S.L. Benfica (roller hockey)

Benfica
Full nameSport Lisboa e Benfica
Nickname(s)As Águias (The Eagles)
Os Encarnados (The Reds)
LeagueFirst Division
Founded19 August 1917 (1917-08-19)
Home groundPavilhão Fidelidade
(Capacity 2,400)
Personnel
CoachEduard Castro[1]
OwnerS.L. Benfica
ManagerValter Neves[2]
Websiteslbenfica.pt
Home
Away
Third


Sport Lisboa e Benfica (Portuguese pronunciation: [sɨˈpɔɾ liʒˈβoɐ i βɐ̃jˈfikɐ] ), commonly known as Benfica, is a professional roller hockey team based in Lisbon, Portugal.

Founded in 1917, Benfica play in the Portuguese first division, having won 24 league titles. Moreover, they have won 15 Portuguese Cups, nine Portuguese Super Cups, one 1947 Cup and four Elite Cup.

Internationally, Benfica have won, among other trophies, two CERH European League, two CERS Cup, three CERH Continental Cup, two Intercontinental Cup and one Golden Cup.[3]

History

First years

Benfica's roller hockey section was founded in 1917, making it one of the earliest roller hockey clubs in Portugal. The team achieved its first success in 1925–26, winning the Campeonato Regional de Lisboa, the top competition disputed at the time. Following this triumph, the club won the seven subsequent regional titles.

Benfica's first participation in the national First Division came in 1944–45, finishing fourth in their debut season.

National and international success

Benfica's first golden era came in the 1950s, winning four league titles (1950–51, '51–52, '55–56, '56–57), five Campeonatos Regionais de Lisboa (1950–51, '52–53, '53–54, '55–56, '58–59), and six Taças de Honra da APL (from 1951–52 to 1957–58). During the second half of the decade, Torcato Ferreira took charge as coach—a position he would hold until 1970.

Under Torcato Ferreira, with standout players like António Ramalhete and António Livramento, Benfica extended its dominance into the 1960s, winning six league titles (1959–60, '60–61, '62–63, '65–66, '66–67, '67–68), two Campeonatos Metropolitanos de Lisboa (1966–67, 1967–68) — a competition that served as an intermediate stage between the regional leagues and the national championship — the 1963–64 Taça de Portugal (the inaugural edition of the competition), eight Campeonatos Regionais de Lisboa (1959–60 to 1963–64 and 1965–66 to 1967–68), and six Torneios de Abertura da APL (1960–61 to 1963–64 and 1965–66 to 1967–68).

Internationally, Benfica reached its first continental finals, finishing runners-up in the 1961 Nations Cup, winning the 1962 Nations Cup, and later reaching the 1968–69 European Cup final, marking the club’s emergence on the European stage.

Mixed success

Benfica maintained its strong momentum in the early 1970s, winning three of the five league titles contested in that period (1969–70, '71–72, '73–74), along with four Campeonatos Metropolitanos de Lisboa (1969–70, '71–72, '72–73, '73–74), one Campeonato Regional de Lisboa (1969–70), and one Torneio de Abertura da APL (1971–72). Internationally, the team reached the 1972–73 European Cup final.

However, Benfica struggled to maintain the same level of dominance in the latter half of the decade, winning only the 1978–79 league title, two Taças de Portugal (1977–78, '78–79), and three Torneios de Abertura da APL (1974–75, '77–78, '78–79).

The 1980s brought a period of mixed domestic success, with Benfica winning two league titles (1979–80, '80–81), three Taças de Portugal (1979–80, '80–81, '81–82), and four Torneios de Abertura da APL (1979–80, '80–81, '81–82, '85–86). Internationally, the club reached three European finals — the 1979–80 European Cup and the 1982–83 and 1983–84 Cup Winners' Cup.

1990s and decline

The 1990s saw Benfica return to dominance under key players such as José Carlos, Rui Lopes, Luís Ferreira, Paulo Almeida, and Vítor Fortunato, winning five league titles (1991–92, '93–94, '94–95, '96–97, '97–98), three Taças de Portugal (1990–91, '93–94, '94–95), four Supertaças António Livramento (1992–93, '94–95, '96–97, '97–98), and four Torneios de Abertura da APL (1989–90 to 1991–92 and 1994–95). In Europe, the club won its second continental title, the 1991 CERS Cup, and reached the 1992–93 and 1994–95 European Cup finals.

The 2000s marked a period of decline, with Benfica winning only three Taças de Portugal (1999–00 to 2001–02) and two Supertaças António Livramento (2001–02 and 2002–03), with Panchito Velázquez emerging as the team’s star player.

2010s and revival

Benfica started the decade by winning the 2009–10 Taça de Portugal, ending a seven-year trophy drought. The bigger highlights, however, were the victories in the 2010–11 CERS Cup and the 2011–12 league title, which ended a 13-year league drought. During this three-year span, the club also won the 2010–11 Supertaça António Livramento and the 2011 Continental Cup.

The 2012–13 season saw Benfica win its first-ever WSE Champions League title, defeating FC Porto at Dragão Caixa by 6–5 (aet), in an all Portuguese final,[4] along with the Supertaça António Livramento. In the following years, led by key players such as Carlos Nicolia, João Rodrigues, and others, the team captured several major trophies: the Supertaça António Livramento, Continental Cup defeating CE Vendrell,[5] and Intercontinental Cup in 2013, defeating Sport Recife by 10–3 and winning the only missing trophy for the club and the second one for Portuguese roller hockey, after the 1993 Óquei de Barcelos win;[6] the 2013–14 Taça de Portugal; the 2014–15 league title and Taça de Portugal; and the 2015–16 league title, without defeat, totalling 25 wins and one draw,[7] and WSE Champions League, after beating Oliveirense in the final 5–3.[8]

On 15 March 2015, Benfica became the second European club, after CP Voltregà, to win CERH's most important club title in both men and women competitions, after defeating the French team Coutras in the final of the Women's European Cup. Domestically, earlier that season, the women's section had conquered the national Super Cup on 8 November 2014, and later also won their third consecutive national championship on 8 June 2015, and their second consecutive domestic cup on 14 June, accomplishing the treble, and winning all five competitions they played, including the Torneio de Abertura.[9]

Benfica closed the decade by adding the 2017 Continental Cup, beating Óquei de Barcelos (9–2) in the second leg of the Continental Cup, and won the trophy for a third time,[10] and the 2018 Intercontinental Cup, beating Reus Deportiu (3–5), thus becoming the second team with most trophies in the competition.[11]

Recent years

In the first three years of the 2020s, Benfica only won the 1947 Cup in 2020. In the following seasons, the team regained momentum, winning the 2022–23 league title, two Supertaças António Livramento (2022–23 and 2023–24), and three Elite Cups (2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25).

Seasons

As of 6 October 2025

Key

  • The Campeonato Metropolitano qualified for the national league.

Results in international competition

Source:[15]

Current squad

As of 7 October 2025[16]
Goalkeepers
  • 01 Pedro Henriques
  • 99 Conti Acevedo

Defenders

  • 03 Zé Miranda
  • 04 Diogo Rafael
  • 06 Roberto Di Benedetto
  • 07 Viti
  • 19 Rodrigo Preciso
  • 19 Nil Roca

Forwards

  • 08 Pau Bargalló
  • 09 Lucas Ordoñez
  • 71 Gonçalo Pinto
  • 79 João Rodrigues

Men's technical staff

Source: [17]

Position Name
Head coach Eduard Castro
Assistant coach Jordi Rocca
Physiologist Daniel Fernandéz
Physiotherapist Diana Alves
Team Manager Valter Neves

Honours

According to Benfica's official website[3]

Type Competition Titles Seasons
Domestic Primeira Divisão[18] 24 1950–51, 1951–52, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1959–60, 1960–61, 1965–66, 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1973–74, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1991–92, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1996–97, 1997–98, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2022–23
Campeonato Metropolitano[19] 5 1966–67, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1972–73
Taça de Portugal[20] 15 1962–63, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1980–81, 1981–82, 1990–91, 1993–94, 1994–95, 1999–2000, 2000–01, 2001–02, 2009–10, 2013–14, 2014–15
Elite Cup[21] 3 2023–24, 2024–25, 2025–26
1947 Cup[22] 1 2020
Supertaça[23] 9 1993, 1995, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2010, 2012, 2022, 2023
Continental WSE Champions League[24] 2 2012–13, 2015–16
World Skate Europe Cup[25] 2 1990–91, 2010–11
Continental Cup[26] 3 2011, 2013, 2016
Nations Cup[27] 1 1962
CERH Ciudad de Vigo Tournament[28] 1 2008
Golden Cup[29] 1 2022
World Intercontinental Cup[30] 2 2013, 2017
  •   record
  • s shared record

Women's current squad

As of 7 October 2025[31]
Goalkeepers
  • 01 Lili Buchoux
  • 10 Maria Vieira

Defenders/Midfielders

  • 85 Leonor Coelho
  • 95 Raquel Santos

Forwards

  • 02 Marlene Sousa
  • 07 Rita Batista
  • 13 Aimée Blackman
  • 22 Sara Roces
  • 23 Sofia Moncóvio
  • 44 Inês Severino
  • 66 Maria Silva

Women's honours

Regional

  • Opening Tournament of Lisbon Roller Sports Association
Winners (8): 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019[32]

National

  • Portuguese League
Winners (12) – record: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023-24, 2024-25[33]
  • Portuguese Cup
Winners (11) – record: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023-24, 2024-25[34]
  • Portuguese Super Cup
Winners (12) – record: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023,[35] 2024, 2025
  • Elite Cup
Winners (4) – record: 2022, 2023,[36] 2024, 2025

European

Winners (1): 2014–15[37][38]

References

  1. ^ "Edu Castro é o novo treinador até 2027". slbenfica.pt. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  2. ^ Benfica%5d%5d "Team Managers". Retrieved 8 October 2025. {{cite news}}: Check |url= value (help)
  3. ^ a b "Hóquei em patins" [Roller hockey]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  4. ^ "Benfica sagra-se campeão europeu de hóquei em patins pela primeira vez". Público (in Portuguese). 2 June 2013.
  5. ^ "Benfica conquista Taça Continental de hóquei em patins". Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 2 November 2013.
  6. ^ "Benfica conquista Taça Intercontinental" [Benfica conquer Intercontinental Cup]. Record (in Portuguese). 16 November 2013. Retrieved 15 October 2013.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  7. ^ "Sporting falha Liga Europeia, Benfica acaba sem derrotas" [Sporting fail European League, Benfica finish unbeaten]. SAPO Desporto (in Portuguese). 16 May 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2016.
  8. ^ "SL Benfica é Campeão Europeu!" [SL Benfica are European champions]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). 15 May 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  9. ^ "Benfica renova título da Taça de Portugal feminina" [Benfica renew women's Portuguese Cup title]. Record (in Portuguese). 14 June 2015. Archived from the original on 14 June 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2017.
  10. ^ "SL Benfica conquista Taça Continental" [SL Benfica conquer Continental Cup]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). 15 October 2016. Retrieved 15 October 2016.
  11. ^ "Benfica conquista Taça Intercontinental" [Benfica conquer Intercontinental Cup]. Abola (in Portuguese). 16 February 2018. Archived from the original on 18 December 2017. Retrieved 3 February 2018.
  12. ^ "List of Roller Hockey Portuguese Cup Champions". Rink Hockey. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  13. ^ "List of Roller Hockey Portuguese League Champions". Rink Hockey. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  14. ^ "Todos os Campeões". Hoquei Patins. Retrieved 8 October 2025.
  15. ^ "Participations in WSE Europe competitions". HoqueiPatins.pt. Retrieved 9 October 2025.
  16. ^ "Team". S.L. Benfica. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  17. ^ "benfica 2025–26". Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  18. ^ "Palmarés dos Títulos Oficiais do Sport Lisboa e Benfica na modalidade Hóquei Patins". slbenfica.com. Lisbon, Portugal: Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  19. ^ "Palmarés dos Títulos Oficiais do Sport Lisboa e Benfica na modalidade Hóquei Patins". slbenfica.com. Lisbon, Portugal: Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  20. ^ "Palmarés dos Títulos Oficiais do Sport Lisboa e Benfica na modalidade Hóquei Patins". slbenfica.com. Lisbon, Portugal: Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  21. ^ "Palmarés dos Títulos Oficiais do Sport Lisboa e Benfica na modalidade Hóquei Patins". slbenfica.com. Lisbon, Portugal: Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  22. ^ "Palmarés dos Títulos Oficiais do Sport Lisboa e Benfica na modalidade Hóquei Patins". slbenfica.com. Lisbon, Portugal: Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  23. ^ "Palmarés dos Títulos Oficiais do Sport Lisboa e Benfica na modalidade Hóquei Patins". slbenfica.com. Lisbon, Portugal: Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  24. ^ "Palmarés dos Títulos Oficiais do Sport Lisboa e Benfica na modalidade Hóquei Patins". slbenfica.com. Lisbon, Portugal: Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  25. ^ "Palmarés dos Títulos Oficiais do Sport Lisboa e Benfica na modalidade Hóquei Patins". slbenfica.com. Lisbon, Portugal: Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  26. ^ "Palmarés dos Títulos Oficiais do Sport Lisboa e Benfica na modalidade Hóquei Patins". slbenfica.com. Lisbon, Portugal: Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  27. ^ "Palmarés dos Títulos Oficiais do Sport Lisboa e Benfica na modalidade Hóquei Patins". slbenfica.com. Lisbon, Portugal: Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  28. ^ "Palmarés dos Títulos Oficiais do Sport Lisboa e Benfica na modalidade Hóquei Patins". slbenfica.com. Lisbon, Portugal: Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  29. ^ "Palmarés dos Títulos Oficiais do Sport Lisboa e Benfica na modalidade Hóquei Patins". slbenfica.com. Lisbon, Portugal: Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  30. ^ "Palmarés dos Títulos Oficiais do Sport Lisboa e Benfica na modalidade Hóquei Patins". slbenfica.com. Lisbon, Portugal: Sport Lisboa e Benfica. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  31. ^ "Women's squad". S.L. Benfica. Retrieved 7 October 2025.
  32. ^ Hóquei feminino vence Torneio APL
  33. ^ Benfica sagra-se decacampeão nacional de hóquei em patins feminino Record
  34. ^ Benfica conquista nona Taça de Portugal feminina de hóquei em patins Record
  35. ^ Benfica vence a Supertaça Feminina 2023/24 HoqueiPatins.pt (in Portuguese)
  36. ^ Benfica vence Turquel por 5–2 e conquista novamente a Elite Cup Rádio Hertz
  37. ^ "SL Benfica won the Women's Cup, US Coutras defeated 5-2 in the final match". CERH. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.
  38. ^ "SL Benfica é Campeão Europeu!" [SL Benfica are European Champions!]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). 15 March 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2015.