Former football player, new president: Who is Rui Costa?
Rui Costa, the stormy midfielder, became the 34th president of the Benfica club in October 2021. Rui Costa won major trophies after transferring to AC Milan in 2001. However, the charismatic Portuguese midfielder's best years were spent at Fiorentina.
Former Fiorentina and Milan footballer Luís Filipe Vieira was president of Benfica for 18 years. But in July 2020, he was arrested on charges of money laundering and resigned.
40 thousand 115 members voted in the election with the highest participation in Benfica's history. Rui Costa received 84.48 percent of the votes. The other candidate competing in the election, Francisco Benitez, could only receive 12.24 percent of the votes.
Rui Costa, who ended his football career with Benfica in the 2007-08 season, had been serving as the club's sports director since the summer of 2008. The experienced name, who was elected as president for four years, will remain in office until 2025.
Rui Manuel César Costa (born 29 March 1972) is a Portuguese business executive and former professional footballer who is the 34th president of sports club S.L. Benfica. He also succeeded Luís Filipe Vieira as president of the club's SAD board of directors.
Acting as a classic number 10 in a memorable team that also featured the great Gabriel Batistuta, Costa guided Fiorentina to several Coppa Italia titles and an Italian Super Cup title. His football was excellent.
Rui Costa's life story
Rui Manuel César Costa, (born 29 March 1972 in Lisbon) is a Portuguese former football player who played as a midfielder. He played for the Portugal national football team and Benfica. In 2004, he was included in the FIFA 100, a list of the 125 best-living football players chosen by Pelé.
Rui Costa, Benfica's number 10, wore the Portuguese national team jersey 96 times.
He put an end to his national team career with the European Championship in 2004. Rui Costa appeared on green fields for the last time in Benfica's 3-0 win over Vitoria (11 May 2008).
Rui Costa, who bid farewell to football under the applause of approximately 50,000 football fans, said: "I am happy that it ended this way." It's a very emotional moment. "These fans gave me everything," he said.
He left football at Benfica at the age of 37.