Rui Costa’s significant victory in the second round of the Sport Lisboa e Benfica elections represents a moment of renewal and reaffirmation of confidence on the part of the members. More than an electoral act, this result symbolizes the desire for continuity combined with the demand for transformation. After a campaign marked by an intense, sometimes harsh debate, and clashes of ideas with determined opponents, Rui Costa is more than reinforced, but also loaded with responsibilities proportional to the size of the club he leads and the result he obtained.
Benfica’s members now expect firm leadership, capable of uniting the club around clear objectives and a modern vision of sports management. The trust placed in the current management demands concrete results — both on a sporting and institutional level. Benfica is, by nature, a club that lives on the ambition of winning and asserting itself among the best, and it is to this extent that continuity in the Champions League plays a decisive role. Presence in Europe’s premier club competition is not just a financial issue; It is an imperative of prestige and international affirmation. The eventual absence of this sporting showcase would be understood by fans and associates as a setback that is difficult to justify, especially at a time when the investment and quality of the squad create legitimate expectations. Rui Costa knew how to defend himself against accusations and explained the criticisms directed at him with objective data. It was a good strategy, especially at the end of the campaign, if we take into account João Noronha Lopes’ successive accusations. He accused too much and said little specifically about the future. In the opposite direction, Rui Costa “gave his chest to the bullets” and spoke to his partners. He was humble when he had to be (he apologized for the poor tone in which the two candidates toasted those who saw and heard them in the final debate) and always tried to be empathetic. The proximity to voters was an asset that Rui Costa definitely used best. The electoral struggle was a healthy reflection of the club’s democratic vitality, but it also revealed the requirement for an attentive, critical and committed association base.
The challenge now is to transform this energy into unity. The plurality of opinions must give way to a convergence of efforts around a common project that reinforces Benfica as a reference for rigor, competitiveness and transparency. The new leadership has an obligation to be inclusive, to listen to members and to respond to the collective feeling of demand and passion that characterizes the Benfica universe.
The weight of not being at the top of the championship and the risk of having continuity in the Champions League compromised put immediate pressure on sports management. The main team is the club’s mirror, and the consistency of results must be supported by a structure that works efficiently and with strategic vision. The focus on training, the valorization of human heritage and the ability to attract talent without losing identity will be decisive in consolidating the Benfica of the future.
More than ever, this moment requires serenity, competence and focus. Rui Costa now has the opportunity to transform the trust received into work done, to combine the prestige of the past with the demands of the present, and to project Benfica towards a future that matches its history. The time of promises is over; The time for decisions and results begins. The success of the new management will ultimately depend on the ability to make Benfica not only a successful club, but an exemplary one — on and off the field.
Journalist