João Diogo Manteigas, a candidate for the presidency of Portuguese football club Benfica, has launched a scathing critique of incumbent President Rui Costa’s leadership, labeling his tenure an “institutional failure” while pledging to appoint José Mourinho as coach.
Manteigas asserted that Costa has failed to defend Benfica’s interests, particularly when the club faces criticism from other club presidents. He attributed this to “some negligence” and claimed the current board has aligned itself with individuals who disrespect Benfica.
If elected, Manteigas stated unequivocally that José Mourinho would become the team’s coach starting October 26. He acknowledged Mourinho’s ambition to coach the national team but emphasized that at Benfica, Mourinho’s primary task would be to “do what he is used to doing, which is winning.”
The presidential hopeful also addressed recent allegations from members who reported being contacted by polling companies via telephone. Manteigas described this as a “clear violation of GDPR” (General Data Protection Regulation), insisting that the matter must be investigated and Benfica held accountable.
Manteigas expressed increased confidence in his campaign, which he launched a year ago. He clarified that his candidacy is not reliant on the team’s performance, but rather on proposals from club members that have been integrated into his platform. He made these remarks during a visit to a Benfica club house in Évora.