Roger Schmidt already working at Benfica

Roger Schmidt, the new coach of the Sport Lisboa e Benfica's professional football team, arrived in Lisbon this Tuesday morning, May 24, and was driven to Estádio da Luz, his new home, to formalize the signing of a contract valid for two seasons (until 2024).

"I am very happy to be here, to be part of Benfica, to work in this beautiful city and this beautiful country. I really appreciate it and I thank the people of Benfica, President Rui Costa, and his team for trusting that I can be a good coach for Benfica. I will give my best, work hard with my staff and the players to play good football and be successful", said the coach.

"Benfica is a great club, one of the biggest in the world. I love football and those who love football love Benfica. From the first conversations with people from Benfica, it was in my head that this will be a great option for me, I wanted to be part of Benfica. I'm excited to get to work" Roger Schmidt said.

"I know everything about Benfica", revealed the coach, anticipating some ideas for the time to come: "Of course, it's a new season, a new beginning, I want to get my own impressions, so I'm here today and I'm going to work over the next few weeks so we can start on June 27."

"I can promise a lot of work so that we always show a good spirit and mentality on the pitch, show good football", explained Roger Schmidt, completing his point of view: "The fans must feel that the players always gave everything on the pitch to win matches and that they worked hard to win titles."

Already at Estádio da Luz, after meeting some departments of Benfica's SAD, it was at the Cosme Damião Museum that Roger Schmidt signed the document that makes official his connection to the Club for the next two years.

The coach's first day in the Sport Lisboa e Benfica facilities will be marked by several work meetings with Rui Costa and Lourenço Coelho, at the Stadium and at the Benfica Campus.