Rui Costa elected as 34th President of Benfica

Rui Costa has been elected as the 34th President of Benfica after receiving about 90% of the vote from more then 40,000 ballots cast in today's election. Costa has been the acting President of the club since the resignation of former club President in July and has now been given his own mandate for the next four years by the clubs members.

The 49 year old who came through Benfica's youth system appeared in 121 games with the club across all competitions through two stints in a career that included stops at Fiorentina and AC Milan. The Portuguese International was also capped 94 times by the national side in a long and glorious career that saw him collect numerous trophies including the 2002-03 Champions League title while at Milan.

Benfica hold debate for new President

Benfica club members will elect a new President for the club on Saturday and for the first time in more then two decades the club held a Presidential debate between the two candidates Rui Costa and Francisco Benitez last night as both men look to succeed Luis Filipe Vieira who resigned during the summer after being arrested and accused of economic and financial crimes with the case awaiting a trial date.

The debate was held on Benfica TV and some of the candidates key messages were:

Rui Costa - prefers to keep things as they are, amid the clubs success on and off the field over the past decade with league titles and players sales. Costa plans to work with a group of people on everything Benfica.

Francisco Benitez - wants to change the structure of the SAD and install more directors on the football side to assist in making club decisions. Benitez also prefers that all directors are Benfica fans.

Both candidates did agree that holding onto youth players who develop at Seixal longer would be an advantage in competitive play and potentially add more to the coffers at a later date as these players values rise.

 

Rafa Silva dropped from Portugal squad with injury

Benfica forward Rafa Silva has been dropped by the Portuguese national side after failing his medical as the Selecao prepare for a friendly and World Cup 2022 qualifier over the next week. Rafa is reported to have suffered a right gonalgia injury in Benfica's game on Sunday against Portimonense, which is the swelling and bruising of his right knee, the timeline on how long Rafa will be out is reported to be about a week or two. Rafa joins Haris Seferovic and Valentino Lazaro in Benfica's infirmary, who are also out with muscle injuries.