout clause. The 24 year old Weigl who joined Dortmund in the summer of 2015 has appeared in 171 games across all competitions for the German club, scoring on four occasions while adding one helper. Benfica have yet to announce the acquisition of Weigl but the unveiling could be tomorrow as the club holds an open practice for the fans.
Benfica earned the co-honours with Dutch club Ajax for the best academy of 2019 at this years Globe Awards in Dubai. Benfica repeats as award winners for the second time after first winning in 2015. Benfica's now famous Seixal academy has been producing some gems over the last few years and the club is honoured to be recognized for all their hard work. Rui Costa was on hand in Dubai to receive the award on Benfica's behalf. The Seixal academy over the past few years has produced the likes of Joao Felix, Bernardo Silva, Goncalo Guedes, Andre Gomes, Joao Cancelo, Nelson Semedo, Ruben Dias, Renato Sanches and Rony Lopes to name a few and look set to continue to this trend in European football for the coming years.
