UEFA President's Award: Eusébio's memories
Saturday, June 28, 2014
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The recipient of a UEFA President's Award in 2009, Eusébio told UEFA.com that SL Benfica's intent to "play beautiful football" helped him shine in his 1960s pomp.
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In 2009, Eusébio's startling contribution to modern football was recognised as he emulated Sir Bobby Charlton and his hero Alfredo Di Stéfano in receiving the UEFA President's Award. It was respect due to the man who finished as top scorer at the 1966 FIFA World Cup finals with nine goals for Portugal and won the 1961/62 European Champion Clubs' Cup with SL Benfica.
Eusébio scored twice in that 5-3 final win against Real Madrid CF, though – as he told UEFA.com – victory was not necessarily the only thing on his mind in Amsterdam. "Before the game started I asked Coluna, who I always treated with respect and as 'mister', to introduce me to Mr Alfredo di Stéfano, because I wanted to meet him," he admitted. "For me the most important thing was to have the shirt of Di Stéfano. I will play and I will try to win, but if I don't win I'll have his shirt."
Even as Benfica were celebrating their success, that concern was paramount to the Mozambique-born Eusébio. "My worry was to get to Mr Alfredo Di Stéfano as soon as possible," he remembered. "He then took off his shirt, and when he gave me the shirt it was spectacular. And then I got to Simões on the bench and I told him: 'Look Simões, I have the shirt here of my idol, Alfredo di Stéfano.' Simões started to laugh, and said 'but we're European champions'. I told him: 'I don't care if we're European champions - I just want the shirt of Di Stéfano!'"
It was a relic that Eusébio continued to treasure until his death, aged 71, in early 2014, by which time he was every bit as much of a legend as his idol. The striker had won 11 league titles and five Portuguese Cups with Benfica, dazzling all comers with his skills. "Our Benfica team in those years was a family," Eusébio said. "We started with the desire to win, but respecting the opponent. 'We're here to win.' And not only to win … but to play football. Play beautiful football that the fans will applaud, and score goals because the fans love to see goals."
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