What is 'the curse of Bela Guttmann' placed on Benfica?

Guttmann was the manager of one of the most famous Portuguese clubs.

The Portuguese powerhouses Benfica have cultivated elite players like Ruben Dias, João Félix, and Bernardo Silva, and they boast one of the strongest youth facilities in the world of football. After 21 games, they have a goal differential of +31 and are four points below their rivals in the Portuguese first flight.

This time Benfica are facing a tough fight from Sporting CP in the title race, while they finished 16 in the new Champions League league phase. They will next play in the play-offs second leg against AS Monaco to secure a place in the round of 16. After winning the European Cup in 1961 and 1962, they haven’t won any more European trophies since. Instead, they’ve seen rivals Porto win the Champions League and the UEFA Cup/Europa League.

Why has that been the case for Benfica? Why the team that has produced so many talented players failed to win the Champions League or any other European trophy? What’s the actual reason?

What is the curse of Béla Guttmann?

In 1959, Béla Guttmann, a Hungarian coach, was named Benfica’s manager. Eusébio, a Portuguese football hero, was elevated to the first team squad by Guttmann, who had an instant impact on the team.

In 1961, Benfica defeated Barcelona 3-2 to win the European Cup under Guttmann’s direction. When they played Real Madrid in the final a year later in 1962, they won 5-3 to win back-to-back European championships.

Guttmann asked for a raise in salary after leading the Lisbon team to back-to-back European Cups. He allegedly cursed the Portuguese team when the club turned down his request.

“Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever be European champion,” he said.

After winning the European Cup for Benfica in 1962, manager Béla Guttmann was denied a pay rise by the board and therefore cursed the club, declaring "Not in a hundred years from now will Benfica ever be European champions".They've lost 8 European finals since. 😳 pic.twitter.com/1YiziRt9UG

— Footy Accumulators (@FootyAccums) April 19, 2019

Guttmann’s curse continues

Benfica have lost eight consecutive European finals since he made the comment. Their last defeat was 4-2 on penalties to Sevilla of Spain in 2014.

The losses in the finals have been against Anderlecht, Chelsea, and Sevilla in the Europa League (formerly known as the UEFA Cup), AC Milan (twice), Inter, Manchester United, and PSV Eindhoven in the European Cup.

The Eagles fans still attribute their team’s loss in the finals to Guttmann’s curse. Benfica supporters are aware that their club have a lot of work ahead of them if they hope to make it to another European final. This year they will have to first defeat Monaco in the two-legged play-offs in order to progress to the Champions League’s round of 16.

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