After witnessing a great performance in the Europa League against Bayer Leverkusen (3-1 SLB aggregate) Benfica's "King Artur" had one of the best performances for Benfica. It got me thinking about how many great goal keepers have come and gone throughout Benfica over the years.I have decided to compose a list of whom I feel are the greatest goalie's in the history of Benfica. Again, this is a personal observation, and opinion of one of 14 + million fans.
Michel Preud' Homme
The Belgian goal keeper gets the nod as Benfica's most popular goalie. Preud' Homme became the first ever "foreign" goalie to join Benfica. Preud' Homme was given the name "Saint Michel" for his outstanding saves throughout games. After an impessive performance with the Belgium National Team during the 1994 World Cup in the USA during 1994, he was awarded UEFA's Goalkeeper Of The Year, and won the Yashin Award. Although he never won a UEFA Champions League with Benfica, Preud' Homme helped Benfica win a successful Taça de Portugal during the 1995-96 season defeating Sporting 3-1. Many Benfiquistas will remember this moment as a bright one during the 90's as a huge success during a time in which Benfica was going through it's "Dark Days"of a financial crisis.
In August 1999, at age 40 Michel Preud' Homme played his
final career game with Benfica in a friendly against Bayern Munich. He played 199 games with Benfica allowing 184 goals.
In terms of longevity and longest career as a Benfica goalkeeper Manuel Bento
"O Homem Borracha" ("The Rubber Man")wins this title for spending 20 seasons (1972-1992) at Benfica. Bento arrived at Benfica in 1972 from FC Barreirense as a replacement for Jose Henrique. Throughout his career, many critics argue that Bento was not only one of the best goalkeepers for Benfica but also for Portugal. In a documentary that aired in August 2011 on Benfica TV called "Bento O Guardião do Tempo" his former team mate
Rui Águas mentioned how Bento's skill surpassed the likes of Vitor Baia. In 1977 Bento was named Portuguese Footballer Of The Year.
Statistics show that during his 1984-85 season Bento played a total of 30 games that season for Benfica, allowing 28 goals. This was considered his worst season in his career. However, during the Euro 1984 in France, Bento had a sensational performance against France during the semi - finals match. Although Portugal lost 3-2 to the host nation France, Bento was exceptional and was considered France's hardest opponent during the competition. During the 1986 World Cup campaign, Bento captained Portugal and got injured during the competition and was replaced by Sporting goalie Vitor Damas. This was Bento's last competition representing Portugal before his retirement in 1992.
Costa Pereira
Benfica's most successful decade was during the 1960's. Every Benfica fan who is alive today remembers Costa Pereira as Benfica's best goaltender of that era. During that era Benfica won eight Portuguese Championships (1960, '61, '63, '64, '65, '67, '68, and '69), three Portuguese Cups (1961, '64, and '69), and two European Champions Cup (1961 and '62). Although Benfica won two back to back European UEFA championships , they also had 5 UEFA European finals during the 0's in which Pereira was their goalie. (except for the 68' final against Manchester United)
Pereira played 13 seasons for Benfica (1954-67) He had 359 appearances and allowed 354 goals during his career. He started 22 times for the National Team but was unable to play for the famous 1966 squad due to poor form.
José Moreira
Moreira spent over 12 years playing at Benfica. Moreira was one of Benfica's most loyal goalkeepers. At age 17, Moreira was called up from the Benfica B team to the A team a back-up for Robert Enke. On a game in which Benfica was playing against Guimaraes, Enke suffered an injury in the 24th minute in which Moreira stepped up and managed to draw 0-0 in his debut performance. In 2002 Enke left for Barcelona and Moreira became the top goalie for Benfica. During the 2003-04 season, Benfica won the Portuguese Cup defeating a José
Mourinho coached FC Porto
In 2004 Moreira lost the top spot at Benfica to the newly arrived Quim. It was that season in which Benfica won the Portuguese League, the first time in 11 years. The following season Moreira suffered an almost career ending knee - injury putting him out for almost one year. With the arrival of such goalies as Moretto, Hans Jorg Butt, and Julio Cesar in 2009, Moreira became further away from any sort of top spot at Benfica and resorted to more of a third place goalie.
In 2010 Jorge Jesus arrived at the helm and shortly after his arrival Roberto was named Benfica's top goalie. This was yet another year of Moreira being put in the back burner. Finally, in 2011 out of frustration (and an undisclosed fee) Moreira moved on and left Benfica to join newly promoted EPL team Swansea City (Nuno Gomes joined Blackburn that same year who also played 12 years on and off for Benfica) He played one game and stayed one season and joined Cyprus side Omonia in 2013.
On an International level Moreira contributed to many successful tournaments for Portugal. He represented the U-17, U-18, and U-21 squads. Although he did not start for Portugal during the 2004 European Championships, he was one of the three goalie's called up to competition. Finally in August 2009 Moreira started for Portugal defeating Liechtenstein 3-0.
Now 31 Moreira (uninjured) has a possibility of making a comeback at least to the national side. This probably will only happen if he either returns to Portugal or gets more minutes elsewhere. Currently in Omonha, Cyprus he has played 2 games this season.
Moreira would benefit a smaller team in Portugal then a big one. He spent so many years on Benfica that even with a return to the Luz, I could not see him getting much more time then Paulo Lopes.
If Sporting lost Patricio or if Beto left Braga and he was available on the cheap perhaps but Moreira would shine on a Rio Ave, Vitoria Setubal, Guimaraes, or Madeira side if he can get his way back to Portugal somehow.
The reality is injury played a big part in Moreira's lack of minutes at Benfica. It also didn't help that there was a frequent change of coaches during the 2000's each coach implememting their own system. Heynckes,Mourinho, Toni, Fereira, Chalana, Camacho, Trapatoni, Koeman, Santos, Camacho, Chalana, Flores, and Jesus.
Moreira remained loyal to the club that created him but by remaining so loyal for so long also was detrimental to his career. Had Moreira not been injured and had a consistent starting role at the club throughout the years, who knows where he may of end up as? Bigger then Bento? Portugal's main man after Baia? Maybe Portugal could of won the Euro in 04? We can only ponder.
QUIM
Joaquim Manuel Sampaio da Silva (otherwise known as Quim) has been playing pro for over 20 years. Although near the end of his career, Quim's time at Benfica is recognized as the prime of his career. Just like some of the other goalie's mentioned, Quim managed to win a few trophies during his six stint at Benfica ( 2004-2010). This inluded the following:
2 Portuguese League Titles (2004/05 & 2009/10)
Portuguese Supercup (2005)
2 Portuguese League Cup (
2008/09 & 2009/10)
Eusebio Cup winner
2009
2004/05 Runner Up Portuguese Cup (2-1 Loss to Vitória de Setúbal )
While at Benfica, Quim
caped 144 games (44 of those games were in European competition) His presence on the pitch was well known. Quim had a very commanding presence on the pitch. It was common for him to make his voice heard during games as he would often call on to fellow team mates on defense to move up or to stand guard. As a goalie he was very commanding which displayed strong leadership qualities.(Best Of Video)
Quim also represented Portugal as a back up goalie to Ricardo during the 2004 UEFA European Championships. Some critics feel that looking back perhaps he may of been a better suited first choice over Ricardo. In 2010, Quim started off the World Cup qualifying campaign as Portugal's starting goalie. he would eventually lose this spot to Braga's Eduardo.
