Clube Futebol Benfica (), commonly known as Futebol Benfica or simply as Fofó (), is a Portuguese sports club based in the Benfica neighborhood of Lisbon. The club was founded on 23 March 1933; however, the origins of the club can be traced back to 1895. Futebol Benfica is mostly known for its men's football, women's football, field hockey and roller hockey teams.
The men's football team competes in the Regional league. Previously it competed in the newly created Campeonato Nacional de Seniores, a competition created in 2013 after the merging of the Segunda Divisão and Terceira Divisão (third and fourth tiers of the Portuguese football league system).
The women's football team plays in the national top league, the Campeonato Nacional. Both teams play at the Estádio Francisco Lázaro, where they have been playing ever since the establishment of the club. The home colours are red and black.
Futebol Benfica is an independent club without any affiliation or connection with the better-known Sport Lisboa e Benfica, a neighboring club of much larger dimensions.
History The existence stretches back to around 1895, as the sports division of a philharmonic society in the parish of Benfica in Lisbon, adopting the name "Foot-Ball de Bemfica" in 1911. It was reorganized as an autonomous club on 23 March 1933. Futebol Benfica has won several national titles, principally in roller hockey and field hockey.
Their pitch is Estádio Francisco Lázaro, on Rua Olivério Serpa, in the parish of Benfica in Lisbon. It is named in honor of the Portuguese athlete, Francisco Lázaro, who died while running in the marathon at the 1912 Summer Olympics in Stockholm.
The club has 3,500 members and approximately 1150 athletes distributed through various sports, including football, women's football, athletics, field hockey, indoor hockey, gymnastics and swimming.
In the 2011–12 season, Futebol Benfica men's football team was promoted to the Segunda Divisão of the Portuguese football after winning the Serie E of the Terceira Divisão, having achieved one of the best results in recent years.
In the 2014–15 season, Futebol Benfica's women's football team won both the Portuguese national women's football league and the Portuguese women's football cup, and went on to also take the first women's supercup. It won both the national championship and cup again in 2015–16.
Season to season
Season Division Section Place Notes 1994–95 Regional AF Lisboa – 1st Division of Honour 1st Promoted 1995–96 3rd Série E 10th 1996–97 3rd Série E 11th 1997–98 3rd Série E 13th 1998–99 3rd Série E 13th 1999–2000 3rd Série E 10th2000–01 3rd Série F12th2001–02 3rd Série E12th2002–03 3rd Série F16thRelegated2003–04 Regional AF Lisboa – 1st Division of Honour3rd2004–05 Regional AF Lisboa – 1st Division of Honour1stPromoted2005–06 3rd Série F15thRelegated2006–07 Regional AF Lisboa – 1st Division of Honour2nd2007–08 Regional AF Lisboa – 1st Division of Honour2ndPromoted2008–09 3rd Série E10thRelegated2009–10 Regional AF Lisboa – 1st Division of Honour8th 2010–11 Regional AF Lisboa – 1st Division of Honour 2nd Promoted 2011–12 3rd Série E 1st Promoted 2012–13 2nd B Zona Sul 13th 2013–14 CN Série G 8th Relegated 2014–15 Regional AF Lisboa – 1st Division of Honour
Notable players Paulo Bento
Honours
Football Terceira Divisão Winner of Serie E: 2011–12 AF Lisboa (Regional Leagues) First Division of Honour (2): 1994–95, 2004–05 First Division: 1986–87 Second Division: 1977–78
Women's football
Portuguese Women's national league Champions (2): 2014–15, 2015–16 Portuguese Women's Football Cup Champions (2): 2014–15, 2015–16. Runners-up: 2010–11, 2013–14 Supertaça de Portugal de Futebol Feminino Champions: 2014–15 Runners-up: 2015–16
Field Hockey Portuguese Field Hockey Championship (8): 1941–42, 1942–43, 1950–51, 1953–54, 1955–56, 1956–57, 1958–59, 1978–79
Roller Hockey Portuguese Roller Hockey First Division (3): 1939–40, 1940–41, 1942–43
References
External links
ForaDeJogo.net profile & squad Women's team at women.soccerway.com