Benfica’s formation has consolidated itself over the last two decades as one of the most renowned in world football, responsible for the emergence of players such as Rúben Dias, Bernardo Silva, João Félix, João Neves or António Silva. In an interview with the Spanish newspaper AS, Guilherme Müller, general director of Benfica Campus, explained the foundations of a model that he classifies as identity-based and strategic for the Luz club.
Having been in office for around a year, Müller leads a structure that was the main supplier of the European and world under-17 champion National Team. A recognition that, he emphasizes, is the result of continued work. «It wasn’t done in a single day. Benfica’s formation has a long history”, he stated, highlighting the decisive role of the creation of the Benfica Campus, which turns 19 years old and will reach two decades at the end of the season.
The ‘hardware’ and ‘software’ pillars
«We are talking about a long time, many professionals and the consolidation of a methodology that has been refined», he explained, considering the evolution recorded over the last 20 years to be «enormous». The basis of the model is based on two pillars: the hardwarewhich includes infrastructure and technology, and the softwaremade up of the people and culture of the club. «It is clear that buildings and fields do not form players alone; the people and the club’s culture are the most important thing”, he stated, without devaluing the structural impact of the Campus, which allowed an increase in teams, resources and quality of work.
World champions average 10 years at Benfica
One of the secrets to success is talent retention. In the last Under-17 World Cup, won by Portugal, Benfica had nine players, all with long careers at the club. «The average number of years these boys have spent at Benfica is ten», revealed Müller, highlighting Anísio Cabral as a paradigmatic example of this early and continuous connection. The relationship with families emerges as a key element, with specific support and expectation management programs. «I am a great supporter of parents, because without parents there are no footballers», he highlighted.
The playing philosophy is transversal to all levels, close to models such as Barcelona or Ajax, based on possession, initiative and offensive mentality, under the motto “form to win”. Still, there are adaptations, especially in team B, which competes in the Second League with 18-year-old players against much more experienced opponents. This exposure to the so-called «men’s football» is seen as essential to accelerate the process of competitive maturation.
The objective is to prepare two players per season for the main team
Currently, Benfica has around 600 athletes distributed across training centers, the Lisbon hub and Benfica Campus, with around 75% of recruitments occurring between the ages of 6 and 12. A statistic illustrates the effectiveness of the model: «80% of players who sign their first professional contract with Benfica manage to become professional footballers», a figure well above the European average. The minimum objective is to prepare two players per season for the main team, although the final decision always rests with the coach.
Portugal continues to be the club’s main “gold mine”, supported by a scouting network described as a “very tight mesh” throughout the national territory, responsible for identifying talents such as João Félix, recruited at a young age by FC Porto. However, the strategy is not limited to the domestic market. Benfica develops an international approach, with its own academies in Africa, namely in Côte d’Ivoire, and plans to create a “constellation of academies” in strategic points, such as the United States. The African player is valued for his intensity and athletic ability, while in South America the scenario has changed significantly.
Privileged relationship with Brazil has changed
The former privileged relationship with Brazil has become more competitive and financially demanding, to the point that this is the first season in many years without Brazilian players in the main team. Even so, Benfica maintains a South American presence with Argentine and Colombian athletes.
The recent victory of the U-17 World Cup served as an international showcase for young people like Anísio Cabral, Neto or Quintas, arousing external interest. «These are players who generate curiosity from other clubs», recognizes Müller, ensuring, however, that everyone has a defined evolution plan. The ambition is clear: “If it were up to me alone, in two or three years these nine would be in the first team.”
With the 2030 World Cup on the horizon, Müller points out a structural problem in Portuguese football: infrastructure. Unlike Euro 2004, he argues that investment should be channeled into training and not into stadiums. «We believe that training football in Portugal deserves it», he stated, expressing the desire to see the National Team made up mainly of players trained at Benfica.
Although the Benfica Campus is today an elite academy, the general director admits that it “needs to grow”, making the expansion of infrastructure inevitable to respond to the increase in teams, professionals and competitive demands. A challenge that does not change the club’s guiding principle: maintaining training as a strategic, differentiating and identity pillar of Benfica.
