João Noronha Lopes laid out his detailed vision for Benfica’s football operations this past Saturday. He presented a plan he calls the “most solid, innovative, and feasible” for the club’s future. This blueprint covers everything from how the club will be run to ambitious goals for its women’s team.
This proposal stands out because it’s the first from any candidate to offer a clear, professional way to make decisions across all football levels. It’s also unique in naming key figures who will put these ideas into action. Nuno Gomes will serve as Vice-President, and Vítor Paneira will be the Technical Director. A General Director is expected to be announced soon.
The plan clearly outlines the roles for a General Director, a Sporting Director, a Technical Director, a Women’s Football Director, and a Director for the Benfica Campus. The core idea is to use data analytics to help with football choices. This means making smarter moves in the transfer market, boosting sports performance, and heading off risks. The scouting team will work closely with this data. The goal is simple: sign fewer players, but make sure those players are the right ones, just like top clubs worldwide.
The old saying, “Develop to Win,” gets a new, stronger meaning here. Academy players will gain real priority. They will have specific spots reserved in the main squad. Each young player will also get an individual development plan. The club will introduce new contracts and ways to keep its best young talent. This includes an unprecedented investment in these up-and-coming athletes.
A major focus will be on women’s football. Lopes has set goals for the team to shine across Europe. This includes having its own dedicated scouting network and strengthening youth development within the women’s program. The plan also promises equal rights for players and more first-team matches played at the grand Estádio da Luz. Finally, the project highlights the club’s “mystique” and identity. It aims to instill high expectations, strong commitment, and a deep sense of responsibility in every new player and coach chosen to embody Benfica’s true spirit.
“Benfica cannot keep relying on last-minute fixes,” Noronha Lopes stated firmly. He believes his model is truly modern, clear, and perfectly aligned with Benfica’s values, aiming to put the club back on a winning path. “We need to know who we are, where we want to go, and how we will get there. This starts with a plan that defines who makes decisions, based on what criteria, and which factors are important.” He added that signing fewer players but choosing better, valuing the academy like never before, and elevating women’s football to its full potential are the priorities guiding the club’s future.
Lopes pointed to what makes his proposal different from the others. He says it’s the most detailed football plan presented in the Benfica elections. The plan brings together professionalism, clear job descriptions, new technology, and a strong sense of identity. This ensures everything works together smoothly, from transfers to youth development and professional football. He also stressed the focus on youth, matching his earlier promise of a huge investment in young athletes. For women’s football, his plan guarantees stronger support and a new drive for international success.