The 1963–64 season was Sport Lisboa e Benfica's 60th season in existence and the club's 30th consecutive season in the top flight of Portuguese football, covering the period from 1 August 1963 to 31 July 1964. Domestically, Benfica competed in the Primeira Divisão and Taça de Portugal, while internationally participated in the European Cup.
| 1963–64 season | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| President | António Fezas Vital (until 26 March 1964) Adolfo Vieira de Brito.[1] | ||
| Head coach | Lajos Czeizler | ||
| Stadium | Estádio da Luz | ||
| Primeira Divisão | Winners | ||
| Taça de Portugal | Winners | ||
| Taça de Ouro da Imprensa | Winners | ||
| European Cup | Second round | ||
| Ramón de Carranza Trophy | Winners[2] | ||
| Top goalscorer | League: Eusébio (28) All: Eusébio (46) | ||
| Biggest win | Benfica 10–0 Seixal (2 February 1964) | ||
| Biggest defeat | Dortmund 5-0 Benfica (4 December 1963) | ||
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In Lajos Czeizler’s first season as manager, the squad underwent several changes: new signings included Luciano, Serafim and Iaúca, while Manuel Serra, António Saraiva, António Mendes and former captain José Águas departed. The league title race remained closely contested, but Benfica led the table for most of the campaign and ultimately secured their 13th championship. In the Taça de Portugal, they advanced to the final and defeated Porto to claim the trophy, while in the Taça de Ouro da Imprensa they beat Sporting, winning all three domestic competitions. In the European Cup, however, Benfica were eliminated in the second round by Borussia Dortmund 6–2 on aggregate, following a heavy 5–0 defeat in the second leg, marking their first absence from the final in three years.
Season summary
editDespite winning the league title and reaching the European Cup final, the board of directors opted to part ways with Fernando Riera,[3] appointing Lajos Czeizler as the new manager.[4] Perceiving the rise of Italian dominance in Europe (between 1963 and 1965), Benfica hired Czeizler from Fiorentina. Known for an attacking philosophy similar to Béla Guttmann’s, his side went on to score nearly twice as many goals as the league's runners-up.[5] Seeking to strengthen the squad's physical capabilities, the club signed Luciano, Iaúca and Serafim, while António Saraiva, António Mendes, Manuel Serra and former captain José Águas all departed.
Pre-season began on 31 August with participation in the Ramón de Carranza Trophy. In the semi-finals, Benfica defeated Barcelona, winners of the 1958 and 1960 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup, by 3–2.[6] The following day, they won the final against Fiorentina, champions of the 1961 Cup Winners' Cup, with a 7–3 victory after extra time,[6] in which Torres scored a hat-trick, Iaúca added two goals, and Serafim and Eusébio one each.
Benfica then played two fixtures of the José Águas tribute tour, defeating Porto 3–2 and Alhandra 6–0. Two further matches in the same tour were held later in November: a 1–0 loss to Stoke City and a 5–3 defeat to Sunderland. Still in September, a 1–0 victory over Belenenses sent Benfica to the final of the Taça de Honra, where they lost 3–0 to Sporting.
The official season opened on 22 September with a 12–1 aggregate win over Luso in the first round of the Taça de Portugal. In the European Cup preliminary round, Benfica drew 3–3 away against Distillery[7] before winning 5–0 at home.[8]
October brought a 17–1 aggregate win over SC Vianense in the Taça de Portugal and successive league wins over Seixal, Académica and Barreirense. Benfica closed November with a 2–2 home draw against Porto,[9] finishing the month level on points with Belenenses at the top of the table. In the European Cup, they defeated Borussia Dortmund 2–1 at home,[10] a match in which they created many opportunities but struggled with finishing, but suffered a heavy 5–0[11][12] defeat in Germany, leading to their earliest European Cup exit in three years.
In December, Benfica recorded two league wins and a draw, but lost 3–1 away to Sporting,[13] concluding the calendar year in first place with a two-point lead. The team responded strongly in January with four consecutive victories, scoring 19 goals and conceding only three, extending their advantage to four points[14]
In February Benfica continued their strong form with wins over Seixal, Académica and Barreirense, along with an away draw against Porto. Over the month's fixtures they scored 24 goals, extending their lead at the top of the table to five points.[15] In March victories over Belenenses, Vitória de Guimarães, and Lusitano de Évora consolidated their advantage, despite a 2–2 home draw with Sporting.[16] In the same month, Benfica (1962-63 league champions) faced Sporting (1962-63 Taça de Portugal winners) in the Taça de Ouro da Imprensa, claiming a 3kg gold trophhy after a 5–0 win.[17]
Benfica opened April with a home win over CUF, securing their 13th league title with two matches left to play.[18] They closed the campaign with two further wins, finishing six points clear of Porto. Before returning to the Taça de Portugal, the team faced Torino in the final match of the José Águas tribute tour, winning 4–1. In the Taça de Portugal, Benfica defeated Salgueiros (4–1 on aggregate), Lusitano de Évora (11–2 on aggregate), and Belenenses (6–1 on aggregate), to reach the final. On 5 July, Benfica defeated Porto 6–2 at the Estádio Nacional to lift the trophy, securing the domestic double (dobradinha), and winning all domestic competitions[19]
Competitions
editWin Draw Loss Postponed
Overall record
edit| Competition | First match | Last match | Record | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | Source | |||
| Primeira Divisão | 20 October 1963 | 19 April 1964 | 26 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 103 | 26 | +77 | 80.77 | [20] |
| Taça de Portugal | 22 September 1963 | 5 July 1964 | 11 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 56 | 9 | +47 | 90.91 | [21] |
| Taça de Ouro | 29 March 1964 | 29 March 1964 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | +5 | 100.00 | [22] |
| European Cup | 25 September 1963 | 4 December 1963 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 | 9 | +1 | 50.00 | [23] |
| Total | 42 | 34 | 6 | 2 | 174 | 44 | +130 | 80.95 | |||
Primeira Divisão
editLeague table
edit| Pos | Team | Pld | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Pts | Qualification or relegation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Benfica (C) | 26 | 21 | 4 | 1 | 103 | 26 | +77 | 46 | Qualification to European Cup preliminary round |
| 2 | Porto | 26 | 16 | 8 | 2 | 51 | 20 | +31 | 40 | Qualification to Cup Winners' Cup first round |
| 3 | Sporting CP | 26 | 13 | 8 | 5 | 49 | 26 | +23 | 34 | |
| 4 | Vitória de Guimarães | 26 | 16 | 2 | 8 | 62 | 42 | +20 | 34 | |
| 5 | CUF Barreiro | 26 | 12 | 6 | 8 | 46 | 33 | +13 | 30 |
Results by round
editMatches
edit| 20 October 1963 1 | Benfica | 5–2 | Vitória de Setubal | Lisbon |
| Santana Serafim Simões Iaúca |
[citation needed] | Carlos Manuel José Maria |
Stadium: Estádio da Luz Referee: Braga Barros |
| 27 October 1963 2 | Olhanense | 0–3 | Benfica | Olhão |
| [citation needed] | Serafim Iaúca Santana |
Stadium: Estádio Padinha Referee: Virgilio Baptista |
| 3 November 1963 3 | Seixal | 2–3 | Benfica | Seixal |
| Necas Carvalho |
[citation needed] | Serafim Iaúca |
Stadium: Estádio do Bravo Referee: Pinto Coelho |
| 10 November 1963 4 | Benfica | 3–0 | Académica | Lisbon |
| Augusto Santana Coluna |
[citation needed] | Stadium: Estádio da Luz Referee: Clemente Henriques |
| 17 November 1963 5 | Barreirense | 2–4 | Benfica | Barreiro |
| Costa Ludovico |
[citation needed] | Simões Iaúca Santana |
Stadium: Estádio D. Manuel de Mello Referee: Rosa Nunes |
| 24 November 1963 6 | Benfica | 2–2 | Porto | Lisbon |
| Santana |
[citation needed] | Carlos Duarte Jaime |
Stadium: Estádio da Luz Referee: Marcos Lobato |
| 1 December 1963 7 | Belenenses | 1–1 | Benfica | Belém |
| Fernando Peres |
[citation needed] | Augusto |
Stadium: Estádio do Restelo Referee: Eduardo Gouveia |
| 8 December 1963 8 | Benfica | 2–1 | Vitória de Guimarães | Lisbon |
| Eusébio Serafim |
[citation needed] | Peres |
Stadium: Estádio da Luz Referee: Encarnação Salgado |
| 15 December 1963 9 | Sporting | 3–1 | Benfica | Lisbon |
| Figueiredo Morais |
[citation needed] | Eusébio |
Stadium: Estádio da Luz Referee: Décio de Freitas |
| 22 December 1963 10 | Benfica | 2–0 | Lusitano de Évora | Lisbon |
| Iaúca Pedras |
[citation needed] | Stadium: Estádio da Luz |
| 29 December 1963 11 | CUF | 0–3 | Benfica | Lisbon |
| [citation needed] | Eusébio Serafim |
Stadium: Estádio da Luz Referee: Manuel Fortunato |
| 5 January 1964 12 | Benfica | 7–0 | Leixões | Lisbon |
| Torres Iaúca Eusébio |
[citation needed] | Stadium: Estádio da Luz |
| 12 January 1964 13 | Varzim | 0–2 | Benfica | Varzim |
| [citation needed] | Torres |
| 19 January 1964 14 | Vitória de Setubal | 2–4 | Benfica | Setúbal |
| Quim Silva José Maria |
[citation needed] | Eusébio Torres |
Stadium: Estádio do Bonfim |
| 26 January 1964 15 | Benfica | 8–1 | Olhanense | Lisbon |
| José Neto Iaúca Augusto Torres Coluna Eusébio |
[citation needed] | Henrique Reina |
Stadium: Estádio da Luz |
| 2 February 1964 16 | Benfica | 10–0 | Seixal | Lisbon |
| Torres Eusébio Iaúca |
[citation needed] | Stadium: Estádio da Luz |
| 9 February 1964 17 | Académica | 1–5 | Benfica | Coimbra |
| Oliveira Duarte |
[citation needed] | José Torres Iaúca Eusébio |
| 16 February 1964 18 | Benfica | 8–0 | Barreirense | Lisbon |
| Eusébio Augusto Iaúca José Neto Torres Coluna |
[citation needed] | Stadium: Estádio da Luz |
| 23 February 1964 19 | Porto | 1–1 | Benfica | Porto |
| Joaquim Jorge |
[citation needed] | Augusto |
Stadium: Estádio das Antas Referee: Porfírio Silva |
| 1 March 1964 20 | Benfica | 5–2 | Belenenses | Lisbon |
| Torres Augusto Silva Eusébio Augusto |
[citation needed] | Fernando Peres |
Stadium: Estádio da Luz |
| 8 March 1964 21 | Vitória de Guimarães | 1–4 | Benfica | Guimarães |
| Rodrigo |
[citation needed] | Torres Simões Eusébio |
Stadium: Estádio Dom Afonso Henriques |
| 15 March 1964 22 | Benfica | 2–2 | Sporting | Lisbon |
| Augusto Eusébio |
[citation needed] | Figueiredo Osvaldo Silva |
Stadium: Estádio da Luz Referee: Aníbal Oliveira |
| 22 March 1964 23 | Lusitano de Évora | 1–3 | Benfica | Évora |
| Torres Augusto Silva Santana |
[citation needed] | Torres Eusébio |
| 5 April 1964 24 | Benfica | 2–1 | CUF | Lisbon |
| Eusébio |
[citation needed] | Emídio Uria |
Stadium: Estádio da Luz |
| 12 April 1964 25 | Leixões | 1–5 | Benfica | Porto |
| Esteves |
[citation needed] | Torres Eusébio Augusto |
Stadium: Campo de Santana Referee: Diogo Manso |
| 19 April 1964 26 | Benfica | 8–0 | Varzim | Lisbon |
| José Torres Augusto Augusto Silva Simões Pedras José Neto |
[citation needed] | Stadium: Estádio da Luz |
Taça de Portugal
editFirst round
edit| 22 September 1963 First leg | Luso F.C. | 0–6 | Benfica | Barreiro |
| [citation needed] | Coluna Eusébio Augusto Silva Augusto |
Stadium: Campo da Quinta Pequena Referee: Vaz Valente |
| 30 September 1963 Second leg | Benfica | 6–1 (12–1 agg.) | Luso F.C. | Lisbon |
| Serafim Eusébio Augusto |
[citation needed] | Stadium: Estádio da Luz |
Second round
edit| 6 October 1963 First leg | Vianense | 1–8 | Benfica | Viana do Castelo |
| [citation needed] | Eusébio Augusto Serafim Iaúca |
Stadium: Estádio Dr. José de Matos Referee: Pedro Santos |
| 13 October 1963 Second leg | Benfica | 9–0 (17–1 agg.) | Vianense | Lisbon |
| Augusto Serafim Iaúca Santana |
[citation needed] | Stadium: Estádio da Luz Referee: Fernando Velez |
Third Round
edit| 26 April 1964 First leg | Salgueiros | 1–1 | Benfica | Porto |
| [citation needed] | Torres |
Stadium: Estádio Engenheiro Vidal Pinheiro Referee: Edmundo Carvalho |
| 10 May 1964 Second leg | Benfica | 3–1 (4–2 agg.) | Salgueiros | Lisbon |
| Eusébio Jorge Calado Augusto Silva |
[citation needed] | Stadium: Estádio da Luz Referee: Virgílio Baptista |
Quarter-finals
edit| 24 May 1964 First leg | Lusitano de Évora | 1–8 | Benfica | Évora |
| José Pedro |
[citation needed] | Augusto Silva Torres Eusébio Simões Coluna |
Stadium: Campo Estrela Referee: Marcos Lobato |
| 13 June 1964 Second leg | Benfica | 3–1 (11–2 agg.) | Lusitano de Évora | Lisbon |
| Torres Pedras Manuel Serafim |
[citation needed] | Stadium: Estádio da Luz Referee: Encarnação Salgado |
Semi-finals
edit| 22 June 1964 First leg | Benfica | 3–1 | Belenenses | Lisbon |
| 21:45 | Augusto Torres |
[citation needed] | Stadium: Estádio da Luz Referee: Hermínio Soares |
| 28 June 1964 Second leg | Belenenses | 0–3 (1–6 agg.) | Benfica | Belém |
| [citation needed] | Raúl Machado Serafim Augusto |
Stadium: Estádio do Restelo Referee: Marcos Lobato |
Final
editTaça de Ouro da Imprensa
edit| 29 March 1964 Final | S.L. Benfica | 5–0 | Sporting | Belém |
| Eusébio Torres |
Report | Stadium: Estádio do Restelo |
European Cup
editPreliminary round
edit| 25 September 1963 First leg | Distillery | 3–3 | | Belfast |
| Jack Kennedy Kenneth Hamilton Frederick Ellison |
Report | Manuel Serafim Eusébio |
Stadium: Windsor Park Attendance: 19,326 Referee: Joseph Hannet (Belgium) |
| 2 October 1963 Second leg | Benfica | 5–0 (8–3 agg.) | Distillery | Lisbon |
| Eusébio Simões Yaúca Serafim |
Report | Stadium: Estádio da Luz Attendance: 31,131 Referee: Hubert Burguet (Belgium) |
First Round
edit| 6 November 1963 First leg | Benfica | 2–1 | | Lisbon |
| Simões Eusébio |
Report | Wosab |
Stadium: Estádio da Luz Attendance: 41,252 Referee: Pierre Schwinte (FRA) |
Non-official matches
editRamón de Carranza Trophy
editSource:[25]
| 31 August 1963 Semi-Final | Benfica | 3–2 | Barcelona | Cádiz |
| Serafim Iaúca |
[citation needed] | Ré Zaldua |
Stadium: Estadio Ramón de Carranza |
| 1 September 1963 Final | Benfica | 7–3 | Fiorentina | Cádiz |
| Serafim Eusébio Torres Iaúca |
[citation needed] | Hamrim Lojacono |
Stadium: Estadio Ramón de Carranza Referee: José Ortiz de Mendíbil |
Friendlies
edit| 5 September 1963 | Benfica | 3–2 | Porto | Lisbon |
| Serafim Torres |
Stadium: Estádio da Luz |
| 7 September 1963 Taça de Honra[26] Semi-Finals | Benfica | 1–0 | Belenenses | Estádio do Restelo |
| Torres |
[citation needed] | Stadium: Belém |
| 11 September 1963 Taça de Honra[26] Final | Sporting | 3–0 | Benfica | Estádio do Restelo |
| Mascarenhas Bé |
[citation needed] | Stadium: Belém |
| 12 November 1963 | Stoke City | 1–0 | Benfica | Stoke-on-Trent |
| Stadium: Victoria Ground |
| 14 November 1963 | Sunderland | 5–3 | Benfica | Lisbon |
| Eusébio Simões |
Stadium: Estádio da Luz |
| 1 January 1964 | Leixões | 0–4 | Benfica | Matosinhos |
| Torres Iaúca Arcanjo Luciano |
Stadium: Estádio do Mar |
| 6 May 1964 | Torino F.C. | 1–4 | Benfica | Turin |
| Eusébio Torres |
Stadium: Stadio Olimpico Grande Torino |
| 16 June 1964 Florence Tournament Semi-Finals | Benfica | 0–1 | Zenit | Florence |
| Stadium: Stadio Artemio Franchi |
| 20 June 1964 Florence Tournament Third Place Game | Fiorentina | 1–4 | Benfica | Florence |
| Augusto Torres |
Stadium: Stadio Artemio Franchi |
Player statistics
editThe squad for the season consisted of the players listed in the tables below, as well as staff member Fernando Riera (manager), Fernando Cabrita (assistant manager).
Note 1: Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note 2: Players with squad numbers marked ‡ joined the club during the 1963–64 season via transfer, with more details in the following section.
| No. | Pos | Nat | Player | Total | Primeira Divisão | Taça de Portugal | Taça de Ouro | European Cup | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||
| 1 | GK | Costa Pereira | 40 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1 | GK | Zé Rita | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| DF | Augusto Silva | 13 | 5 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Jacinto | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| DF | Luciano | 27 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| DF | Ângelo Martins | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2 | DF | Domiciano Cavém | 39 | 0 | 26 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 3 | DF | Fernando Cruz | 34 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | |
| 3 | DF | Humberto Fernandes | 10 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 3 | DF | Germano | 14 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 4 | DF | Raul Machado | 18 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| MF | Jorge Calado | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| MF | Pedras | 4 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| 5 | MF | José Neto | 23 | 3 | 18 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | MF | Mário Coluna | 34 | 5 | 22 | 3 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 7 | FW | José Augusto | 37 | 25 | 25 | 11 | 8 | 14 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 8 | FW | Santana | 12 | 8 | 8 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 9 | FW | José Torres | 23 | 30 | 15 | 22 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | |
| 9 | FW | Iaúca | 24 | 20 | 18 | 15 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| 10 | FW | Eusébio | 29 | 49 | 19 | 28 | 6 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 4 | |
| 11 | FW | António Simões | 39 | 9 | 25 | 5 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 2 | |
| 11 | FW | Serafim | 24 | 14 | 12 | 5 | 8 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 3 | |
References
edit- ↑ "Adolfo Vieira de Brito". SL Benfica. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ Invitational international tournament.
- ↑ "Fernando Riera. Nunca ninguém poupou o cavalheiro de Santiago…". Sapo.pt. 20 July 2022. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "100 anos: Lajos Czeizler". Record. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "O Benfica é campeão nacional". Diário de Lisboa. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- 1 2 "Trofeo Ramón de Carranza 1963". RSSSF. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "Distillery 3-3 Benfica". UEFA. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "Benfica 5-0 Distillery". UEFA. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "Benfica 2-2 Porto". Diário de Lisboa. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "A história estremeceu..." Diário de Lisboa, page 12. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "Dortmund 5-0 Benfica". UEFA. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "Dortmund 5-0 Benfica". Diário de Lisboa, page 13. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "Sporting 3-1 Benfica". Diário de Lisboa, page 1. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "terminou a 1.ª volta". Diário de Lisboa, page 1. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "Benfica empatou no Estádio das Antas". Diário de Lisboa, page 4. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "O Benfica <<tropeçou>> hoje ao empatar com o Sporting (2-2)". Diário de Lisboa, page 1. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "Benfica - Sporting, Taça de Ouro da Imprensa". RTP. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "O Benfica já tem assegurada a revalidação do título de campeão nacional de futebol". Diário de Lisboa. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "Benfica vencedor (6-2= da Taça de Portugal". Diário de Lisboa, page 17. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "Primeira Divsão 1963-64". RSSSF. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "Taça de Portugal 1963-64". RSSSF. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "Taça de Ouro 1963-64". RTP. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "UEFA European Cup 1963-64". UEFA. Retrieved 2025-09-14.
- ↑ "Portugal 1963-64 - RSSSF (Jorge Miguel Teixeira)". RSSSF. 2001. Retrieved 2012-04-24.
- ↑ Invitational international tournament.
- 1 2 Official AFL tournament.