S.L. Benfica (youth)

Juniores do Benfica

Full name	Juniores do Sport Lisboa e Benfica
Nickname(s)	As Águias (The Eagles) Os Encarnados (The Reds)
Ground	Benfica Campus
Capacity	2,720
President	Rui Costa
Head coach	Luís Araújo
League	Campeonato Nacional de Juniores
2023–24	2nd
Website	https://www.slbenfica.pt/pt-pt/futebol/formacao
Home colours Away colours

Juniores do Sport Lisboa e Benfica (Portuguese pronunciation: [ʒuˈnjɔɾɨʒ ðu sɨˈpɔɾ liʒˈβoɐ i βɐ̃jˈfikɐ]) are the under-19 team of Portuguese football club S.L. Benfica. They hold home matches at Benfica Campus, the club's training ground and youth academy in Seixal.

Benfica's under-19s have won a record 25 Campeonato Nacional de Juniores, one Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup (1996), one UEFA Youth League (2021–22) and one Under-20 Intercontinental Cup (2022). Benfica hold UEFA Youth League records for the biggest win in a final, 6–0 against Red Bull Salzburg, most final appearances (4, joint-record with Chelsea) and most games played (70).^[1] They were distinguished for "Best implementation of the UEFA Youth League values" in 2013–14.^[2]

There are other development teams below under-19, completing Benfica's youth system: Juvenis "A" and "B"; Iniciados "A" and "B"; Infantis "A", "B", "C" and "D"; Benjamins "A" and "B"; and Traquinas "A". In 2015, Benfica received the Globe Soccer award for Best Academy of the year.^[3]

Players

Current players

As of 3 September 2023^[4][5]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player — GK  POR André Moreira — GK  POR Diogo Ferreira — GK  POR João Fidalgo — GK  POR André Gomes (B) — DF  POR Guilherme Peixoto — DF  POR Kevin Pinto — DF  POR Diogo Rocha — DF  POR Guilherme Gaspar — DF  POR Rui Silva — DF  POR Gonçalo Oliveira — DF  POR Leandro Martins — DF  POR João Pereira — DF  SVN Žan Jevšenak (B) — DF  POR Diogo Spencer (B) — DF  POR João Tomé (B) — DF  POR João Conceição (U23) — DF  POR João Fonseca (U23) — DF  POR Leandro Santos (U23) — DF  BRA Tiago Coser (U23) — DF  POR Vladimir Mendes (U23) — MF  POR Martim Ferreira — MF  POR Rodrigo Pires — MF  POR André Gomes

No. Pos. Nation Player — MF  POR Tiago Pinto — MF  POR Diogo Prioste (B) — MF  POR Hugo Félix (B) — MF  POR Nuno Félix (B) — MF  POR Rafael Luís (B) — MF  AUS Paul Okon-Engstler (U23) — MF  POR João Veloso (U23) — FW  POR Francisco Neto — FW  POR Guilherme Afonso — FW  ISL Stigur Thordarson — FW  POR Olívio Tomé — FW  POR Jair Monteiro — FW  BRA Gustavo Ferreira — FW  BEL Jelani Trevisan — FW  POR João Rêgo (B) — FW  POR Gustavo Varela (B) — FW  POR José Marques (B) — FW  POR Ricardo Nóbrega (U23) — FW  POR Ivan Lima (U23) — FW  EST Karel Mustmaa (U23) — FW  NED Kyanno Silva (U23) — FW  POR Rodrigo Rêgo (U23)

Key

B = current Benfica B player; U23 = player for Benfica's under-23 team

Notable players

Over 1,000 players have come through Benfica's youth ranks, but only a small part of them played for the club's first-team. The list below includes former youth players who represented the main team in a minimum of 25 matches, or those that reached 25 caps at full international level. In some occasions, graduates debuted for the first-team but left Benfica before reaching 25 matches and went on representing their national team at full international level. Those players are also listed. (Time periods below correspond to when players joined Benfica youth.)

Pre-1960 Albino[6] Santana[7][8] Humberto Fernandes[9] António Mendes[10] Serra[11] Fernando Cruz[12] José Henrique[13] Simões[14][15]

1960s Diamantino Costa[16] Vítor Martins[17] Artur Correia[18] Nené[14][19] Humberto Coelho[20][21] João Alves[6][22]

1970s António Bastos Lopes[23] Shéu[24] Rui Jordão[25] Eurico Gomes[26] Cavungi[27] Alberto Fonseca[28] Fernando Chalana[29][30] José Luís[31] Jorge Silva[32] Diamantino[33] Rui Costa[34]

1980s Samuel[35] António Fonseca[36] José Carlos[37] Kenedy[38] Paulo Sousa[39] Paulo Madeira[40] Rui Bento[41] Bruno Basto[42] Maniche[43]

1990s Pedro Henriques[44] Edgar[45] Hugo Leal[46] Bruno Aguiar[47] José Sousa[48] João Pereira[49] Diogo Luís[50] Sílvio[51] Manuel Fernandes[52] José Moreira[53]

2000s Miguel Vítor[54] Bernardo Silva[55] Nélson Oliveira[56] Gonçalo Guedes[57] Bruno Varela[58] Renato Sanches[59] João Cancelo[60] Jota[61] Diogo Gonçalves[62] Rúben Dias[63] Ederson[64] Gedson Fernandes[65]

2010s Florentino[66] André Gomes[67] Ferro[68] Victor Lindelöf[69] Gonçalo Ramos[70] João Félix[71] Nuno Tavares[72]

Coaching staff

Position	Staff
Head coach	Luís Araújo[73]
Assistant coaches
Goalkeeping coach
Observation coach
Fitness coach

Last updated: 6 July 2023
Source: ^{[citation needed]}

Competitive record

UEFA Youth League

As of match played 2 November 2022

Note: Benfica score is always listed first.

Season	Round	Opponent	Home	Away
2013–14	GS	Anderlecht	3–0	6–3
		Paris Saint-Germain	1–1	4–1
		Olympiacos	0–0	0–1
	R16	Austria Wien	4–1	—
	QF	Manchester City	—	2–1
	SF	Real Madrid	4–0
	F	Barcelona	0–3
2014–15	GS	Zenit Saint Petersburg	0–0	1–5
		Bayer Leverkusen	4–1	3–2
		Monaco	3–0	1–0
	R16	Liverpool	2–1	—
	QF	Shakhtar Donetsk	1–1 (aet) (4–5 p)	—
2015–16	GS	Astana	8–0	5–0
		Atlético Madrid	1–1	2–1
		Galatasaray	2–0	11–1
	R16	FK Viagem Příbram	—	1–1 (aet) (5–4 p)
	QF	Real Madrid	—	0–2
2016–17	GS	Beşiktaş	0–0	3–0
		Napoli	2–0	3–2
		Dynamo Kyiv	1–2	1–2
	PO	Midtjylland	—	1–1 (aet) (6–5 p)
	R16	PSV Eindhoven	—	1–1 (aet) (5–4 p)
	QF	CSKA Moscow	—	2–0
	SF	Real Madrid	4–2
	F	Red Bull Salzburg	1–2
2017–18	GS	CSKA Moscow	5–1	0–2
		Basel	0–0	2–2
		Manchester United	2–2	1–1
2018–19	GS	Bayern Munich	3–0	2–2
		AEK Athens	3–0	3–1
		Ajax	3–3	0–3
	PO	Montpellier	—	1–2
2019–20	GS	RB Leipzig	2–1	3–0
		Zenit Saint Petersburg	1–0	7–1
		Lyon	1–2	3–2
	R16	Liverpool	4–1	—
	QF	Dinamo Zagreb	3–1
	SF	Ajax	3–0
	F	Real Madrid	2–3
2020–21	Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Europe
2021–22	GS	Dynamo Kyiv	1–0	0–4
		Barcelona	4–0	3–0
		Bayern Munich	4–0	2–0
	R16	Midtjylland	—	3–2
	QF	Sporting CP	—	4–0
	SF	Juventus	2–2 (4–3 p)
	F	Red Bull Salzburg	6–0
2022–23	GS	Maccabi Haifa	0–1	6–2
		Juventus	2–3	1–1
		Paris Saint-Germain	0–1	3–2

Honours

• Portuguese Championship^[74]
  • Winners (25) – record: 1943–44, 1944–45, 1948–49, 1950–51, 1954–55, 1956–57, 1957–58, 1958–59, 1959–60, 1961–62, 1962–63, 1967–68, 1969–70, 1971–72, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1984–85, 1987–88, 1988–89, 1999–00, 2003–04, 2012–13, 2017–18, 2021–22
• Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup^[75][76]
  • Winners: 1996
• UEFA Youth League
  • Winners: 2021–22
• Under-20 Intercontinental Cup
  • Winners – shared record: 2022

Other youth honours

Juvenis (under-17)

• Portuguese Championship^[74]

Winners (21) – record: 1963–64, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1982–83, 1989–90, 1990–91, 1991–92, 1992–93, 1995–96, 1996–97, 2000–01, 2007–08, 2010–11, 2012–13, 2014–15, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2022–23, 2023–24

Iniciados (under-15)

• Portuguese Championship^[74]

Winners (12): 1978–79, 1981–82, 1984–85, 1988–89, 2008–09, 2009–10, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2022–23, 2023–24

Infantis (under-13)

• Portuguese Championship^[74]

Winners (3) – shared record: 1988–89, 1989–90, 1995–96

References

1. "All-time UEFA Youth League records". UEFA (in Portuguese). 25 April 2022. Archived from the original on 28 April 2022. Retrieved 28 April 2022.
2. "UEFA Youth League 2013/14: SL Benfica distinguido pela instituição" [UEFA Youth League 2013–14: S.L. Benfica distinguished by the institution]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). 4 September 2014. Archived from the original on 6 November 2014. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
3. "Benfica (Best Academy of the year)". Globe Soccer. 28 December 2015. Archived from the original on 8 October 2021. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
4. "U19 2023–2024 squad". S.L. Benfica. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
5. "Benfica - UEFA Youth League". UEFA. Retrieved 12 September 2022.
6. "Médios centro" [Central midfielders]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 14 February 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
7. "Avançados" [Forwards]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
8. "Santana". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 5 February 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
9. "Humberto Fernandes". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
10. "Mendes". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
11. "Defesas direitos" [Right-backs]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 19 December 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
12. "Cruz". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 7 August 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
13. "José Henrique". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
14. "Médios direitos" [Right midfielders]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
15. "Simões". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 5 May 2021. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
16. "Diamantino Costa". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
17. "Vítor Martins". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
18. "Artur Correia". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
19. "Nené". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
20. "Defesas centrais" [Centre-backs]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
21. "Humberto Coelho". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
22. "João Alves". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
23. "António Bastos Lopes". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 8 August 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
24. "Shéu". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
25. "Jordão". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
26. "Eurico". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
27. "Cavungi". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
28. "Alberto". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
29. "Médios esquerdos" [Left midfielders]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 15 February 2016. Retrieved 23 June 2023.
30. "Chalana". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
31. "José Luís". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
32. "Jorge Silva". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
33. "Diamantino". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
34. "Rui Costa". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 19 January 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
35. "Samuel". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 6 January 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
36. "Fonseca". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
37. "José Carlos". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
38. "Kenedy". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
39. "Paulo Sousa". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
40. "Paulo Madeira". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 28 September 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
41. "Rui Bento". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
42. "Bruno Basto". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
43. "Maniche". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 25 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
44. "Pedro Henriques". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
45. "Edgar". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 29 August 2018. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
46. "Hugo Leal". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 11 October 2012. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
47. "Bruno Aguiar". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 29 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
48. "Sousa". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
49. "João Pereira". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 2 November 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
50. "Diogo Luís". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
51. "Sílvio". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 13 March 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
52. "Manuel Fernandes". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 November 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
53. "Moreira". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 February 2017. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
54. "Miguel Vítor". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 21 May 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
55. "Bernardo Silva". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 22 January 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
56. "Nélson Oliveira". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 27 August 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
57. "Gonçalo Guedes". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
58. "Bruno Varela". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 28 November 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
59. "Renato Sanches". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
60. "João Cancelo". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 25 November 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
61. "João Filipe". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 18 March 2017. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
62. "Diogo Gonçalves". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
63. "Rúben Dias". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
64. "Ederson". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 5 December 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
65. "Gedson". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 22 October 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
66. "Florentino Luís". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 1 January 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
67. "André Gomes". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
68. "Ferro". ForaDeJogo (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 27 October 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
69. "Lindelof". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 13 August 2020. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
70. "Gonçalo Ramos". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 13 May 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
71. "João Félix". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 23 May 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
72. "Nuno Tavares". ForaDeJogo. Archived from the original on 6 May 2021. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
73. "Experience and Benfiquista DNA with an eye to the future!". S.L. Benfica. 6 July 2023. Retrieved 6 July 2023.
74. "Palmarés" [Honours]. S.L. Benfica (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 30 December 2015.
75. "Blue Stars_FIFA Youth Cup, Zürich, Schweiz – Geschichte: Siegerliste" [Zurich, Switzerland – History: List of winners]. youthcup.ch (in German). 2011. Archived from the original on 7 July 2011. Retrieved 8 February 2015.
76. "Blue Stars/FIFA Youth Cup 2017 Statistical Kit" (PDF). FIFA. 3 April 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 28 April 2017. Retrieved 19 November 2017.

External links

• Departamento de Formação (in Portuguese, English, Spanish, and French)
• How Benfica became a global figurehead in player development – These Football Times (2017)