S.L. Benfica
SL Benfica (standing for Sport Lisboa e Benfica) is a football club based in Lisbon, Portugal. Benfica were founded in 1904 as Sport Lisboa, but changed their name in 1908 after merging with Sport Club de Benfica.
One of Europe's first powerhouses and the first team to break Real Madrid's dominance in the early European Champions Cup. Having won two European Cups in a row ([1961]] and 1962), the Lisbon side never managed to win a European trophy again, despite losing several ECC finals to AC Milan (1962 and 1989), Internazionale (1964), Manchester United (1967) and PSV (1988), plus a UEFA Cup in 1982 (Anderlecht).
During the 1970s the team faded slightly from the European scene, but still managed to continue as the main force inside Portuguese football. However, financial problems began mining the club from the inside. In the 1980's the board decided to close the third level in the Estádio da Luz, and a terrible signing policy (which included squads composed of well over 30 players, signing players for hefty sums which had no sportive or financial return, and signing Portuguese star Paulo Futre in the early 1990's), creating several problems in the years ahead. Consequently, the lowest point in recent (and many agree ever) Benfica's history was the heavy 7-0 loss against Celta de Vigo for the UEFA Cup, followed by a sixth place and a fourth place that ruled them out of European competitions for the first time in history.
Recently, the club seems to heading towards brighter waters, with the financial situation partially solved, a second spot in 2002-03 Superliga and a Portuguese cup in 2003-04, following a final push that lead them ahead of Sporting to finish second for the second consecutive year.
Benfica play their home games in the new Estádio da Luz (which is in part built on top of the old stadium grounds) one of Europe's largest sporting stadiums and host of the Euro 2004 final. They are Portugal's most decorated football side, having won 30 domestic league titles, 24 Portuguese Cups, and two European Cups.
As an athletic club, Benfica also field teams in basketball, roller hockey, and indoor football (futsal).