A major European football club, SL Benfica, has outlined an ambitious four-year plan to deeply embed homegrown talent into its senior squad, committing to a minimum of eight academy players.
The program, put forth by the ‘Só o Benfica Importa’ candidacy led by incumbent president Rui Costa, seeks to curb the necessity of selling top players. This includes a project valued at approximately 540 million USD (500 million euros) aimed at ensuring longer tenures for its best athletes.
Costa emphasized prioritizing sporting achievements over financial outcomes. He articulated goals of consistently ranking among Europe’s top 10 clubs in UEFA standings and securing annual qualification for the Champions League.
The plan also targets developing the “best academy in the world.” This will involve a new, more objective training model designed to accelerate athletes’ progression into the senior team.
Furthermore, the club intends to establish a self-financed global network of academies, with the main Benfica Campus serving as its central hub. An existing academy model in Tampa, USA, was highlighted as an example for this international expansion.
Beyond talent development, the electoral platform aims for a rapid achievement of 40 national championship titles for the club, often referred to as securing a “fourth star.” The women’s football team also aspires to a top-10 European ranking.
In terms of fan engagement, the candidacy seeks to increase club membership to 500,000 over the next four years. It also plans to expand the network of ‘Casas do Benfica’ (Benfica Houses) abroad, specifically mentioning new locations in African cities like Luanda and Maputo.
The program includes making BTV, the club’s television channel, free-to-air, with the exception of live matches. This move is intended to boost exclusive content production and enhance the brand’s international presence.
Infrastructure plans include the inauguration of Hotel 1904 Benfica by the end of the year, following the renovation of a historical club building. The candidacy also promises a renewed focus on rugby, including a dedicated facility within the proposed ‘Benfica City’ development.
Rui Costa presented these objectives on Wednesday as part of his bid for re-election, seeking renewed confidence from club members.