António Lobo Antunes: Benfica pays tribute after death of Portuguese writer | OneFootball

Benfica have issued a message of condolence following the death of António Lobo Antunes, aged 83, paying tribute to the acclaimed novelist and long-time supporter.

The club said in a statement that he was among its most illustrious fans and a leading figure in contemporary Portuguese culture.

It reflected on his decades-long bond with the team, often present in his writing and public remarks, and on a literary voice steeped in benfiquismo.

The note recalled his memories from the Colonial War, when he said Benfica matches made the conflict feel distant, highlighting the club’s symbolic and emotional pull in the hardest moments.

It also cited his wry ambition to be the Águas of literature, a line emblematic of his personality and devotion.

Benfica concluded that Portugal has lost a major writer and the club a devoted supporter, offering heartfelt condolences to his family, friends and admirers, and joining the wider mourning.

Source: Glorioso 1904