Rui Costa has been re-elected as president of Benfica, securing 65.89% of the vote in the second round against Joao Noronha Lopes, who garnered 34.11%. The election saw a record turnout of 93,081 members.
Benfica president Rui Costa has been re-elected as head of the Lisbon club, securing 65.89% of the vote in a second round marked by record participation.
Benfica announced the results on their website on Sunday, specifying that the candidacy of his opponent, João Noronha Lopes, received 34.11% of the support.
The second round of elections took place this Saturday, with 93,081 members casting their votes, a figure the club heralds as a global milestone for participation in the election of a club president, potentially earning recognition from Guinness World Records.
At the inauguration ceremony, held around 07:00 local time (same as GMT), Rui Costa, 53, congratulated the members for the “remarkable democratic vitality” and pledged to continue working “for more victories, more titles, and more Benfica”.
“The will expressed today unequivocally by the members points the way to move forward together, strengthening the collective spirit and always placing our Benfica at the centre of our actions,” said Rui Costa, whose manifesto promises to position the club “among the top ten in the UEFA ranking” and achieve annual revenues of 500 million euros to enable the “reduction of the need to sell players.”
In the previous elections in 2021, the incumbent secured victory with 84% of the vote after provisionally assuming the role in place of Vieira, who resigned following his arrest in an ongoing anti-corruption operation. Four years on, he has only one league title to his name and finances that have forced him to sell academy stars.
As part of his candidacy for these elections, Costa’s plans involve balancing the books through success on the pitch, for which this season he signed Colombian Richard Ríos for 27 million euros and the acclaimed coach Jose Mourinho.
Benfica members had from 08:30 local time (same as GMT) until 22:00 on Saturday to vote and elect a president for the 2025-2029 period, after none of the six candidates on the ballot in the first round on 25 October secured an absolute majority. On this occasion, the election had been reduced to the two candidates who received the most votes that day: Rui Costa and João Noronha Lopes.