After hanging up their boots, Benfica legends start coaching course | OneFootball

Pizzi and Andreas Samaris began a new chapter in their respective careers this Friday. The two former Benfica players are part of the group of 20 trainees who started the UEFA B+A coaching course, in a ceremony held at the headquarters of the National Association of Football Coaches.

The opening session was attended by Pedro Proença, president of the Portuguese Football Federation, as well as several figures linked to the structure of the organization. Also among the participants are well-known names in Portuguese football, such as Pepe, José Fonte, Rolando, David Simão and João Tomás.

After years of success wearing the Benfica shirt, the former red duo are now preparing for a possible move into the world of coaching. Pizzi, who recently announced his retirement from football, was one of the Eagles' main figures from 2013 to 2022, thereby earning a prominent place in the club’s red-and-white history.

Andreas Samaris, meanwhile, defined an era at the Club of Light through the commitment and leadership he showed on the pitch. The Greek international won several trophies in service of the glorious club and became one of the players most beloved by the fans, largely because of the intense way he lived Benfica during the seasons in which he represented the Eagles.

Joining the UEFA B+A course could now open the door to a new career for both former red footballers, who are thus following in the footsteps of several former Portuguese players who decided to invest in coach training after ending their careers on the pitch.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.