Champions: the beginning of a new era...

15 years ago, May 22, 2005 marked the end of Benfica's longest drought in the football national league. The 31st title was a reality and with it also arrived the first sign of the beginning of the process of reconstruction of the Club in the Luís Filipe Vieira era.

Elected on October 31, 2003, Luís Filipe Vieira succeeded Manuel Vilarinho and became 33^rd President of the History of Sport Lisboa e Benfica. The 2004/05 season was the first sign start of the change and recovery process – after that title, the Clube won another 6 League titles (among which the unprecedented four league titles in a row), 2 Portuguese Cups, 5 Super Cups and 7 League Cups, and also played two Europa League finals.

End of the drought

It was the last match of the 2004/05 Superliga. Benfica under the Italian Giovanni Trapattoni stepped onto the pitch of Estádio do Bessa aware the title was theirs to lose, a duel fought to the last with FC Porto  – that drew against Académica de Coimbra – and Sporting. 

The final whistle ocurred (1-all draw and Benfica was the National Champion. From the banner held by the red supporters – "Habemus campione" – to the tears of Luís Filipe Vieira, who brought the titles back to the Club. The title was celebrated in all cities, towns and villages, from north to south of the country and abroad.

Benfica finished the season with 65 points, mais três do que o segundo classificado, o FC Porto. It was 34 rounds, with 19 wins, 8 draws, 7 losses and a total of 51 goals scored.

TOP SCORERS IN 2004/05

MATCHES AND MINUTES PLAYED IN 2004/05

Text: Filipa Fernandes Garcia

Photos: SL Benfica / Archive