Benfica
Benfica, also known as Sport Lisboa e Benfica and SLB in many of the anthems played by their fans is actually a multi sports club which is based in Lisbon, Portugal is best known for its football team all across the world. The Benfica Club was founded in 1904 by a few men headed by Cosme Damiao and has its main stadium in Estadio da Luz. Benfica has been the most successful club in Portugal with as many as 31 Portuguese Liga, 27 Portuguese Cup, 2 UEFA Champions League, 4 Super Cup Candido de Oliveira and also 1 Latin Cup as well.
Besides football, Benfica has provisions for many other sports as well like Athletics, Basket Ball, Handball, Cycling, Rugby, Swimming, volleyball amongst others. In the clubs history, Benfica has many titles in these sports as well. Benfica Club has also got the maximum fan following in Portugal with about 14 million supporters worldwide. As far as the total numbers of associates are concerned, Benfica is the largest and biggest club in the world with a total of 160, 398 numbers as on November, 2006, which was even registered in the Guinness Book of Records as well. Benfica was ranked 20th during the 2005-06 season in the Deloitte Football Money League with an estimated revenue of €85.1 million. It is also considered to be the 17th most valuable football brand in Europe by BBDO. Benfica is also the most valuable football brand in Portugal and 4th in the Iberian Peninsula, after Real Madrid, Barcelona, and Valencia.
Benfica Club has world class training facilities in Seixal. All the professional teams train here and it is also the home to all the Benfica’s youth academy. Benfica was the first team to come out as emerging winners against the strong dominance of Real Madrid in the European Champions’ Cup by winning two European Cups in a row against Barcelona in 1961 and against Real Madrid in 1962. In 2005-06 season, Benfica reached Quarter Finals in the Champions League by defeating Manchester United by 2-1 and then the European Champions Liverpool 3-0.