Steve Bruce recalls when Benfica pinched his player: No one told you, boss? | OneFootball

The English coach Steve Bruce recalled an unusual episode with Dean Saunders, the former Benfica striker, from the beginning of his managerial career, in an interview. The story dates back to the 1998/99 season, when he took charge of Sheffield United shortly after starting his journey as a player-manager.

The moment happened on December 5, 1998, just a few hours before a match against Bristol City in the EFL Championship. Speaking to TalkSport radio, Bruce said he found it odd to see one of his players already packed and ready to go at the hotel before the game. "I asked him: 'Dean, we're only leaving in an hour, why do you already have your bags packed?'" the English coach recalled.

The answer left him completely surprised. "He replied: 'Didn't anyone tell you, boss? I just signed for Benfica. I'm flying to Lisbon at 3:30 p.m. from Heathrow'", Bruce recounted, remembering the moment he realized he had just lost one of his strikers only hours before kick-off.

The player in question was Dean Saunders – who was a teammate of João Vieira Pinto – a Welsh striker who ended up heading to Benfica that very same day. The English coach confessed that he was left speechless at that moment and had to quickly reorganize the team before the match.

In the end, Sheffield United ended up losing 0-2 to Bristol City. Once in Lisbon, Dean Saunders played for Benfica during part of the 1998/99 season, scoring five goals and providing two assists in 19 matches for the club from Luz.

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