1997–98 S.L. Benfica season

The 1997–98 season was Sport Lisboa e Benfica's 94th season in existence and the club's 64th consecutive season in the top flight of Portuguese football, covering the period from 1 July 1997 to 30 June 1998. It involved Benfica competing in the Primeira Divisão and the Taça de Portugal. Benfica qualified for the UEFA Cup by finishing 3rd in the previous Primeira Divisão.

Benfica
1997–98 season
PresidentManuel Damásio
(until 31 October 1997)
João Vale e Azevedo
Head coachManuel José
(until 20 September 1997)
Mário Wilson
(interim until 1 November 1997)
Graeme Souness
StadiumEstádio da Luz
Primeira Divisão2nd
Taça de PortugalSemi-finals
UEFA CupFirst round
Top goalscorerLeague: Nuno Gomes (18)
All: Nuno Gomes (22)
Highest home attendance70,000 v Braga
(1 March 1998)
Lowest home attendance5,000 v Varzim
(21 December 1997)
Biggest winBenfica 7–1 Leça
(17 May 1998)
Biggest defeat2 goal difference in 3 matches

After three seasons without a league title, Benfica signed more than ten players in an attempt to regain competitiveness. Important signings were 21 year-old Nuno Gomes who scored 15 league goals in the past season, and together with Sánchez (also signed), were vital in denying Benfica the opportunity to retain the Portuguese Cup in the 1997 Taça de Portugal final. An addition with high expectations was Paulo Nunes, the 1996 Brasileirão top-scorer, which was meant to partner with João Pinto in the attack, but ended clashing with him.[1] Manuel José briefly led the team, being replaced due to poor results after five games. Mário Wilson returned for a third spell of just a month, until Scottish manager Graeme Souness assumed the team in November. Although not an immediate success, changes in the squad during the winter transfer market made instant impact, with an ensuing seven-game winning streak helping the team secure a second-place finish, and benefiting from recent changes in format, qualify for the UEFA Champions League.[2]

Season summary edit

After a season that broke negative records,[3] Benfica started the new one hoping to improve its previous year's performance. Manuel José continued as manager, with the opportunity to rebuild the squad in his preference. Despite many misses, new signings Nuno Gomes, Gamarra and Scott Minto jumped immediately to the starting eleven.

The season opened with a convincing home against S.C. Campomaiorense, but this impact was immediately cut short. In the first game as visitor, Benfica conceded the first loss; in the next matchday, the club had to fight not to lose at home against Académica.[2] In the first European game, a second loss, against Bastia, which had qualified using the Intertoto Cup.[2][4] A second league loss in four games led to the immediate dismissal of José, as disciplinary problems also emerged, mainly the incident involving João Pinto and a fireman after the game in Vila do Conde.[5][2]

Benfica resorted to Mário Wilson for a third time in two years, until a permanent substitute was found.[2] The experienced manager was unable to revert the one-nill deficit brought from first leg of the UEFA Cup, ending European football in September for the first time since 1990–91. The situation did not improve in the league, with a five-game win less spree, seeing the club drop to eleventh.[6] Wilson's influence only made effect on late October, with three straight wins, one counting for the Portuguese Cup.[4]

After a presidential change, Benfica hired Graeme Souness on 1 November. The Scottish manager had spells at Rangers, Liverpool, and had worked abroad, in Turkey and Italy, but was mostly unheard of in Portuguese football. In his first month, the helped the team climb from sixth to fourth, only three points from second place.[7] Despite this, Benfica was still losing much needed points, entering the Clássico against Porto with an eleven-point difference.[7] After a losing in Estádio das Antas, and with two more points lost at home, the winter signings, Poborský, Brian Deane and Luís Carlos began to impact the team performance, helping the club start a winning run, that saw them climb to second place, and beat Sporting C.P. by four-one in Alvalade in February.[2] The only downside was the semi-final exit in the Portuguese cup, at the hands of S.C. Braga; the fourth time in history that Braga had eliminated Benfica (1966, 1979, and 1982).[2]

In March, even though the team lost five points, the reappearance of João Pinto after an injury suffered in the Clássico gave Souness one more option to partner with Nuno Gomes.[2] Isolated in second and with Porto clinching the title in late April, the team faced them only fighting for their honour. With a three-nil victory, the team exacted revenge from the defeat in January.[8] The season ended with a seven-one victory over Leça; the biggest home win in the league, as Souness was certain to remain in charge.[8]

Competitions edit

  Win   Draw   Loss   Postponed

Overall record edit

Competition First match Last match Record
G W D L GF GA GD Win % Source
Primeira Divisão 24 August 1997 17 May 1998 34 20 8 6 62 29 +33 058.82 [9]
Taça de Portugal 26 October 1997 24 February 1998 6 4 1 1 11 5 +6 066.67 [9]
UEFA Cup 16 September 1997 30 September 1997 2 0 1 1 0 1 −1 000.00 [9]
Total 42 24 10 8 73 35 +38 057.14

Primeira Divisão edit

League table edit

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
1 Porto (C) 34 24 5 5 75 38 +37 77 Qualification to Champions League group stage
2 Benfica 34 20 8 6 62 29 +33 68 Qualification to Champions League second qualifying round
3 Vitória de Guimarães 34 17 8 9 42 25 +17 59 Qualification to UEFA Cup First round
4 Sporting CP 34 15 11 8 45 33 +12 56
5 Marítimo 34 16 8 10 44 35 +9 56
Source: Primeira Divisão
Rules for classification: 1st points, 2nd head-to-head, 3rd goals average
(C) Champions

Results by round edit

Round12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031323334
GroundHAHAHAHAHAAHAHAHAAHAAHAHAHAHHAHAHAH
ResultWLDLDDWWWDWDLWLDWWWWWWWDWWLWWWDWLW
Position1571111117655444465552222222222222222
Source: ForaDeJogo
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Matches edit

24 August 1997 1 Benfica 4–0 Campomaiorense Lisbon
20:00 Calado   2'
Paulo Nunes   13', 58'
João Pinto   80'
Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 35,000
Referee: Mario Mendes
31 August 1997 2 Vitória de Setúbal 1–0 Benfica Porto
20:30 Vali Gasimov   11' Report Stadium: Estádio das Antas
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Paulo Costa
13 September 1997 3 Benfica 1–1 Académica Lisbon
17:00 Tahar   88' Report Mickey   73' Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: José Pratas
20 September 1997 4 Rio Ave 3–1 Benfica Vila do Conde
20:15 Peu   5'
Nenad   36'
Marcos   39'
Report João Pinto   89' (pen.) Stadium: Estádio do Rio Ave FC
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: José Leirós
27 September 1997 5 Benfica 0–0 Sporting Lisbon
20:00 Report Oceano   10'   37' Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Martins dos Santos
4 October 1997 6 Braga 1–1 Benfica Braga
20:30 Toni   26' Report Nuno Gomes   3'
Tahar   34'   63'
Stadium: Estádio 1º de Maio
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Paulo Costa
19 October 1997 7 Benfica 3–1 Farense Lisbon
20:00 Erwin Sánchez   7'
Nuno Gomes   60'
Panduru   77' (pen.)
Report Hassan   69' Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Paulo Baptista
1 November 1997 8 Desp. Chaves 0–1 Benfica Chaves
21:15 Report Calado   14' Stadium: Estádio Municipal de Chaves
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: Paulo Paraty
10 November 1997 9 Benfica 1–0 Vitória Guimarães Lisbon
19:00 João Pinto   82' Report Kasongo   21'   40' Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: António Costa
21 November 1997 10 Boavista 0–0 Benfica Porto
20:00 Report Stadium: Estádio do Bessa
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Isidoro Rodrigues
29 November 1997 11 Belenenses 1–2 Benfica Lisbon
21:00 Barny   38' Report Edgar   76', 87' Stadium: Estádio do Restelo
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Vitor Pereira
7 December 1997 12 Benfica 2–2 Salgueiros Lisbon
19:00 Edgar   11'
Panduru   43'
Report Artur Jorge Vicente   8', 20'
Cao   42'   72'
Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 70,000
Referee: Jacinto Paixão
12 December 1997 13 Maritimo 1–0 Benfica Funchal
19:00 Bino   53' Report Stadium: Estádio dos Barreiros
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Paulo Baptista
21 December 1997 14 Benfica 4–0 Varzim Lisbon
19:00 Nuno Gomes   51', 55', 84', 88' (pen.) Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Paulo Paraty
3 January 1998 15 Porto 2–0 Benfica Porto
20:30 Artur   56', 73'
Paulinho Santos   64'
Report João Pinto   40'   64' Stadium: Estádio das Antas
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: António Costa
11 January 1998 16 Benfica 2–2 Estrela da Amadora Lisbon
18:15 Martin Pringle   28', 31' Report José Carlos   65'
Paulo Ferreira   85'
Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: Mário Mendes
18 January 1998 17 Leça 1–2 Benfica Leça da Palmeira
19:00 Zé da Rocha   51' Report Erwin Sánchez   38'
Kandaurov   70'
Stadium: Estádio do Leça FC
Attendance: 8,000
Referee: António Rola
24 January 1998 18 Campomaiorense 1–2 Benfica Campo Maior, Portalegre
20:30 Jorginho   53' Report Erwin Sánchez   25'
Poborský   86'
Stadium: Estádio Capitão Cesar Correia
Attendance: 9,000
Referee: Paulo Paraty
1 February 1998 19 Benfica 2–0 Vitória Setúbal Lisbon
19:30 Nuno Gomes   30', 35' Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: José Leirós
7 February 1998 20 Académica 1–2 Benfica Coimbra
20:30 João Tomás   44' Report Poborský   14'
Brian Deane   76'
Stadium: Estádio Cidade de Coimbra
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: António Costa
15 February 1998 21 Benfica 2–1 Rio Ave Lisbon
19:00 Erwin Sánchez   33'
Nuno Gomes   57'
José Soares   72'   81'
Report Nito   27'
Sérgio China   28'   28'
Marcos   8' (pen.)   58'   59'
Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Martins dos Santos
21 February 1998 22 Sporting 1–4 Benfica Lisbon
21:30 Leandro Machado   66' Report Poborský   44'
Sousa   64'
Brian Deane   69'
João Pinto   83'
Stadium: Estádio de Alvalade
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Isidoro Rodrigues
1 March 1998 23 Benfica 3–0 Braga Lisbon
19:30 Tiago   19'
Tahar   69'
Brian Deane   75'
Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 70,000
Referee: Luís Miranda
8 March 1998 24 Farense 1–1 Benfica Faro
20:30 Marco Nuno   8' Report Tahar   4' Stadium: Estádio de São Luís
Attendance: 12,000
Referee: Paulo Costa
15 March 1998 25 Benfica 3–1 Desp. Chaves Lisbon
19:30 Poborský   2'
Nuno Gomes   24' (pen.)
Report Toninho Cruz   28'   42'
Roberto Matute   88'
Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: Augusto Duarte
22 March 1998 26 Vitória Guimarães 0–1 Benfica Guimarães
19:00 Report Erwin Sánchez   89' Stadium: Estádio D. Afonso Henriques
Attendance: 25,000
Referee: António Costa
28 March 1998 27 Benfica 1–2 Boavista Lisbon
20:45 Erwin Sánchez   89' Report Litos   28'
Jorge Couto   54'
Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 40,000
Referee: Mário Mendes
5 April 1998 28 Benfica 2–1 Belenenses Lisbon
19:00 Nuno Gomes   70', 75' Report Caetano   44' Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 30,000
Referee: António Marçal
11 April 1998 29 Salgueiros 0–2 Benfica Porto
21:15 Report João Pinto   35'
Brian Deane   85'
Stadium: Estádio Prof. Dr. José Vieira de Carvalho
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Augusto Duarte
19 April 1998 30 Benfica 3–1 Maritimo Lisbon
21:15 Brian Deane   30'
Ricardo Emídio Ramalho Silva   34' (o.g.)
Tahar   88'
Report Romeu Almeida   70' Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 10,000
Referee: José Leirós
25 April 1998 31 Varzim 0–0 Benfica Póvoa de Varzim
19:30 Luizão   29'   82' Report Scott Minto   86' Stadium: Estádio do Varzim
Attendance: 7,000
Referee: Mário Mendes
2 May 1998 32 Benfica 3–0 Porto Lisbon
20:00 Brian Deane   16'
Poborský   24'
Tahar   86'
Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 50,000
Referee: José Pratas
11 May 1998 33 Estrela da Amadora 2–0 Benfica Lisbon
20:00 Jorge Andrade   68'
Chaínho   72'
Report Tahar   69'   70' Stadium: Estádio da Reboleira
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: Paulo Paraty
17 May 1998 34 Benfica 7–1 Leça Lisbon
17:05 João Pinto   9'
Nuno Gomes   13', 25', 67', 85', 89' (pen.)
Brian Deane   68'
Report Constantino Jardim   44' (pen.)
Vladan Stojkovic   88'
Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 5,000
Referee: Monteiro da Silva

Taça de Portugal edit

26 October 1997 Fourth Rd Benfica 4–2 Farense Lisbon
18:00 Tahar   2'
João Pinto   40'
Nuno Gomes   46', 71'
Report Hajry   74' (pen.)
Camilo   77'
Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Referee: Bento Marques
16 November 1997 Fifth Rd Benfica 2–0 Rio Ave Lisbon
20:30 Taument   35'
Panduru   56'
Martin Pringle   80'
Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Referee: José Pratas
13 January 1998 Sixth Rd Benfica 1–0 Beira-Mar Lisbon
20:30 Gamarra   73' Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Referee: Lucílio Baptista
4 February 1998 Quarter-finals Gil Vicente 1–1 (a.e.t.) Benfica Barcelos
20:30 Sérgio Lomba   59' Report Nuno Gomes   42' Stadium: Estádio Adelino Ribeiro Novo
Referee: José Pratas
11 February 1998 QF Replay Benfica 1–0 Gil Vicente Lisbon
20:30 Nuno Gomes   55' Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Referee: Paulo Paraty
24 February 1998 Semi-finals Braga 2–1 Benfica Braga
20:30 Karoglan   32', 58' Report Panduru   15' (pen.) Stadium: Estádio 1º de Maio
Referee: Bento Marques

UEFA Cup edit

First round edit

16 September 1997 First leg Bastia   1–0   Benfica Bastia
19:00 André   80' Report Stadium: Stade Armand Cesari
Attendance: 10,080
Referee: Pierluigi Pairetto (Italy)
30 September 1997 Second leg Benfica   0–0
(0–1 agg.)
  Bastia Lisbon
19:00 Report Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: László Vágner (Hungary)

Friendlies edit

20 July 1997[10] Alphense 0–8 Benfica Alphen aan den Rijn
Stadium: Sportpark
22 July 1997[11] RKSV Taxandria 0–7 Benfica Oisterwijk
Stadium: Gemullehoek
27 July 1997[10] RKSV Halsteren 0–5 Benfica Halsteren
Stadium: Beek
3 August 1997[12] Centenary Belo Horizonte Cruzeiro 4–1 Benfica Belo Horizonte
Roberto Gaúcho  
Geovanni  
Fábio Júnior  
  Paulo Nunes Stadium: Mineirão
Attendance: 4,891
Referee: Cléver Gonçalves
5 August 1997[12] Centenary Belo Horizonte Flamengo 5–2 Benfica Belo Horizonte
Sávio   9' (pen.)
Iranildo  
Lúcio  
Rodrigo Mendes  
Fábio Baiano  
  Erwin Sánchez
  Paulo Nunes
Stadium: Mineirão
Attendance: 2,786
Referee: Raimundo Menezes de Carvalho
7 August 1997[12] Centenary Belo Horizonte Benfica 0–0 Olimpia Belo Horizonte
Stadium: Mineirão
Attendance: 3,088
Referee: Márcio Rezende de Freitas
12 August 1997[13] Benfica 0–1 Lazio Lisbon
20:30   43' Mancini Stadium: Estádio da Luz
Referee: Jorge Coroado

Player statistics edit

The squad for the season consisted of the players listed in the tables below, as well as staff member Manuel José (manager), Mário Wilson (manager) and Graeme Souness (manager).[14][9]

Note 1: Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

Note 2: Players with squad numbers marked ‡ joined the club during the 1997-98 season via transfer, with more details in the following section.

No. Pos Nat Player Total Primeira Divisão Taça de Portugal UEFA Cup
Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
1 GK   BEL Michel Preud'homme 33 -26 28 -22 4 -4 1 0
2 DF   MAR Tahar El Khalej 25 6 21 5 2 1 2 0
3 DF   POR Jorge Soares 6 0 5 0 0 0 1 0
5 DF   POR Paulo Madeira 26 0 22 0 4 0 0 0
6 MF   POR Tiago Pereira 24 1 21 1 1 0 2 0
7 FW   BRA Paulo Nunes 8 2 5 2 1 0 2 0
8 MF   POR João Pinto 30 7 25 6 3 1 2 0
9 MF   ROU Basarab Panduru 20 4 15 2 5 2 0 0
10 MF   BOL Erwin Sánchez 30 6 26 6 3 0 1 0
11 FW   SWE Martin Pringle 19 3 14 2 3 1 2 0
12 GK   RUS Sergei Ovchinnikov 9 -9 6 -7 2 -1 1 -1
13 DF   BRA Ronaldo Guiaro 35 0 27 0 6 0 2 0
14 MF   BRA Leônidas 5 0 4 0 0 0 1 0
15 MF   BRA Amaral 5 0 5 0 0 0 0 0
16 DF   ENG Scott Minto 25 0 21 0 4 0 0 0
17 MF   NED Gaston Taument 20 1 16 0 2 1 2 0
18 DF   MAR Abdelkrim El Hadrioui 21 0 17 0 2 0 2 0
19 MF   POR Bruno Caires 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0
20 MF   POR Jordão 8 0 6 0 1 0 1 0
21 FW   POR Nuno Gomes 40 22 33 18 6 4 1 0
22 MF   POR José Calado 37 2 29 2 6 0 2 0
23 MF   POR Edgar Pacheco 13 3 12 3 1 0 0 0
24 GK   POR Paulo Lopes 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
25 MF   CZE Karel Poborský 23 5 19 5 4 0 0 0
26 MF   POR Luís Carlos 23 1 19 1 4 0 0 0
27 MF   UKR Serhiy Kandaurov 9 1 7 1 2 0 0 0
28 FW   ENG Brian Deane 17 7 14 7 3 0 0 0
32 DF   PAR Carlos Gamarra 17 1 13 0 2 1 2 0
34 FW   BRA Duda 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
36 DF   POR Sousa 30 1 25 1 5 0 0 0
37 MF   POR Hugo Leal 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0
38 DF   POR José Soares 5 0 3 0 2 0 0 0
39 DF   POR Bruno Basto 3 0 3 0 0 0 0 0

Transfers edit

[15]

In edit

Entry date Position Player From club
July 1997 ST Nuno Gomes Boavista
July 1997 AM Erwin Sánchez Boavista
July 1997 CB Paulo Madeira Belenenses
July 1997 CB Carlos Gamarra Internacional
July 1997 GK Ovchinnikov Lokomotiv Moscow
July 1997 CM Jordão Estrela Amadora
July 1997 RW Gaston Taument Feyenoord
July 1997 LB Scott Minto Chelsea
July 1997 FW Paulo Nunes Grêmio[16]
July 1997 LW Leônidas Corinthians Alagoano
July 1997 AM Deco Corinthians Alagoano
July 1997 RW Duda Corinthians Alagoano
August 1997 RB Sousa Alverca
December 1997 DM Amaral Parma
December 1997 LW Luís Carlos Salgueiros
December 1997 ST Brian Deane Sheffield United
December 1997 CM Serhiy Kandaurov Maccabi Haifa
28 December 1997 RW Karel Poborský Manchester United[17]
January 1998 CB José Soares Alverca
January 1998 LB Bruno Basto Alverca

Out edit

Exit date Position Player To club
July 1997 GK Fernando Brassard Varzim
July 1997 CB Paredão Sheffield Wednesday
July 1997 CB Bermúdez Boca Juniors
July 1997 RB Marinho Campomaiorense
July 1997 LB Pedro Henriques Porto
July 1997 LB Lúcio Wagner Sevilla
July 1997 DM Amaral Parma
July 1997 CM Luís Gustavo Cruzeiro
July 1997 FB Nélson Morais Alverca
July 1997 AM Valdo Filho Nagoya Grampus
July 1997 CM Paulão Académica
July 1997 AM Iliev Slavia Sofia
July 1997 ST Hassan Nader Farense
July 1997 FW Mauro Airez Estrela da Amadora
July 1997 ST Valdir Atlético Mineiro
July 1997 FW Akwá Académica
July 1997 RW Glenn Helder Arsenal
August 1997 DM Bruno Caires Celta de Vigo
January 1998 FW Paulo Nunes Palmeiras
January 1998 CB Carlos Gamarra Corinthians
January 1998 RW Gaston Taument Anderlecht
January 1998 CM Jordão Braga
January 1998 LW Leônidas Arsenal Tula

Out by loan edit

Exit date Position Player To club Return date
July 1997 DM Jamir Flamengo 30 June 1998
July 1997 AM Deco Alverca 30 June 1998

References edit

  1. ^ Christian Carvalho Cruz; Sérgio Garcia (March 1997). "Perigo: 50 maneiras do Brasil perder a Copa" [Danger: 50 ways that Brasil could lose the World Cup]. Placar (in Portuguese). No. 1137. Brazil. p. 42. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Tovar 2012, p. 556.
  3. ^ Tovar 2012, p. 548.
  4. ^ a b Tovar 2012, p. 561.
  5. ^ "João Pinto assume-se como "capitão da nau"" [João Pinto assumes as the ship captain]. Record (in Portuguese). 11 October 1999. Retrieved 24 September 2014. In the previous season, João Pinto was physically ok, but a punishment from the Liga (due to an alleged assault on a fireman in Vila do Conde) prevented the number 8 from playing in the preseason games
  6. ^ Tovar 2012, p. 557.
  7. ^ a b Tovar 2012, p. 558.
  8. ^ a b Tovar 2012, p. 560.
  9. ^ a b c d Tovar 2012, p. 562.
  10. ^ a b c Alberto Miguéns (3 April 2014). "Às Terras Baixas das Papoilas...Regressam as "Papoilas Saltitantes"". Em Defesa do Benfica (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  11. ^ a b Vitor Serpa (August 1997). "Queridos Presidentes". A Bola magazine. No. 123. Portugal: A Bola. pp. 46–47.
  12. ^ a b c Ricardo Pontes (6 August 1999). "Copa Centenário de Belo Horizonte 1997". RSSSF (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  13. ^ "Mancini, parole di uno che ci crede" [Mancini earns credit]. Gazzeta Dello Sport (in Italian). 14 August 1997. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  14. ^ "Sport Lisboa e Benfica Squad 1997-98". Thefinalball.com.
  15. ^ "Transfers". Thefinalball.com. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  16. ^ "Paulo Nunes vai para o Benfica por US$ 10 milhões" [Paulo Nunes will go to Benfica por $10 million]. Folha Online. 8 July 1997. Retrieved 4 September 2015.
  17. ^ "Football: Benfica and Souness snap up Poborsky". The Independent. 28 December 1998. Archived from the original on 1 May 2022. Retrieved 4 September 2015.

Bibliography

  • Tovar, Rui Miguel (2012). Almanaque do Benfica [Benfica Almanac]. Portugal: Lua de Papel. ISBN 978-989-23-2087-8.