Vieira agrees to collaborate with Mourinho at Benfica, aiming for a single objective
Luís Filipe Vieira Announces Plans for Benfica's Future
Luís Filipe Vieira, former president of Benfica, has declared his candidacy for the club's elections for the 2025-2029 quadrennial. During a dinner with around 300 supporters in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Vieira shared his vision for the club's future.
Vieira, who was Maximum responsible for the Lisbon team between October 2003 and June 2021, expressed his ambition to see Benfica pentachampion of the Portuguese League. He also aims to strengthen the bet on football formation and plans to invest heavily in women's football.
In a bid to support the club's finances, Vieira announced plans to construct a college football for athletes and a hotel with 120 rooms. The college will serve as a training ground for young talents, while the hotel will cater to athletes and families who travel to watch games on weekends.
However, Vieira admitted that the financial situation at Benfica is quite worrying. He mentioned the alleged non-payment of the second installment related to the transfer of player Richard Ríos, an issue Benfica has since denied.
Vieira is critical of Rui Costa's presidency in the last four years and considers Benfica to be "in a swamp", "adrift", with employees who don't know who leads. He stated that the club needs stability and a clear direction, which he believes he can provide.
In terms of the football department, Vieira stated that any candidate would be "very pleased" to work with José Mourinho as coach, an option currently being considered by the club's president, Rui Costa. Vieira's goals for the football department include stabilizing the club's finances, promoting youth development, and enhancing the team's competitive performance.
Vieira also clarified that no candidate for Sport Lisboa e Benfica will question anything regarding the coach selection. He wants to consolidate the project that guided him for more than 17 years of presidency.
Vieira's election opponents include Rui Costa, João Noronha Lopes, João Diogo Manteigas, Christovão Carvalho, and Martim Mayer. The choice of the next president will be made during the social organs elections of Benfica for 2025-2029, with Catarina Monteiro being the current declared candidate.
Luís Filipe Vieira expressed dissatisfaction with the scheduling of the Arouca match on election day. He hopes that the club will consider rescheduling the match to ensure a fair and unbiased election process.
After a week of discussing coaches, Vieira wants to focus on his plans for the club's future. He believes that with the right leadership, Benfica can once again become a dominant force in Portuguese football.
