Benfica football boss pledges €500 million in revenues while shaving €100 million off debt

Rui Costa has been re-elected to lead Portugal’s Benfica Football Club (SL Benfica) for a second four-year term.

Among his pledges are to drum up revenues to €500 million while shaving €100 million off the club’s debts. He also wants to centralise television rights and says it represents 40% of audiences and revenues in national football.

According to the club’s website, he won a second term from 2025-2029 in the second round of voting with 1,266,105, exceeding the competitor João Noronha Lopes with 655,566 votes.

The former Benfica player who wore the Nº10 shirt told Jornal Económico said there was a tough road ahead, especially regarding revenues and debt reduction which is why Rui Costa says the club needs to be in the Champions League.

“There is a path we want to complete: to make Benfica a consolidated European presence in football with €500 million in annual revenue, a reduction of €100 million in liabilities and a permanent presence in the finals of the Champions League,” said Rui Costa in the interview.

Source: Jornal Económico