Ferreira takes charge at Benfica

SL Benfica have appointed Jesualdo Ferreira as their new coach to replace António 'Toni' Oliveira who resigned earlier this week.

Full command
"The club management decided that Jesualdo Ferreira will take full command of training Benfica's first team," said Benfica spokesman Joao Malheiro. Ferreira, who has got the job until the end of the season, had been assistant at the Portuguese first division club.

Mourinho stays on
Many in Portugal had predicted the return of former Benfica coach José Mourinho, who was sacked by the Lisbon club a year ago to make way for Oliveira. But the former assistant coach at FC Barcelona decided to stay on until the end of the season at his present club, UD Leiria.

Fourth in league
Oliveira, who had previously led Benfica to the 1994 title, had endured an unhappy time of late at the most successful club in Portuguese football history. Benfica are fourth in the league after losing two and drawing one of their last three matches and were knocked out of the Portuguese Cup by lowly CS Marítimo.

No European action
Benfica had been the country’s biggest spenders during the off-season as they prepared for a season which would see them not play in European competition for the first time. Ferreira, who was at FC Alverca last season, has been assistant at Benfica three times since 1987.