José Mourinho, the renowned Portuguese football manager, characterized Portuguese club Benfica’s recent presidential election as a “historic” and “fantastic” day, marked by record-breaking voter turnout and what he called an overwhelming victory for the club’s collective spirit.
Mourinho, currently managing the club’s main squad, emphasized the significance of the event, stating that “Benfica didn’t win, Benfica thrashed.” He implied that widespread participation reflected strong unified support for the club.
The election set a new global standard for voter engagement in a club election, a feat Mourinho noted positioned Benfica among “the biggest clubs in the world,” alongside giants like Real Madrid, Barcelona, and major Argentine teams. He described the day as one “for Benfiquismo to remember,” referring to the deep-seated identity and spirit of Benfica fans.
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He highlighted the collective effort, remarking, “Everyone did what I did, which was to vote Benfica.” His comments came after his team secured a victory against Arouca, a match he framed as closing the day “in celebration” for the club.
Earlier in the day, Benfica’s B team also registered a win against Feira, with several players from Mourinho’s senior squad providing assistance, further demonstrating the club’s cohesive spirit. Mourinho also briefly addressed his team’s performance against Arouca, noting it was important to secure three points while playing well.