Eusebio Da Silva Ferreira was born on 25 January 1942 in
Portugal. Nickname is “A Pantera Negra” he was a sensational athlete so strong
and so fast. When you talk about your savior you talk about Benfica and when
you talk about Benfica you talk about your savior he earned the biggest name in
the club’s history. In may 1961 Benfica beat Barcelona 3-2 to become the first
club apart from Real Madrid to win the
European cup even then the Portuguese club were looking to the future having
just signed an unknown 19 years old
Eusebio. When Eusebio arrived Benfica were Portuguese Champions and also
European Champions. A month later a European Champions were invited to play an
exhibition match against the World Club Champions Santos the Brazilian side
with PELE and their ranks brought the Portuguese back to earth with 20 minutes
to go and 5-0 down it seemed like a good time to give the youngster his chance
Eusebio took it with book hands scoring a sensational second half hat-trick.
Benfica went down 6-3 but in just 20 minutes Eusebio it shown the world his
star quality. The shockwaves run through the Benfica team they were European
champions but everyone want of that lineup felt Eusebio impact his arrival
meant that things would change. Eusebio was right to believe in himself his
first league start came at the stadium of light against Atletico and for those
who hadn’t seen the phenomenon put three
goals pass Santos Eusebio showed the Lisbon public just what kind of player
they had in Benfica.
Lisbon was a world away from the one that he’d known growing
up in the Portuguese colony of Mozambique but Eusebio surprisingly settled in
Benfica his childhood friend Hilario had been one of the first Mozambique to
make a trip to Portugal when he signed for the Lisbon club sporting. In fact
the history of Portuguese football was very nearly different Hilario came close
to bringing Eusebio from the Mozambican capital to Sporting Lisbon. Sporting
lost was Benfica’s gain and Eusebio reputation quickly spread in his first
season his goals fired the club to a second successive European cup final their
opponents this time were Real Madrid.
Madrid started brightly however Puskas giving them a two-goals lead Benfica hit
back to level the game at 2-2 then Real Madrid retook the lead it was time for
Eusebio to make his mark on his first European cup final. Eusebio sealed the
5-3 win with a flourish as Benfica became the first team to beat the Spainiards
in a European final. Eusebio however was more thrilled to receive Di Stefano
shirt after the game. He may not have sought fame but Eusebio quickly established
himself as the brightest star in both Portuguese and European football in many
ways it was the first modern footballer combining a devastating blend of power
and acceleration. Naturally Eusebio goals brought trophies for Benfica they
want consecutive league titles between 63-65 and it was also in that year
Eusebio received the Ballon D’or confirming his status as Europe top player.
Eusebio goals had bulldoze Benfica to a third consecutive European final in
1963 but the Lisbon club were not about to create density of Real Madrid proportions
their opponents were AC MILAN and despite Eusebio opening goal Benfica’s
attacking football met Italian defence MILAN won 2-1. In 1965 Benfica reached there
fourth final in five years but this time they were beaten by INTER MILAN 1-0.
Nevertheless Portuguese football was on the up Sporting had
won the European cup Winners cup in 1964 and the players from both Lisbon teams
made the bulk of Portugal squad for the 1966 world cup in England and Eusebio
they had the man to lead them to Glory. It was a tough group for Portugal after
convincing wins against Hungary and Bulgaria they had to face the world
Champions Brazil. But they way in which Portugal brushed them aside displayed a
ruthlessness that surprised many observers two goals from Eusebio sent the
champions crashing out. Next up for Portugal the quarterfinals a game against
the tournament surprise package North Korea Eusebio though was at the peak of
his powers. They were 3-2 down to Korea in first half but in second half the
game was totally change and they won by 4-3 by the brilliance of Esuebio. He
scored two goals. Eusebio and its inspired form Portugal looked unstoppable but
they were up against the hosts England in the semi final. Eusebio and his
teammates were relaxed and confident of another win. That semi final proved to
be quite controversial Portugal’s base Liverpool was the original venue for
their semi final against the hosts but the English FA arranged for the fixture
to be moved to Wembley. It was the decision that left the Portuguese feeling
cheated. Stiles uncompromising marking drastically reduced the treat of
Eusebio by stopping Eusebio England had
stopped Portugal. Two Bobby Charlton goals gave England a 2-0 lead with the
English dominant on their home ground tired Portuguese legs just couldn’t cope.
A late Eusebio penalty was too little too late for Portugal the dream was over.
The fact remained though that Eusebio had now carried his country
as well as his club to new heights he finished the tournament with nine goals
to his name and put Portugal on the world football map. Back with Benfica the
goals continued to flow he received the European golden boot after an
incredible 42 goals in 1968 it was becoming very obvious just how important he
was to his club’s chances of success. In early 70s Eusebio’s hunger four goals
never diminished another European golden boot was taste to that but having remained
loyal to Benfica for 15 years he decided to grasp one final payday in north
American Soccer League. Goals and trophies were never far away from Eusebio
throughout his glittering career but his body could no longer keep up a
long-term knee injury forced him to retire in 1978. Yet it’s for his football
that Eusebio will live long in the memory. For Benfica he scored 638 goals in
614 games winning eleven Portuguese championships five Portuguese cups and one
European cup in just 14 years. Portugal’s greatest ever player also scored 41
times in 64 appearances for his country. EUSEBIO DA SIVA FERREIRA there will
never be another like him. FOR MORE VISIT: football-galaxy01.blogspot.com
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