If you look at the last 30 or so years in The Portuguese Liga, you will notice that since Benfica's last back to back championship winning seasons of 1982/83 and 1983/84, FC Porto have endured greater success by dominating the domestic league and a few UEFA championships under their belt. This is something as Benfica fans that we do not wish to accept or acknowledge especially since FC Porto is now the biggest rival to Benfica in modern day football in Portugal.(Lisbon derby is still historic and meaningful but more on the line during "O Classico")
In the last 30 years, SL Benfica have won 8 league titles putting them at 34 league titles. FC Porto, in 30 years have won 20 league titles putting them at 27. Sporting Lisbon have won twice and Boavista won their only league title during the 2000/01 season. FC Porto have often won back-to-back titles in the last 30 years. They have also won 4 even 5 straight consecutive league titles, something in which no other team has ever done. (Benfica has won the quadruple but never the quintuple) At the time of FC Porto's reign of 5 consecutive league titles they had Mario Jardel who scored 125 goals during his 4 seasons at Porto and an evil mastermind with the initials PDC who did whatever he had to go to keep the team from the North of Portugal on top. Benfica always pushed to win the titles and although they had great talent, they had terrible finances and a different type of President then Porto. Porto's PDC would launder money to benefit his team, but João António de Araújo Vale e Azevedo laundered money to benefit his own pockets instead of helping Benfica.
With all that has happened in the Portuguese Liga in the last 30 years, there is something special going on. The Big 3 of Portugal continue to exist but it appears as though that Benfica (although always the most liked, and supported team in Portugal) is now overpowering FC Porto in all competitions. If you look at the last 10 encounters in all competitions (staring March 20, 2012) that Benfica have played FC Porto, Benfica have won 3 times, drawn 2 times and lost 5 times. Although this may not appear to be the most favourable results, it is a step up between year 2006-2009 in which Benfica could not beat FC Porto home or away. Beating FC Porto at least once during the season (for the past 3 seasons) is better then preparing for a loss or an out right beating (November 7th, 2010) During this time, it was expected that regardless as to whom Benfica would field in their starting 11 they were expected to lose. Occasionally they would tie and very few times would they be victorious. (http://fussball.wettpoint.com/en/h2h/932-935.html)
Benfica Socios
As mentioned on NOTÍCIAS BENFICA: Benfica 10h 07-04-15 by Portuguese Journalist Jose Nuno Martins it is confirmed that SL Benfica are still the most supported club in the world with just over 270, 000 registered supporters or "Socios". Although, I have not been alive long enough to remember the 60's and 70's a time in which Benfica dominated the Portuguese league and put Portugal on the UEFA and world map, has there ever been a time in which SL Benfica were not the most talked about and supported team in Portugal? It just so happens that since the Guinness Book of World Records has documented this record, Benfica continues to grow and grow. It was at my first Benfica game just shortly after this record was published in which I remember discussing with a fellow Luso Canadian Benfica fan as to how much greater the club would be financially if we reached 300, 000 and now almost a decade later we are at approximately 275, 000. Just think of it in these terms
300, 000 people paying 100 Euros annually = 30M annually
That is just one of many sources of revenue generated to Benfica. In North America recently, Benfica fans were finally allowed to subscribe to Benfica TV. This investment is just as important as the annual club fees because not only are you still supporting the club financially but you have access to all of the club's sports teams and information directly from the club that may not be actually portrayed online,
More investment to Benfica (see also Fly Emirates deal) means better players, means better player development, means better facilities, means many different factors to better this club. If the annual Benfica financial statements did not take so long to read I would like to know more about all sources of revenue.
Benfica Socios
As mentioned on NOTÍCIAS BENFICA: Benfica 10h 07-04-15 by Portuguese Journalist Jose Nuno Martins it is confirmed that SL Benfica are still the most supported club in the world with just over 270, 000 registered supporters or "Socios". Although, I have not been alive long enough to remember the 60's and 70's a time in which Benfica dominated the Portuguese league and put Portugal on the UEFA and world map, has there ever been a time in which SL Benfica were not the most talked about and supported team in Portugal? It just so happens that since the Guinness Book of World Records has documented this record, Benfica continues to grow and grow. It was at my first Benfica game just shortly after this record was published in which I remember discussing with a fellow Luso Canadian Benfica fan as to how much greater the club would be financially if we reached 300, 000 and now almost a decade later we are at approximately 275, 000. Just think of it in these terms
300, 000 people paying 100 Euros annually = 30M annually
That is just one of many sources of revenue generated to Benfica. In North America recently, Benfica fans were finally allowed to subscribe to Benfica TV. This investment is just as important as the annual club fees because not only are you still supporting the club financially but you have access to all of the club's sports teams and information directly from the club that may not be actually portrayed online,
More investment to Benfica (see also Fly Emirates deal) means better players, means better player development, means better facilities, means many different factors to better this club. If the annual Benfica financial statements did not take so long to read I would like to know more about all sources of revenue.
