# S.L. Benfica (handball)

Active departments of S.L. Benfica :
| Football | Football B | Football U19 |
| Football (women's) | Futsal | Roller hockey |
| Basketball | Handball | Volleyball |
| Athletics | Swimming | Rugby union |
| Table tennis | Billiards | Canoeing |
Closed departments :
| Archery | Beach soccer | Cycling |
Sport Lisboa e Benfica (Portuguese pronunciation: ), commonly known as Benfica, is a professional handball team based in Lisbon, Portugal.
Benfica play in the top tier domestic league, Andebol 1, and hold home matches at the Pavilhão da Luz Nº 2. Since its inception in 1932, Benfica have won 7 Portuguese League titles, 6 Portuguese Cups, 2 Portuguese League Cups, and 7 Portuguese Super Cups. Internationally, Benfica won the EHF European League in 2021–22, becoming the first Portuguese club to win the competition.
In addition to the club's men's reserve team, Benfica B, playing in the second division, Benfica also has a women's team, who are the current Portuguese champions, having won 10 League titles, 8 Cups, 1 Federation Cup and 4 Super Cups.

## History
### Beginning

Founded on 8 May 1932, Benfica's handball section endured a troubled start shortly after being founded. It was inactive from 1939 to 1942–43 because of a conflict between Benfica and the Portuguese Handball Federation. Until the 1960s, handball was played by eleven players, and after 1962–63, in another dispute with the federation, Benfica closed the eleven players team and opted for the current team handball. The handball section did not achieve success until 1961–62, being overshadowed by the football, cycling, basketball and roller hockey sections of the club during that time.

### Golden years

After a period of dominance by crosstown rivals Sporting CP, Benfica experienced great success in the 1980s and early 1990s, when was led by coach Eugene Troffin, and later by Ângelo Pintado, along with players such as Paulo Bunze, Swedish international Fredrik Appelgren, Dogărescu, Covaciu and Drăgăniță, goalkeeper João Santa Bárbara, wingman Mário Gentil, Vasco Vasconcelos, Luís Lopes and Rui Ferreira; Benfica won four national championships, three Portuguese Cup and two Portuguese Super Cup.

### Decay

In the 1997–98 season, club president João Vale e Azevedo decided to shut down the section. It was restarted in the next season, but from the Regional Championship, four divisions away from the top flight.

### Rebuilding years

In 2005, after years in anonymity, Benfica hired former ABC Braga coach Aleksander Donner on a three-year deal. Because of a dispute between Liga and the Handball Federation, which managed the Divisão de Elite, there were two simultaneous championships. In the 2005–06 season, Benfica played in the Divisão de Elite. In 2006–07, Benfica joined the Liga Portuguesa de Andebol along with Sporting CP. During that season, Benfica won their first title since 1994, the League Cup. In the following season, Benfica finally achieved their first league title since 1990. Despite the success, Aleksander Donner did not renew his contract at the end of the season.

### Recent years

To replace Donner, Benfica hired José António Silva, who won three titles in three years: the 2008–09 League Cup, 2010–11 Portuguese Cup and 2010 Super Cup. In the 2010–11 season, Benfica reached the final of the EHF Challenge Cup, but lost to Slovene side RK Cimos Koper. In 2011–12, José António Silva was replaced by another former ABC Braga coach, Jorge Rito. With him, Benfica finished fourth in league for the first time. On 2 September 2012, Jorge Rito won Benfica's fourth Super Cup trophy. The season ended with only a second place in the league. In 2013–14, Benfica's performances worsened, and the team finished the league in fourth place. Jorge Rito did not renew his contract and was replaced by Mariano Ortega. On 3 April 2016, Benfica, who had beaten rivals FC Porto in the semi-finals the day before, beat Lisbon rivals Sporting in the final and conquered their fifth Portuguese Cup, ending a four-year trophy drought.

## Current squad

    Squad for the 2024–25 season:

## Results in international competition

Note: Benfica score is always listed first., H = home match; A = away match
| Season | Competition | Round | Opponent | Score |
| 1962–63 | European Cup | Round 1 | Atlético Madrid BM | 13–6 |
| 1975–76 | European Cup | Round 1 | CB Alicante | Withdrew |
| 1982–83 | European Cup | Round 1 | FC Barcelona | 25–32, 18–32 |
| 1983–84 | European Cup | Round 1 | ATSE Graz | 25–25 (H), 20–29 (A) |
| 1987–88 | EHF Cup Winners' Cup | Round 1 | Atlético Madrid BM | 21–20 (H), 11–29 (A) |
| 1989–90 | European Cup | Round 1 | FC Barcelona | 20–18 (H), 17–28 (A) |
| 1990–91 | European Cup | Round 1 | Red Boys Differdange | 28–18 (H), 26–28 (A) |
| 1990–91 | European Cup | Round 2 | USAM Nîmes | 23–21 (H), 23–31 (A) |
| 1993–94 | EHF City Cup | 1/16 Finals | Pallamano Rubiera | 27–19 (H), 20–22 (A) |
| 1993–94 | EHF City Cup | 1/8 Finals | ETO Győri | 24–21 (A), 19–17 (H) |
| 1993–94 | EHF City Cup | 1/4 Finals | PSG Asnieres Hand-Ball | 27–32 (A), 25–28 (H) |
| 1995–96 | EHF City Cup | 1/16 Finals | ZMC Amicitia Zürich | 19–30 (A), 30–27 (H) |
| 1996–97 | EHF City Cup | 1/16 Finals | Borec Veles | 18–15 (A), 32–14 (H) |
| 1996–97 | EHF City Cup | 1/8 Finals | Horn/Sittardia | 21–14 (H), 15–29 (A) |
| 1997–98 | EHF City Cup | 1/16 Finals | ESN Vrilissia | 26–21 (A), 30–12 (H) |
| 1997–98 | EHF City Cup | 1/8 Finals | Trabzon Belediyespor | 27–20 (H), 30–30 (A) |
| 1997–98 | EHF City Cup | 1/4 Finals | Academia Octavio Vigo | 22–32 (A), 25–23 (H) |
| 1998–99 | EHF City Cup | 1/16 Finals | BSV Wacker Thun | 0–10 (A), 0–10 (H) |
| 2002–03 | EHF Cup Winners' Cup | Round 3 | Dennis Turku | 14–26 (A), 17–25 (H) |
| 2007–08 | EHF Challenge Cup | Round 3 | HC "Mojkovac" | 46–22 (A), 46–26 (H) |
| 2007–08 | EHF Challenge Cup | 1/8 Final | Shakhtar-Academiya | 33–26 (A), 21–25 (H) |
| 2007–08 | EHF Challenge Cup | 1/4 Final | CSU Poli-Izometal Timişoara | 32–22 (H), 22–21 (A) |
| 2007–08 | EHF Challenge Cup | 1/2 Final | UCM Sport Reșița | 31–26 (H), 25–32 (A) |
| 2008–09 | EHF Champions League | Qualification Round 1 | A1 Bregenz | 38–34 (H), 28–35 (A) |
| 2008–09 | EHF Cup | Round 2 | RK Lovćen | 26–28 (A), 24–23 (H) |
| 2009–10 | EHF Cup | Round 2 | H/C "Tbilisi" | 34–21 (H), 29–25 (A) |
| 2009–10 | EHF Cup | Round 3 | SKIF Krasnodar | 29–28 (A), 35–30 (H) |
| 2009–10 | EHF Cup | Round 4 | TBV Lemgo | 30–27 (A), 18–31 (H) |
| 2010–11 | EHF Challenge Cup | Round 3 | CSA Steaua București | 43–29 (H), 23–29 (A) |
| 2010–11 | EHF Challenge Cup | Last 16 | HC "Motor-ZNTU-ZAS" | 33–28 (A), 30–23 (H) |
| 2010–11 | EHF Challenge Cup | Quarter-finals | Radnički Kragujevac | 28–29 (A), 29–21 (H) |
| 2010–11 | EHF Challenge Cup | Semi-finals | Partizan Dunav Osiguranje | 30–36 (A), 33–25 (H) |
| 2010–11 | EHF Challenge Cup | Finals | RK Cimos Koper | 27–27 (H), 27–31 (A) |
| 2011–12 | EHF Cup Winners' Cup | Round 3 | HC Lovćen-Cetinje | 25–21 (A), 26–14 (H) |
| 2011–12 | EHF Cup Winners' Cup | Last 16 | Pandurii Târgu Jiu | 33–27 (A), 41–24 (H) |
| 2011–12 | EHF Cup Winners' Cup | Quarter-finals | HC Celje Pivovarna Lasko | 23–29 (A), 31–30 (H) |
| 2012–13 | EHF Cup | Round 1 | Pfadi Winterthur | 28–21 (A), 27–27 (H) |
| 2012–13 | EHF Cup | Round 2 | Loacker Südtirol Team | 32–20 (H), 40–25 (H) |
| 2012–13 | EHF Cup | Round 3 | HBC Nantes | 21–29 (A), 28–21 (H) |
| 2013–14 | EHF Cup | Round 2 | Haukar | 34–22 (A), 34–19 (H) |
| 2013–14 | EHF Cup | Round 3 | Pick Szeged | 25–31 (A), 24–25 (H) |
| 2014–15 | EHF Challenge Cup | Round 3 | FyllingenBergen | 33–32 (H), 28–25 (H) |
| 2014–15 | EHF Challenge Cup | Last 16 | HB Dudelange | 36–30 (H), 28–24 (H) |
| 2014–15 | EHF Challenge Cup | Quarter-finals | KS Azoty-Puławy | 37–29 (A), 32–31 (H) |
| 2014–15 | EHF Challenge Cup | Semi-final | Odorheiu Secuiesc | 29–31 (A), 25–27 (H) |
| 2015–16 | EHF Challenge Cup | Round 3 | ÍBV Vestmannaeyjar | 28–26 (A), 34–26 (H) |
| 2015–16 | EHF Challenge Cup | Last 16 | A.C. Filippos Verias | 34–14 (H), 23–26 (A) |
| 2015–16 | EHF Challenge Cup | Quarter-finals | St. Petersburg HC | 24–20 (H), 25–27 (A) |
| 2015–16 | EHF Challenge Cup | Semi-finals | FyllingenBergen | 35–22 (H), 29–27 (A) |
| 2015–16 | EHF Challenge Cup | Finals | ABC/UMinho | 22–28 (H), 29–25 (A) |
| 2016–17 | EHF Cup | Qualification Round 2 | Käerjeng | 31–26 (H), 33–30 (A) |
| 2016–17 | EHF Cup | Qualification Round 3 | KS Azoty-Puławy | 29–34 (A), 24–18 (H) |
| 2016–17 | EHF Cup | Group D | MT Melsungen | 22–32 (A), 26–24 (H) |
| 2016–17 | EHF Cup | Group D | Helvetia Anaitasuna | 33–28 (H), 28–35 (A) |
| 2016–17 | EHF Cup | Group D | Riihimäki Cocks | 23–21 (A), 26–25 (H) |
| 2017–18 | EHF Cup | Qualification Round 1 | HC Dinamo Pančevo | 39–20 (H), 28–35 (H) |
| 2017–18 | EHF Cup | Qualification Round 2 | Gwardia Opole | 28–24 (H), 21–26 (A) |
| 2018–19 | EHF Cup | Qualification Round 2 | FH Hafnarfjordur | 37–32 (H), 34–31 (H) |
| 2018–19 | EHF Cup | Qualification Round 3 | TSV Hannover-Burgdorf | 36–41 (A), 33–33 (H) |
| 2019–20 | EHF Cup | Qualification Round 2 | RK Dubrava | 29–28 (H), 34–16 (H) |
| 2019–20 | EHF Cup | Qualification Round 3 | RK Nexe | 26–30 (A), 28–24 (H) |
| 2019–20 | EHF Cup | Group A (cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) | Bjerringbro-Silkeborg | 33–24 (A), (H) cancelled |
| 2019–20 | EHF Cup | Group A (cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) | MT Melsungen | 29–26 (H), (A) cancelled |
| 2019–20 | EHF Cup | Group A (cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic) | Gwardia Opole | 29–24 (H), 30–23 (A) |
| 2020–21 | EHF European League | Qualification Round 1 | Fivers | 28–26 (H), 34–38 (A) |
| 2021–22 | EHF European League | Qualification Round 1 | HC Kriens-Luzern | 31–24 (A), 29–18 (H) |
| 2021–22 | EHF European League | Qualification Round 2 | Rhein-Neckar Löwen | 31–31 (A), 33–28 (H) |
| 2021–22 | EHF European League | Group B | HBC Nantes | 31–30 (H), 33–33 (A) |
| 2021–22 | EHF European League | Group B | GOG Håndbold | 38–39 (A), 25–33 (H) |
| 2021–22 | EHF European League | Group B | Chekhovskiye Medvedi | 32–27 (A), 38–35 (H) |
| 2021–22 | EHF European League | Group B | TBV Lemgo | 35–30 (H), 30–29 (A) |
| 2021–22 | EHF European League | Group B | Riihimäki Cocks | 37–23 (H), 37–32 (A) |
| 2021–22 | EHF European League | Last 16 | Fenix Toulouse Handball | 34–38 (A), 36–30 (H) |
| 2021–22 | EHF European League | Quarter-finals | RK Gorenje Velenje | 36–29 (H), 27–27 (H) |
| 2021–22 | EHF European League | Semi-finals | Orlen Wisła Płock | 26–19 |
| 2021–22 | EHF European League | Final | SC Magdeburg | 40–39 (a.e.t.) |

## Honours

According to Benfica's official website

### Domestic competitions

* Portuguese League
    Winners (7): 1961–62, 1974–75, 1981–82, 1982–83, 1988–89, 1989–90, 2007–08
* Portuguese Cup
    Winners (6): 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 2010–11, 2015–16, 2017–18
* Portuguese League Cup
    Winners (2): 2006–07, 2008–09
* Portuguese Super Cup
    Winners (7): 1989, 1993, 2010, 2012, 2016, 2018, 2022

### International competitions

* EHF European League
    Winners (1): 2021–22
* EHF European Cup
    Runners-up (2): 2010–11, 2015–16

## Women's honours

According to Benfica's official website
* Portuguese League
    Winners (10): 1983–84, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1988–89, 1989–90, 1991–92, 1992–93, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24
* Portuguese Cup
    Winners (8): 1984–85, 1985–86, 1986–87, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1991–92, 2021–22, 2022–23
* Federation Cup
    Winners (1): 2023-24
* Portuguese Super Cup
    Winners (4): 1990, 1992, 2022, 2023