S.L. Benfica (volleyball)
Portuguese professional volleyball team
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sport Lisboa e Benfica (Portuguese pronunciation: [sɨˈpɔɾ liʒˈβoɐ i βɐ̃jˈfikɐ] ⓘ), commonly known as Benfica, is a professional volleyball team based in Lisbon, Portugal, that plays in the Portuguese First Division.
Os Encarnados (The Reds)
(Capacity: 1,800)
| Full name | Sport Lisboa e Benfica | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nickname | As Águias (The Eagles) Os Encarnados (The Reds) | ||
| Founded | 31 May 1939 | ||
| Ground | Pavilhão da Luz Nº 2 (Capacity: 1,800) | ||
| Manager | Marcel Matz[1] | ||
| League | League A1 | ||
| 2025-26 | Runners-up | ||
| Website | Club home page | ||
| Championships | 12 | ||
| Uniforms | |||
| |||
Founded in 1939, Benfica have won 12 Portuguese league titles, a record 21 Portuguese Cup and a record 12 Portuguese Super Cup. As of October 2025[update], Benfica is ranked 30th in the men's European clubs ranking.[2]
History
Beginning
Founded on 31 May 1939, Benfica is one of the oldest Portuguese volleyball teams.[3] Not having the success and notability of other club sections such as basketball and roller hockey, Benfica's volleyball team won their first title 27 years after being founded.
Road to the first title
From 1965–66 to 1979–80, Benfica played ten Portuguese Cup finals, winning seven.[4] In 1980–81, led by coach Fernando Luís, Benfica finally achieved their first league title, with players such as Luís Quelhas, Manuel Silva, Jorge Infante, José Barros, João Abelho, Pedro Barros, Ilídio Ramos, and already with a young José Jardim appearing in some matches.[5]
Second title and disbandment
In a vibrating match against local rivals Sporting CP, trailing 2–0 at Nave de Alvalade, Benfica, now led by captain José Jardim, alongside teammates Nuno Brites, Luís Quelhas, Nilson Júnior, Eduardo Gallina, Miguel Silva, Márcio Karas, Davidkov, and Radoslav Peytchev, managed to recover the disadvantage and win the match 3–2, claiming their second title.[6][7][8]
In the 1993–94 season, then club president Jorge de Brito decided to disband the volleyball team. The following president, João Vale e Azevedo, restarted it in 1996–97 but in the Third Division. Former player José Jardim led Benfica back to the first tier in 2000 with the help of players such as André Cabacinha, Nuno Brites, António Silva, and captain José Fernandez.[9][10]
Third title
In 2004–05, with coach José Jardim and players such as Brazilians Adriano Lamb, Renato Júnior, André França, Roberto Purificação, André Lukianetz, as well as Portuguese players André Lopes, Carlos Teixeira, António Silva, Rui Guedes, António Seco, José Simões, Bruno Feteira, and Pedro Fiúza, Benfica won the third title for the section, plus their 11th Portuguese Cup.[11][12]
Between championships
The next season, important players, such as Adriano Lamb, Renato Junior and André França, left, and Benfica only managed to win the Portuguese Cup[12][13] and reach the quarter-finals of CEV Top Teams Cup.[14]
In the 2006–07 season, Benfica won their third Portuguese Cup in a row and 12th overall.[15]
Three years later, in 2010–11, Benfica signed Hugo Gaspar and Flávio Cruz, who were later joined by Roberto Reis in 2011–12,[16][17] all players from the Portugal national team.[18] In spite of these investments, the team failed to win the league, coming runners-up to Fonte Bastardo in the first season, and then to Sporting de Espinho in the second one.[19][20] Nevertheless, Benfica managed to win the Portuguese Cup and Super Cup in 2010–11,[21][22] and another Portuguese Cup in 2011–12.[23]
Back-to-back titles
In 2012–13, Portuguese international Flávio Cruz left for Espinho and was replaced by Brazilian Willian Reffati.[24][25] A new setter, Brazilian Rafael "Vinhedo", was also contracted to replace Ronaldo "Royal" and Robert Koch.[26] Benfica started the season by winning their third Super Cup, defeating Espinho 3–0.[27]
On 4 May 2013, Benfica defeated league title holders Espinho 3–2 and conquered their fourth championship, after a seven-year wait and three consecutive second places.[28] After SC Espinho protested at the Portuguese Volleyball Federation on a basis of a technical error, the final match was annulled and scheduled to be replayed on 12 May. Still, Benfica won the replay match 3–1.[28][29] In the following season, on 4 May 2014, Benfica successfully defended their league title by defeating Fonte Bastardo 3–1; consequently, they secured their first back-to-back titles ever.[30]
On 9 May 2015, Benfica won a third consecutive league title for the first time in their history, winning away 3–0 away to Fonte Bastardo in the fifth and final match (3–2).[31] Moreover, Benfica also won the Portuguese Cup and Super Cup, thus winning all domestic competitions. On 3 October 2015, Benfica won a fifth consecutive Super Cup and became the club with most trophies in that competition (6).[32]
Mixed Success
In the following four seasons, Benfica won two league titles (2016–17 and 2018–19) and finished runners-up in the other two (2015–16 and 2017–18). The team also claimed three Portuguese Cups (2015–16, 2017–18, and 2018–19) and three Super Cups (2015–16, 2016–17, and 2018–19).
Dominance under Marcel Matz
After winning the 2018–19 league title, Benfica, under the guidance of coach Marcel Matz, established itself as the dominant force in Portuguese volleyball, securing four consecutive league titles (2020–21, '21–22, '22–23, and '23–24), two Portuguese Cups (2021–22 and 2022–23), and three Super Cups (2019, '20, '21).
In 2024–25, Benfica won both the Portuguese Cup and the Super Cup, but after five consecutive league titles the team lost the championship to Sporting CP, finishing as runners-up for the first time in six years.
Seasons
- As of 4 June 2026
| Season | Pos | Playoffs | Cup[33] | Super Cup[34] | European competitions[35] | Other competitions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| League[36] | Competition | Result | Competition | Result | ||||
| 1938–39 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1939–40 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1940–41 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1941–42 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1942–43 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1943–44 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1944–45 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1945–46 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1946–47 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1947–48 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1948–49 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1949–50 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1950–51 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1951–52 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1952–53 | 1st | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1953–54 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1954–55 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1955–56 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1956–57 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1957–58 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa Taça de Encerramento da AVL |
W W |
| 1958–59 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa Taça de Encerramento da AVL |
W W |
| 1959–60 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa Taça de Encerramento da AVL |
W W |
| 1960–61 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa Taça de Encerramento da AVL |
W W |
| 1961–62 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1962–63 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Taça de Encerramento da AVL | W |
| 1963–64 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1964–65 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1965–66 | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1966–67 | — | — | RU | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1967–68 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Taça de Abertura da AVL | W |
| 1968–69 | — | — | RU | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1969–70 | — | — | RU | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1970–71 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa | W |
| 1971–72 | — | — | RU | — | — | — | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa | W |
| 1972–73 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa | W |
| 1973–74 | — | — | W | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1974–75 | — | — | W | — | Cup Winner's Cup | 1R | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa | W |
| 1975–76 | — | — | W | — | — | — | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa | W |
| 1976–77 | — | — | — | — | Cup Winner's Cup | 1R | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa | W |
| 1977–78 | — | — | W | — | — | — | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa | W |
| 1978–79 | — | — | W | — | — | — | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa | W |
| 1979–80 | — | — | W | — | — | — | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa | W |
| 1980–81 | 1st | — | — | — | — | — | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa | W |
| 1981–82 | — | — | — | — | European Cup | PR | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa | W |
| 1982–83 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Taça de Encerramento da AVL | W |
| 1983–84 | — | — | SF | — | — | — | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa | W |
| 1984–85 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa | W |
| 1985–86 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1986–87 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1987–88 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Taça de Abertura da AVL | W |
| 1988–89 | — | — | — | — | Cup Winner's Cup | 1R | — | — |
| 1989–90 | — | — | W | W | — | — | Taça da Federação | W |
| 1990–91 | W | — | 1R | RU | Cup Winner's Cup | GS | — | — |
| 1991–92 | — | — | W | RU | European Cup | R16 | — | — |
| 1992–93 | — | — | RU | — | Cup Winner's Cup | R16 | Taça de Honra da AVL | W |
| 1993–94 | — | — | — | — | Challenge Cup | 1R | — | — |
| 1994–95 | ||||||||
| 1995–96 | ||||||||
| 1996–97 | ||||||||
| 1997–98 | 1st | — | 1R | — | — | — | Campeonato Regional de Lisboa Taça de Honra da AVL |
W W |
| 1998–99 | — | — | QF | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1999–00 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Taça de Honra da AVL | W |
| 2000–01 | — | — | — | — | — | — | Taça de Honra da AVL | W |
| 2001–02 | 7th | — | QF | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2002–03 | 5th | — | R16 | — | — | — | Taça de Honra da AVL | W |
| 2003–04 | 7th | — | R16 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2004–05 | 1st | — | W | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2005–06 | 4th | — | W | — | CEV Top Teams Cup | QF | Taça de Honra da AVL | W |
| 2006–07 | 4th | — | W | — | — | — | Taça de Honra da AVL | W |
| 2007–08 | 4th | — | 1R | — | — | — | Taça de Honra da AVL | W |
| 2008–09 | 3rd | — | SF | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2009–10 | 2nd | RU | RU | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2010–11 | 1st | RU | W | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2011–12 | 2nd | RU | W | W | — | — | — | — |
| 2012–13 | 1st | W | R16 | W | — | — | — | — |
| 2013–14 | 1st | W | SF | W | — | — | Taça de Honra da AVL | W |
| 2014–15 | 2nd | W | W | W | CEV Challenge Cup | RU | Taça AVL | W |
| 2015–16 | 1st | RU | W | W | CEV Challenge Cup | SF | — | — |
| 2016–17 | 1st | W | RU | W | CEV Challenge Cup | R16 | — | — |
| 2017–18 | 2nd | RU | W | RU | CEV Challenge Cup | QF | — | — |
| 2018–19 | 1st | W | W | W | CEV Challenge Cup | R16 | — | — |
| 2019–20 | 1st | N/A | N/A | W | CEV Champions League | GS | — | — |
| 2020–21 | 1st | W | RU | W | CEV Challenge Cup | R16 | — | — |
| 2021–22 | 1st | W | W | W | CEV Champions League | GS | — | — |
| 2022–23 | 1st | W | W | RU | CEV Champions League | GS | — | — |
| 2023–24 | 1st | W | SF | W | CEV Champions League | GS | Iberian Cup | RU |
| 2024–25 | 1st | RU | W | W | 1R R16 |
Iberian Cup | RU | |
| 2025–26 | 2nd | RU | RU | RU | CEV Challenge Cup | Round of 16 | — | — |
International competition results
Note: Benfica score is always listed first.
| Season | Competition | Round | Opposition | Score | Aggregate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1974–75 | Cup Winner's Cup | Qualification round | 1–3 (H) 1–3 (A) |
2–6 | |
| 1976–77 | Cup Winner's Cup | Qualification round | 3–2 (H) 1–3 (A) |
4–5 | |
| 1981–82 | CEV Champions Cup | Qualification round | 0–3 (H) 0–3 (A) |
0–6 | |
| 1988–89 | Cup Winner's Cup | Qualification round | 0–3 (H) 1–3 (A) |
1–6 | |
| 1990–91 | CEV Cup Winners' Cup | Group Stage | 1–3 (H) | — | |
| 1–3 (H) | — | ||||
| 3–0 (A) | — | ||||
| 3–0 (A) | — | ||||
| 1–3 (H) | — | ||||
| 3–0 (A) | — | ||||
| 1991–92 | CEV Champions Cup | First qualification round | 1–3 (A) 3–0 (H) |
4–3 | |
| Second qualification round | 1–3 (A) 3–2 (H) |
4–5 | |||
| 1992–93 | CEV Cup Winners' Cup | R16 | 3–2 (H) 0–3 (A) |
3–5 | |
| 1993–94[37] | CEV Cup Winners' Cup | First qualification round | 2–3 (H) 0–3 (A) |
2–6 | |
| 2005–06 | CEV Top Teams Cup | Group C | 2–3 (H) 1–3 (A) |
— | |
| 3–1 (H) 3–2 (A) |
— | ||||
| 0–3 (A) 3–0 (H) |
— | ||||
| Quarter-final | 0–3 (A) 1–3 (H) |
1–6 | |||
| 2014–15 | CEV Challenge Cup | Round of 32 | 3–1 (A) 3–1 (H) |
— | |
| Round of 16 | 3–2 (H) 3–0 (A) |
6–2 | |||
| Quarter-final | 3–0 (H) 3–2 (A) |
6–2 | |||
| Semi-final | 3–0 (H) 2–3 (A) |
5–3 | |||
| Final | 1–3 (A) 3–2 (H) |
4–5 | |||
| 2015–16 | CEV Challenge Cup | Second qualification round[38] | 3–0 (A) 3–1 (H) |
6–1 | |
| Round of 32[39] | 3–1 (H) 2–3 (A) |
5–4 | |||
| Round of 16[40] | 1–3 (A) 3–0 (H) |
4–3 | |||
| Quarter-final[41][42] | 3–1 (H) 3–2 (A) |
6–3 | |||
| Semi-final[43] | 3–2 (A) 1–3 (H) |
4–5 | |||
| 2016–17 | CEV Challenge Cup | Round of 32 | 3–2 (H) 3–2 (A) |
6–4 | |
| Round of 16 | 0–3 (H) 3–2 (A) |
3–5 | |||
| 2017–18 | CEV Challenge Cup | Second qualification round | 3–1 (H) 3–2 (A) |
6–3 | |
| Round of 32 | 3–0 (H) 3–0 (A) |
6–0 | |||
| Round of 16 | 3–2 (A) 3–1 (H) |
6–3 | |||
| Quarter-final | 1–3 (A) 2–3 (H) |
3–6 | |||
| 2018–19 | CEV Challenge Cup | Second qualification round | 3–0 (H) 3–0 (A) |
6–0 | |
| Round of 32 | 3–0 (H) 3–0 (A) |
6–0 | |||
| Round of 16 | 3–0 (H) 3–1 (A) |
6–1 | |||
| Quarter-final | 0–3 (A) 3–1 (H) |
3–4 | |||
| 2019–20 | CEV Champions League | First qualification round | 3–0 (A) 3–0 (H) |
6–0 | |
| Second qualification round | 3–0 (H) 3–1 (A) |
6–1 | |||
| Third qualification round | 3–0 (H) 3–1 (A) |
6–1 | |||
| Group Stage | 1–3 (A) | — | |||
| 3–1 (H) | — | ||||
| 1–3 (H) | — | ||||
| 1–3 (A) | |||||
| 1–3 (H) | — | ||||
| 1–3 (A) | — | ||||
| 2020–21 | CEV Challenge Cup | R32 | 3–0 (A) 3–0 (H) |
6–1 | |
| R16 | 1–3 (A) | 1–3 | |||
| 2021–22 | CEV Champions League | First qualification round | 1–3 (A) 3–1 (H) |
4–4 | |
| Second qualification round | 3–0 (H) 3–1 (A) |
6–1 | |||
| Third qualification round | 2–3 (H) 3–1 (A) |
5–4 | |||
| Group Stage | 0–3 (A) | — | |||
| 1–3 (H) | — | ||||
| 0–3 (A) | — | ||||
| 0–3 (H) | — | ||||
| 1–3 (A) | — | ||||
| 3–2 (H) | — | ||||
| 2022–23 | CEV Champions League | Second qualification round | 3–1 (A) 3–0 (H) |
6–1 | |
| Third qualification round | 1–3 (A) 3–1 (H) |
4–4 | |||
| Group Stage | 3–2 (A) | — | |||
| 2–3 (H) | — | ||||
| 0–3 (A) | — | ||||
| 0–3 (H) | — | ||||
| 0–3 (A) | — | ||||
| 1–3 (H) | — | ||||
| 2023–24 | Iberian Cup | Semi-Final | 3–0 (N) | 3–0 | |
| Final | 1–3 (N) | 1–3 | |||
| CEV Champions League | Group Stage | 0–3 (A) | — | ||
| 1–3 (H) | — | ||||
| 0–3 (A) | — | ||||
| 0–3 (A) | — | ||||
| 1–3 (H) | — | ||||
| 2–3 (H) | — | ||||
| 2024–25 | Iberian Cup | Semi-Final | 3–0 (N) | 3–0 | |
| Final | 1–3 (N) | 1–3 | |||
| CEV Champions League | 1R | 1–3 (A) 3–2 (H) |
4–5 | ||
| CEV Cup | 1R | 3–0 (A) 2–3 (H) |
5–3 | ||
| 2R | 3–0 (A) 3–0 (H) |
6–0 | |||
| R16 | 0–3 (H) 3–2 (A) |
2–5 | |||
| 2025–26 | CEV Challenge Cup | 1R | 3–0 (A) 3–0 (H) |
6–0 | |
| R32 | 1–3 (A) 4–1 (H) |
5–4 | |||
| R16 | 3–2 (H) 2–4 (A) |
4–5 | |||
Players
Men's Current squad
- As of 10 October 2025[44]
| No. | Nationality | Player | Birthdate | Height | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Bernardo Silva | 27 September 1996 | 182 | Libero | |
| 3 | Vasco Lopes | 4 December 2008 | 195 | Outside hitter | |
| 4 | Peter Wohlfahrtstätter | 10 March 1989 | 204 | Middle blocker | |
| 5 | Francisco Pombeiro | 14 June 1996 | 189 | Setter | |
| 7 | Ivo Casas | 21 September 1992 | 180 | Libero | |
| 9 | Nivaldo Gómez | 24 March 1994 | 200 | Outside hitter | |
| 10 | Pablo Natan | 28 December 1998 | 195 | Outside hitter | |
| 11 | Murad Khan | 2 March 2000 | 205 | Opposite hitter | |
| 13 | Felipe Banderó | 12 June 1986 | 204 | Opposite hitter | |
| 14 | Lucas França | 25 November 1996 | 209 | Middle blocker | |
| 15 | Kelvi Giovani | 15 June 2001 | 204 | Middle blocker | |
| 16 | Tomás Teixeira | 16 June 2006 | 192 | Outside hitter | |
| 17 | Tiago Violas | 27 March 1989 | 192 | Setter | |
| 18 | Japa | 21 December 1990 | 195 | Outside hitter | |
| 20 | Diogo Fevereiro | 15 July 2005 | 181 | Setter | |
| 33 | Valerii Todua | 30 July 1992 | 208 | Middle Blocker |
Women's current squad
| No. | Nationality | Player | Birthdate | Height | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 | Mayara Barcelos | 26 April 2001 | 181 | Outside hitter | |
| 5 | Mariana Garcez | 24 October 2005 | 186 | Setter | |
| 7 | Cansu Çetin | 26 May 1993 | 183 | Outside hitter | |
| 8 | Marta Aleixo | 24 August 2007 | 173 | Libero | |
| 9 | Alice Clemente | 6 January 2003 | 185 | Outside hitter | |
| 10 | Emilia Balagué | 8 December 2004 | 181 | Setter | |
| 11 | Tatiana Rizzo | 30 December 1986 | 178 | Libero | |
| 13 | Veronika Djokić | 27 August 2001 | 188 | Middle blocker | |
| 14 | Isidora Ubavić | 6 October 1999 | 185 | Opposite hitter | |
| 15 | Joana Garcez | 24 October 2005 | 185 | Middle blocker | |
| 17 | Matilde Ferreira | 28 February 2006 | 183 | Opposite hitter | |
| 18 | Claudia Dillon | 17 October 2000 | 190 | Middle blocker | |
| 20 | Kyra Holt | 25 May 1995 | 152 | Outside hitter | |
| 24 | Anna Dixon | 21 August 2000 | 191 | Opposite hitter |
Honours
According to Benfica's official website[47]
Men's
| Type | Competition | Titles | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | Portuguese Championship[48] | 12 | 1980–81, 1990–91, 2004–05, 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2016–17, 2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2023–24 |
| Portuguese Cup[49] | 21 | 1965–66, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80, 1989–90, 1991–92, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2021–22, 2022–23, 2024–25 | |
| Portuguese Super Cup[50] | 12 | 1990, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023 | |
- record
- s shared record
Women's
| Type | Competition | Titles | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic | Portuguese League[51] | 10 | 1966–67, 1967–68, 1968–69, 1969–70, 1970–71, 1971–72, 1972–73, 1973–74, 1974–75, 2024–25 |
| Portuguese Cup[52] | 3 | 1972–73, 1973–74, 2023–24 | |
| Super Cup[53] | 2 | 2024, 2025 | |
- record
- s shared record