S.L. Benfica (volleyball)


Sport Lisboa e Benfica, commonly known as Benfica, is a professional volleyball team based in Lisbon, Portugal, that plays in the Portuguese first division, where they are the current champions.
Benfica have won 8 Portuguese league titles, a record 17 Portuguese Cup and a record 9 Portuguese Super Cup., Benfica is ranked 26th in the men's European clubs ranking.

History

Beginning

Founded on 31 May 1939, Benfica is one of the oldest Portuguese volleyball teams. Not having the success and notability of other club sections such as basketball and roller hockey, Benfica's volleyball team won their first title 27 years after being founded.

Road to the first title

From 1965–66 to 1979–80, Benfica played 10 Portuguese Cup finals, winning 7. In 1980–81, led by coach Fernando Luís, Benfica finally achieved their first league title, with players such as Luís Quelhas, Manuel Silva, Jorge Infante, José Barros, João Abelho, Pedro Barros, Ilídio Ramos, and already with a young José Jardim appearing in some matches.

Second title and disbandment

In a vibrating match against local rivals Sporting CP, trailing 2–0 at Nave de Alvalade, Benfica, now led by captain José Jardim, alongside teammates Nuno Brites, Luís Quelhas, Nilson Júnior, Eduardo Gallina, Miguel Silva, Márcio Karas, Davidkov, and Radoslav Peytchev, managed to recover the disadvantage and win the match 3–2, claiming their second title.
In the 1993–94 season, then club president Jorge de Brito decided to disband the volleyball team. The following president, João Vale e Azevedo, restarted it in 1996–97 but in the Third Division. Former player José Jardim led Benfica back to the first tier in 2000 with the help of players such as André Cabacinha, Nuno Brites, António Silva, and captain José Fernandez.

Third title

In 2004–05, with coach José Jardim and players such as Brazilians Adriano Lamb, Renato Júnior, André França, Roberto Purificação, André Lukianetz, as well as Portuguese players André Lopes, Carlos Teixeira, António Silva, Rui Guedes, António Seco, José Simões, Bruno Feteira, and Pedro Fiúza, Benfica won the third title for the section, plus their 11th Portuguese Cup.

Between championships

The next season, important players, such as Adriano Lamb, Renato Junior and André França, left, and Benfica only managed to win the Portuguese Cup and reach the quarter-finals of CEV Top Teams Cup.
In the 2006–07 season, Benfica won their third Portuguese Cup in a row and 12th overall.
Three years later, in 2010–11, Benfica signed Hugo Gaspar and Flávio Cruz, who were later joined by Roberto Reis in 2011–12, all players from the Portugal national team. In spite of these investments, the team failed to win the league, coming runners-up to Fonte Bastardo in the first season, and then to Sporting de Espinho in the second one. Nevertheless, Benfica managed to win the Portuguese Cup and Super Cup in 2010–11, and another Portuguese Cup in 2011–12.

Back-to-back titles

In 2012–13, Portuguese international Flávio Cruz left for Espinho and was replaced by Brazilian Willian Reffati. A new setter, Brazilian Rafael "Vinhedo", was also contracted to replace Ronaldo "Royal" and Robert Koch. Benfica started the season by winning their third Super Cup, defeating Espinho 3–0.
On 4 May 2013, Benfica defeated league title holders Espinho 3–2 and conquered their fourth championship, after a seven-year wait and three consecutive second places. After SC Espinho protested at the Portuguese Volleyball Federation on a basis of a technical error, the final match was annulled and scheduled to be replayed on 12 May. Still, Benfica won the replay match 3–1. In the following season, on 4 May 2014, Benfica successfully defended their league title by defeating Fonte Bastardo 3–1; consequently, they secured their first back-to-back titles ever.
On 9 May 2015, Benfica won a third consecutive league title for the first time in their history, winning away 3–0 away to Fonte Bastardo in the fifth and final match. Moreover, Benfica also won the Portuguese Cup and Super Cup, thus winning all domestic competitions. On 3 October 2015, Benfica won a fifth consecutive Super Cup and became the club with most trophies in that competition.

Results in international competition

Note: Benfica score is always listed first.
SeasonCompetitionRoundOppositionScore
1981–82CEV Champions CupQualification round Olympiacos S.C.0–3
0–3
1990–91CEV Cup Winners' CupWithdrew——
1991–92CEV Champions CupFirst qualification round Lausanne UC1–3
3–0
1991–92CEV Champions CupSecond qualification round OK Partizan1–3
3–2
1992–93CEV Cup Winners' CupWithdrew——
1993–94CEV Cup Winners' CupFirst qualification round Grupo Duero Soria2–3
0–3
2005–06CEV Top Teams CupGroup C OK Vojvodina2–3
1–3
2005–06CEV Top Teams CupGroup C Vegyész RC-Kazincbarcika3–1
3–2
2005–06CEV Top Teams CupGroup C C.V.M. Tomis Constanța0–3
3–0
2005–06CEV Top Teams CupQuarter-final CV Palma0–3
1–3
2014–15CEV Challenge CupRound of 32 OK Partizan3–1
3–1
2014–15CEV Challenge CupRound of 16 Fonte Bastardo3–2
3–0
2014–15CEV Challenge CupQuarter-final Ethnikos Alexandroupolis3–0
3–2
2014–15CEV Challenge CupSemi-final CMC Ravenna3–0
2–3
2014–15CEV Challenge CupFinal Vojvodina NS Seme Novi Sad1–3
3–2
2015–16CEV Challenge CupSecond qualification round Biogas Volley Näfels3–0
3–1
2015–16CEV Challenge CupRound of 32 Topvolley Antwerpen3–1
2–3
2015–16CEV Challenge CupRound of 16 Istanbul BBSK1–3
3–0
2015–16CEV Challenge CupQuarter-final Ethnikos Alexandroupolis3–1
3–2
2015–16CEV Challenge CupSemi-final Calzedonia Verona3–2
1–3
2016–17CEV Challenge CupRound of 32 Biogas Volley Näfels3–2
2–3
2016–17CEV Challenge CupRound of 16 Chaumont VB 520–3
3–2
2017–18CEV Challenge CupSecond qualification round C.S. Remat Zalău3–1
3–2
2017–18CEV Challenge CupRound of 32 UVC Holding Graz3–0
3–0
2017–18CEV Challenge CupRound of 16 Steaua București3–2
3–1
2017–18CEV Challenge CupQuarter-final Bunge Ravenna1–3
2–3
2018–19CEV Challenge CupSecond qualification round Pafiakos Pafos3–0
3–0
2018–19CEV Challenge CupRound of 32 Iraklis V.C.3–0
3–0
2018–19CEV Challenge CupRound of 16 VM Zalău3–0
3–1
2018–19CEV Challenge CupQuarter-final Belgorie Belgorod0–3
3–1
2019–20CEV Champions LeagueFirst qualification round Mladost Brcko3–0
3–0
2019–20CEV Champions LeagueSecond qualification round OK Budva3–0
3–1
2019–20CEV Champions LeagueThird qualification round Mladost Zagreb20 Nov
27 Nov

Players

Current squad

NationalityPlayerBirthdatePosition
1Raphael Oliveira195Outside hitter
3André Lopes195Outside hitter
4Peter Wohlfahrtstätter204Middle blocker
7Ivo Casas180Libero
8Hugo Gaspar 201Opposite hitter
9Marc-Anthony Honoré198Middle blocker
10Afonso Guerreiro200Outside hitter
11Théo Lopes199Opposite hitter
14Miguel Sinfrónio192Middle blocker
16Flávio "Zelão" Soares198Middle blocker
17Tiago Violas192Setter
18André Aleixo190Outside hitter
20Nuno Pinheiro193Setter
22João Simões180Libero

Out on loan

According to Benfica's official website

Men's

Domestic