Benfica is called the club with the curse due to a legendary curse by Béla Guttmann, who allegedly said the club would not win another European trophy for 100 years after being denied a pay rise in 1962. This curse has been linked to the club's failure to win a European trophy since their back-to-back European Cup victories in 1961 and 1962 under Guttmann's management.
The Curse of Béla Guttmann
The story of the curse begins with Béla Guttmann, a Hungarian manager who led Benfica to two European Cup victories in 1961 and 1962. After the second victory, Guttmann asked for a pay rise, but was denied by the club's board. According to legend, Guttmann stormed out of the boardroom and declared that Benfica would not win another European trophy for 100 years.
History of Benfica
Benfica was founded in 1904 and has a rich history in Portuguese football. The club has won numerous domestic titles, including 37 league titles and 26 cup titles. However, their failure to win a European trophy since 1962 has led to the legend of the curse.
Impact of the Curse
The curse has had a significant impact on Benfica's reputation and psyche. The club has reached several European finals since 1962, but has failed to win any of them. The curse has also led to a sense of pessimism among Benfica fans, who often feel that the club is doomed to fail in European competitions.