AuthorSports Billy It's terrifying to know that curses are real. But how do we know they are real you ask? Well, Benfica are currently under one! Back in the early 1960's legendary journeyman player and manager Béla Guttmann had his first spell managing at the Portuguese giants Benfica, with his most notable successes coming in the form of European Cup wins in both 1961 (against Barcelona) and then again the following year in 1962 (against Real Madrid). Quite the feat for the Hungarian manager in a notoriously difficult to win competition.
After the 1962 European Cup Final, Guttmann approached the Benfica board of directors and asked for a pay rise. Despite the success he had already delivered to the club during his time there, this request was turned down. As a result of this he walked away from the club, but not before cursing it declaring "not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever be European champion"! So how have Benfica done in Europe since he left the club? The following list makes for chilling reading: 1963 - European Cup Final = Lost 2-1 to Milan 1965 - European Cup Final = Lost 1-0 to Inter 1968 - European Cup Final = Lost 4-1 to Man U 1983 - UEFA Cup Final = Lost 2-1 to Anderlecht 1988 - European Cup Final = Lost on pens 6-5 to PSV 1990 - European Cup Final = Lost 1-0 to Milan 2013 - UEFA Cup Final = Lost 2-1 to Chelsea 2014 - UEFA Cup Final = Lost on pens 4-2 to Sevilla Coincidence? I don't think so! There will be many that will be poo-pooing this curse idea, but the clubs record in European competition since Guttmann left speaks for itself. Its alleged that even the great Eusebio himself once tried to lift the curse by praying at Guttmanns grave for it to be broken! On the bright side though Benfica fans, there's only 46 years to go until this curse is lifted! |
AuthorsJust Some Fans Writing About Football. Archives
June 2018
Categories
All
|