# 1987–88 S.L. Benfica season

The 1987–88 season was Sport Lisboa e Benfica's 84th season in existence and the club's 54th consecutive season in the top flight of Portuguese football, covering the period from 1 July 1987 to 30 June 1988. Benfica competed domestically in the Primeira Divisão, Taça de Portugal and the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, and participated in the European Cup after winning the previous league.
Despite a league and cup double, John Mortimore was replaced with Ebbe Skovdahl, who failed to meet expectations, being sacked before the end of November. With the league out of reach, Benfica focused on their European campaign, now with Toni at the helm. Eliminating Partizani Tirana, Aarhus, Anderlecht and Steaua București, Benfica met PSV Eindhoven in the European Cup final. Without a key player like Diamantino, Benfica employed a cautious tactic, with the final being decided on the penalty-spot, where they lost, after van Breukelen defended a shot from Veloso. Domestically, Benfica came second behind Porto, and was knocked-out of the Portuguese Cup by the same team.

## Season summary

Benfica entered the new season with a change in the presidency and a new manager. Even before John Mortimore led the team to a league and cup double, there were discussion in the media of him being replaced by Sven-Göran Eriksson. A day after the victory in the 1987 Taça de Portugal final, Benfica confirmed that Mortimore was leaving. To fit in new President João Santos electoral strategy, for a "European Benfica", several names were discussed, such as Carlos Alberto Parreira, Telê Santana and Javier Clemente. Benfica approached Clemente, but insisted more on Gunder Bengtsson, who had just won the UEFA Cup. After Bengtsson declined the offer, Benfica turned to Ebbe Skovdahl, 42-year old Danish manager, who last managed Brøndby. In the transfer market, Benfica added several players, most notably, Elzo Coelho, Fernando Chalana, Carlos Mozer and Mats Magnusson. Departures included António Bastos Lopes, Minervino Pietra, José Luís and Michael Manniche, the first two to retirement. The pre-season started on 21 July with medical exams, followed by a trip to Switzerland the next day, where the team would play in the Philips Tournament. The location was also chosen so that they could do altitude training. Afterwards they played in the Teresa Herrera Trophy and Trofeo Colombino. Their presentation game was on 3 August with Vitória de Setúbal. Due to the events of 31 May in Braga, Benfica's first home game was played in Estádio Nacional.
Skovadahl stint at Benfica was a short-lived. Losses against Setúbal, Marítimo and Desportivo de Chaves led to immense pressure from the fans and four months into the season, on 28 November, he was sacked. He left the team 12 rounds into the season already trailing leader Porto by five points. His assistant Toni accepted the invitation to lead the team, in his first experience as manager. In his first game, he lost three-nil at home to Sporting for the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira.
With little chance of renewing the league title, Benfica focused on their European campaign. In the first round, a 4-0 win against the violent Partizani Tirana saw UEFA expel the Albanians and void the second leg. Afterwards, they knocked-out Aarhus and Anderlecht, reaching the semi-finals with Steaua București, the winners of the 1985–86 European Cup. For the game with Steaua, Toni travelled to Glasgow and asked Graeme Souness for the videotapes of Rangers's games with them. He concluded the threat was Gheorghe Hagi and he needed to be annulled, a task that fell to Shéu, which he perform without mistakes. In the second leg, Rui Águas scored twice to put Benfica into their first European Cup final since 1968. The three-year project of a "European Benfica" produced his first result in his first season.
   "Steaua gave me hope. Águas was amazing, and so was Diamantino. But he had that last minute misfortune [Diamantino's injury]...So he had to play in Stuttgart with Mauser rifles against an opponent equipped with laser guns. So to counter that, Benfica set up traps in a Portuguese way and passed unscathed through the game, even managing to overcome the deficit in potential and power between us until the end. What we did made me proud and with clear conscience. PSV ended up winning on the lottery"
Before the final against PSV Eindhoven, Benfica lost Diamantino, a key player in the team that got severely injured and missed the final. In the final, Benfica also saw Rui Águas leave the pitch in the second half due to injury, forcing Toni to use Wando as forward. Another problem was the brand new socks that the team wore that caused the boots to slide out, with significant problems in traction for the players. The game was described as with the two teams playing cautiously, ending in 0–0, and requiring penalties to decide the winner. After the first set of penalties with all players scoring, the first of the second round of penalties fell to captain Veloso, who saw his shot defended by van Breukelen, awarding the cup to the Dutch team. Breukelen explained that he had a little book where he kept score of the direction the players shot their penalties. Veloso was there with a penalty shot to the right in a tournament in Spain.
A few days later, Benfica closed the season with one-nil loss to Porto in the semi-final of the Taça Portugal. In the league, Benfica ended 15 points behind them in second place.

## Competitions

Win  Draw  Loss  Postponed

### Overall record

| Competition | First match | Last match | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record | Record |
| Competition | First match | Last match | G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | Source |
| Primeira Divisão | 23 August 1987 | 5 June 1988 | 38 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 59 | 25 | +34 | 050.00 | |
| Taça de Portugal | 22 November 1987 | 10 June 1988 | 7 | 5 | 1 | 1 | 13 | 4 | +9 | 071.43 | |
| European Cup | 16 September 1987 | 25 May 1988 | 8 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 9 | 1 | +8 | 050.00 | |
| Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira | 6 December 1987 | 20 December 1987 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 4 | −4 | 000.00 | |
| Total | Total | Total | 55 | 28 | 17 | 10 | 81 | 34 | +47 | 050.91 |

### Primeira Divisão
#### League table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
| 1 | Porto (C) | 38 | 29 | 8 | 1 | 88 | 15 | +73 | 66 | Qualification to European Cup first round |
| 2 | Benfica | 38 | 19 | 13 | 6 | 59 | 25 | +34 | 51 | Qualification to UEFA Cup first round |
| 3 | Belenenses | 38 | 18 | 12 | 8 | 52 | 38 | +14 | 48 | Qualification to UEFA Cup first round |
| 4 | Sporting CP | 38 | 17 | 13 | 8 | 62 | 41 | +21 | 47 | Qualification to UEFA Cup first round |
| 5 | Boavista | 38 | 16 | 14 | 8 | 42 | 25 | +17 | 46 | |

#### Results by round

| Round | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 | 28 | 29 | 30 | 31 | 32 | 33 | 34 | 35 | 36 | 37 | 38 |
| Ground | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | H | A | A | H | A | H | A |
| Result | W | L | W | L | D | W | L | W | W | W | W | D | W | D | W | W | W | D | D | W | W | W | D | W | D | D | D | W | W | W | L | D | D | L | W | D | D | L |
| Position | 3 | 6 | 4 | 9 | 10 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |

#### Matches
### Friendlies
## Player statistics

The squad for the season consisted of the players listed in the tables below, as well as staff member Ebbe Skovdahl (manager), Toni (manager), Jesualdo Ferreira (assistant manager), Eusébio (assistant manager), Gaspar Ramos (Director of Football), Vieira da Fonseca (Doctor), Amílcar Miranda (Doctor).
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 1987-88 season via transfer, with more details in the following section.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Total | Primeira Divisão | Primeira Divisão | Taça de Portugal | Taça de Portugal | European Cup | European Cup | Supertaça | Supertaça |
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| 1 | GK | POR | Manuel Bento | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 1 | GK | POR | Silvino | 53 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2 | DF | POR | António Veloso | 34 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3$^‡$ | DF | BRA | Carlos Mozer | 43 | 8 | 30 | 6 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | POR | Dito | 41 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 3 | DF | POR | Álvaro Magalhães | 43 | 2 | 30 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 3$^‡$ | DF | POR | António Fonseca | 7 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | POR | Samuel Quina | 9 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | DF | POR | Edmundo | 21 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 5$^‡$ | DF | POR | Carlos Pereira | 24 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 5$^‡$ | DF | POR | Nuno Damas | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 5 | DF | POR | Paulo Guilherme | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 6$^‡$ | MF | BRA | Elzo Coelho | 31 | 1 | 22 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 6 | MF | POR | Carlos Manuel | 12 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | ZAI | Tueba Menayane | 24 | 1 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | BRA | Chiquinho Carlos | 42 | 8 | 28 | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 7 | MF | BRA | Wando | 39 | 3 | 25 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | POR | Adelino Nunes | 24 | 1 | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 8$^‡$ | MF | POR | António Pacheco | 37 | 6 | 25 | 4 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | MF | MAR | Hajry Redouane | 9 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | POR | Rui Águas | 38 | 18 | 25 | 12 | 3 | 2 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 0 |
| 9$^‡$ | FW | POR | Paulo Padinha | 6 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9 | FW | BRA | Marlos Antunes | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 9$^‡$ | FW | POR | Tó Portela | 12 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10 | MF | POR | Luís Mariano | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11$^‡$ | MF | POR | Augusto Jerónimo | 15 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 10$^‡$ | MF | POR | Fernando Chalana | 17 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 11$^‡$ | FW | SWE | Mats Magnusson | 38 | 16 | 28 | 13 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | POR | Diamantino Miranda | 36 | 7 | 25 | 6 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 11 | MF | POR | Shéu | 36 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 |

## Transfers
### In

| Entry date | Position | Player | From club | Fee |
| 3 April 1987 | MF | Elzo Coelho | Atlético Mineiro | Undisclosed |
| 27 May 1987 | MF | Fernando Chalana | Bordeaux | Undisclosed |
| 22 June 1987 | GK | António Dias Graça | Gil Vicente | Undisclosed |
| 22 June 1987 | GK | Delgado | Farense | Loan return |
| 27 June 1987 | MF | António Pacheco | Portimonense | Undisclosed |
| 27 June 1987 | MF | Augusto Jerónimo | Portimonense | Undisclosed |
| 2 July 1987 | DF | Carlos Mozer | Flamengo | Undisclosed |
| 6 July 1987 | MF | Hajry Redouane | Raja Casablanca | Undisclosed |
| 21 July 1987 | DF | Carlos Pereira | Farense | Loan return |
| 21 July 1987 | DF | António Fonseca | Tirsense | Undisclosed |
| 21 July 1987 | DF | Nuno Damas | Torreense | Undisclosed |
| 21 July 1987 | MF | Vítor Paneira | Famalicão | Undisclosed |
| 21 July 1987 | MF | Paulo Padinha | Portimonense | Undisclosed |
| 14 August 1987 | FW | Tó Portela | Tirsense | Undisclosed |
| 1 September 1987 | FW | Mats Magnusson | Malmö | Undisclosed |

### Out

| Exit date | Position | Player | To club | Fee |
| 4 June 1987 | DF | António Oliveira | Marítimo | Free |
| 22 June 1987 | DF | António Bastos Lopes | None | Retired |
| 22 June 1987 | DF | Minervino Pietra | None | Retired |
| 27 June 1987 | MF | José Luís | Marítimo | Free |
| 21 July 1987 | GK | Neno | Vitória de Setúbal | Undisclosed |
| 21 July 1987 | FW | Michael Manniche | B1903 | Undisclosed |
| 22 August 1987 | FW | Zvonko Živkovic | Fortuna Düsseldorf | Undisclosed |
| 16 December 1987 | MF | Carlos Manuel | Sion | Undisclosed |

### Out by loan

| Exit date | Position | Player | To club | Return date |
| 27 June 1987 | FW | César Brito | Portimonense | 30 June 1988 |
| 30 June 1987 | DF | José Carlos | Portimonense | 30 June 1988 |
| 21 July 1987 | MF | Vítor Paneira | Vizela | 30 June 1988 |
| 22 August 1987 | MF | Rui Pedro | Vitória Setúbal | 30 June 1988 |