Benfica celebrates José Augusto! Journey of a two-time European champ | OneFootball

José Augusto, one of the greatest figures in Benfica’s history, celebrates his 89th birthday this Monday, April 13. The former Benfica player was a key figure in one of the Club’s most glorious eras, leaving a profound mark both nationally and internationally.

A right winger of unquestionable quality, José Augusto stood out in a golden generation of Benfica that dominated European football in the 1960s. He represented the Club for more than a decade (1959/60 - 1969/70), amassing hundreds of appearances and several major titles.

In service of the Eagles, he was one of the main figures in the European Cup triumphs in 1961 and 1962, against Barcelona and Real Madrid, respectively. During those historic campaigns, Benfica defeated giants of European football and placed Portugal’s name at the top of the continent.

In addition to his success with the Eagles, José Augusto - who received a Cosme Damião award - also played an important role for the National Team. He was part of the Portugal side that finished third at the 1966 World Cup, which remains the country’s best-ever campaign in the final stages of the competition. Later, he remained involved in football as a coach, managing clubs such as Farense and Penafiel.

Wearing the Sacred Mantle, the former forward, who immortalized the cry "Long live Benfica", played 368 matches, recording 176 goals and two assists. He also won two European Cups, eight National Championships, and three Portuguese Cups.

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