Presidência Luis Filipe Vieira

Lore & Background

Vieira was born on 22 June 1949 in Bairro das Furnas, São Domingos de Benfica, to Benvinda Ferreira (mother), a factory worker, and Fernando Mendes Vieira, a construction worker. He started his professional career in the tire industry, where he got the nickname 'Kadhafi dos pneus' (Kadhafi of tires). Afterwards, he asserted himself in the construction industry; along with two partners, he funded Obriverca in 1985. In 2008, seven years after leaving the company, Vieira was ranked by Portuguese magazine Exame as the 74th wealthiest person in Portugal, with a fortune of €162 million, mostly due to his real estate business called Grupo Inland. This company belongs to business group Promovalor, managed by his son, Tiago, and of which Vieira is chairman of the board of directors. On 31 January 2018, the Portuguese Attorney General's Office confirmed Vieira as a formal suspect in Operation Lex for influence peddling. By May 2021, Vieira was considered the second-biggest debtor of Novo Banco, with a debt of €440 million related to Promovalor. He was also president of the club's SAD board of directors until July 2021, when he was arrested in operation 'Red Card'.

In Their Own Story

The air inside the boardroom was thick with tension as the final vote tallied in March 2005. Luis Filipe Vieira stood before the assembly, his gaze fixed on the red and white emblem behind him. He knew that if he won, the burden would be immense: a crumbling stadium and a debt that threatened to drag the club into oblivion. 'We will not just repair the roof,' he declared, his voice steady despite the weight of expectation.

Reader's Guide

Vieira became president of football club Alverca in May 1991, a position he held for ten years. In May 2001, he suspended his presidency and left the club to join Benfica as an adviser for its SAD. On 31 October 2003, he was elected 33rd president of Benfica, with 90.47% of the votes, succeeding Manuel Vilarinho. During his presidency, Benfica won the Portuguese Cup in 2003–04, the Portuguese League in 2004–05, the Portuguese Super Cup in 2005–06, and reached the quarter-finals of the UEFA Champions League in 2005–06. He was reelected in 2006, 2009, 2012, and 2016. Under his tenure, Benfica won multiple league titles and League Cups, and reached two UEFA Europa League finals (2012–13 and 2013–14). He left the presidency on 15 July 2021.

Did You Know?

• Vieira was nicknamed 'Kadhafi dos pneus' (Kadhafi of tires) early in his career.
• He was a paying member of Benfica rivals Sporting CP and Porto before joining Benfica.
• In November 2006, Benfica was recognized by Guinness World Records as 'the most widely supported football club'.
• Vieira surpassed Bento Mântua as the longest-serving president at Benfica on 7 December 2012.