Stadium building decision
He managed, with dignity, to get the “necessary and sufficient” union to move on.
With previous management experience, Manuel Vilarinho had a mandate of credibility replacement, solving several problems, created by the two previous administrations. The Benfica Futebol SAD (PLC) was reformulated, and it became a club’s possession in its great majority. The decision of building a new stadium was historic, on the 28th of September 2001, which was built in a "record" time period and inaugurated on the 25th of October 2003. Manuel Vilarinho leaved with the supporter’s gratitude, obtaining the "Águia de Ouro" attribution in 2004.
