Portuguese football legend Eusébio, considered by many as one of the best players in the history of the sport, died on Sunday (January 5) of heart failure at the age of 71. The death of the ‘Black Panther’ left the country and the international football community in a state of shock and grief, and three days of mourning were officially declared by the Portuguese government to pay tribute to the legendary player.
May 2, 1962. It was over 50 years ago that SL Benfica won its second European Cup (what is now the Champions League) by defeating Real Madrid by a 5-3 margin with two goals from the up-and-comer at the time – Mozambique-born Eusébio.
From then on, the ‘King’ continued a glorious national and international career in a real-life story of triumph that leaves Portugal’s older generations in tears and younger generations in awe, no matter the club they support.
During the 15 years that he played at the Lisbon side, Eusébio scored 638 goals over a course of 614 official matches, winning 11 Portuguese championships, five Portuguese cups and the already-mentioned European Cup. For the Portuguese national team, he tallied up 41 goals in 64 matches.
He was also the first Portuguese player to win the Ballon d’Or – given to the best football player in Europe by a panel of sports journalists from UEFA member countries – in 1965.
“Portugal has today lost one of its dearest sons: Eusébio da Silva Ferreira,” Portuguese President Cavaco Silva said in a speech upon the death of the footballer, in which he stressed the footballer’s “exceptional human qualities” and the “affability and humility” of a man who is “truly great”.
Despite his humble and poor beginnings in Mozambique, the footballer was known for filling the Portuguese jersey like no other.
“We all remember the day that he left the field in tears, crying for Portugal,” he recalled, remembering the World Cup match in 1966 in which Portugal lost 2-1 against England in the semi-finals. Before that match, Eusébio had put on a one-man show against North Korea in which he scored four goals and changed the scoreboard from 0-3 to 4-3, with fellow striker José Augusto scoring the finishing goal near the end of the game.
The Portuguese national team was not able to reach the World Cup final, however, despite the Black Panther’s goal against the British side in the semi-finals.
“Eusébio’s tears that day are our tears today. Portugal is officially in mourning,” Cavaco Silva said, officially declaring three days of mourning in honour of the King.
Endless condolence messages were sent from all across the world upon the announcement of his death and Benfica’s Stadium of Light filled up on Monday for an emotional last goodbye before his funeral at the end of the day.
Although he was later buried in Lumiar cemetery, it is possible that Eusébio’s final resting place will be the Church of Santa Engrácia – also named the National Pantheon – where Portugal’s most important personalities are buried.
“I remember that when I was young, all I heard about was Amália and Eusébio,” said Benfica President Luís Filipe Vieira, one of the firm supporters of the action. “It is only logical for Eusébio to enter the Pantheon”.
But whether or not the King is transferred to the Church of Santa Engrácia, one thing is certain – few others in Portugal’s long history can reclaim the pride that the Portuguese people feel in ‘their’ Eusébio.
Ronaldo honouring postponed
Real Madrid football star Cristiano Ronaldo was to be distinguished by the Portuguese President of the Republic, Cavaco Silva on Tuesday this week but the ceremony was postponed as news of Eusébio’s death surfaced.
The honouring will now take place on January 20 at around 3pm at the Belém Palace, where Cavaco will be naming him Grand Officer of the Order of Prince Henry the Navigator.
By Michael Bruxo [email protected]
Eusébio: a sporting legend
The passing of one of the world’s greatest sporting icons comes at a time when the Black Panther was looking forward to following his beloved Portugal as they prepare for the World Cup Finals in Brazil this summer.
I well remember England’s golden days nearly 50 years ago as they lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy at Wembley but it was the relatively unknown Eusébio who set the tournament alight.
Portugal found themselves 3-0 down midway through the first-half in the quarter-final against North Korea and heading out of the competition. But Eusébio had other ideas as he ran the Korean defence ragged. Four goals from the maestro and Portugal ran-out 5-3 victors to book themselves a place in the semi-finals against England.
The year before I had gained my FA Preliminary Coaching badge but the skill and power of the Mozambique-born player was not in any coaching manual I had ever seen! I watched that game whenever I could and still marvel today at Eusébio natural athleticism.
We moved to Portugal nine years ago and I started following SC Olhanense but it was not until 2009 that I first visited the Estádio da Luz when Olhanense, then in the 2nd Division, were drawn away to Benfica in the League Cup.
Some 1,800 fans made the pilgrimage from Olhão to Lisbon not knowing that later that day they would be in the same stadium as Eusébio and Maradona. When the great man was introduced to the crowd a buzz of excitement turned into a tumultuous roar; a memorable moment never to be forgotten.
But things could have turned out so different when a tragic accident engulfed the Benfica club in late 1966. ‘The Times’ newspaper London front page of December 7 had the headline, ‘Electricity fault kills soccer star’. Luciano Jorge Fernandes, a promising athlete signed by Benfica from Olhanense two years previously, had been electrocuted in the club’s hydro-massage bath. One of the other players in the bath Malta da Silva managed to disconnect the electrical supply and the other six players, including Eusébio, were pulled from the bath and revived. It is recorded that they only survived because of their superb physical fitness.
Thankfully we were able to enjoy many more years of Eusébio as both a player and subsequently tremendous ambassador for Benfica, Portugal and football worldwide.
By CHRIS WRIGHT
