How Vieira sees the chessboard of the elections (with or without Sérgio)
It was the worst-kept secret in the world, though some continue to assert that it could still fall. After a few months of remaining sheltered in the aftermath of Operation Red Card, which forced him to resign from the leadership of Benfica, SAD, and all the companies within the Benfica universe (even though that wasn't his intention), Luís Filipe Vieira always entertained the possibility of one day regaining control of the Clube da Luz. Initially, he even admitted he could support someone, but at a certain point, he was willing to take the risk of that intention . Now, as Observador had already reported, all that remains is to make his candidacy official.
Between the "confirmation" that this move was inevitable and the more recent news suggesting the possibility of Sérgio Conceição becoming the former leader's coach if he wins the election, Rui Costa admitted he would be a candidate, restoring all his social media pages for the 2021 campaign, and Martim Mayer also formally announced that he would advance in the October election. During this time, Vieira also didn't stop – and all the other confirmed lists didn't stop in light of Vieira.
João Noronha Lopes and João Diogo Manteigas are maintaining their long-standing action plans, whether through appearances at information sessions at Benfica Houses across the country or through promotions of campaign measures through social media. However, they have also known for a few weeks that they will have to adapt their messages to the former Benfica president's presence in the race. Even though they are aware that Vieira's main "target" will be Rui Costa, it's one thing to prepare a campaign with the current leader as your only opponent for continuity, and another to anticipate a period in which you're not only trying to defend what was achieved in the last four years, but also what the club has gone through in the last two decades.
Opposition welcomes Rui Costa's re-election bid, but with reservations about current leadership
For Vieira, it's time to "get to know the terrain." Over the course of several months, and even with a few trial sessions for Operation Saco Azul in between, the businessman who led Benfica for almost 20 years maintained dozens of contacts with figures in the Benfica universe, including names who are now candidates, such as Cristóvão Carvalho and João Diogo Manteigas (Noronha Lopes declined the approaches, as he had done with fellow businessman Marco Galinha). At the same time, he learned some things going on behind the scenes at Luz, thanks to the connections he still maintains with people who are still at the club. When he reflected on the Eagles' present and future, he decided he was going to move forward.
Sábado magazine reported this Wednesday that Sérgio Conceição would be the choice if he won the election. Observador understands that there was a meeting with the coach and that Vieira, at the time of Roger Schmidt's departure, was more likely to back the former FC Porto coach than to bring back Bruno Lage, as ultimately happened, something he shared with several people close to him. However, despite the desire to change coaches if he won the election, no agreement was signed. Sérgio Conceição himself does not want to be associated with any list or candidate for Benfica, either to free himself up for potential offers or out of a desire to continue working abroad.
Technical aspects aside, Luís Filipe Vieira believes that everything he has built at Luz since taking over leadership (first of SAD, then of the club and all its companies) is now being distorted by the man he once called "the dolphin," Rui Costa. The former president believes the financial situation has undergone a shift that jeopardizes future sustained growth, and that the sporting project of football has reached a point of complete stagnation— a notion that not all the recent changes announced in the structure can reverse . It is in defense of what he considers to be his entire "legacy" that he has decided to run for office in the upcoming elections, even going against the advice of some close to him, given everything that happened in the past after his departure.
Despite this, Vieira is moving forward with a move that can only be halted if any unexpected developments arise in any of the lawsuits he faces in court, something he doesn't expect to happen until October (with people confident that he will be cleared of all charges over time). Rui Costa will be a direct rival in the race , knowing that he will always have to overcome a handicap related to the natural favoritism of whoever leads the club and may make decisions that will impact the perception of the voting members, whether in terms of football reinforcements (and, naturally, the results they can then bring at the start of the season), or in terms of projects linked to the Reds, such as the new radio station that will join BTV or the new themed hotel in downtown Lisbon that will be built on the site of the Eagles' former headquarters.
And how does Vieira analyze the figures? Some already confirmed candidates report that the movement led by the former president is conducting polls to understand their real chances in a runoff, but there is also a perception that Benfica's electorate may be divided into two large groups, one between Rui Costa and Vieira, and the other between João Noronha Lopes, João Diogo Manteigas, Cristóvão Carvalho, and Martim Mayer. If this idea is confirmed, the chances of a runoff increase, given the inability of anyone to reach 50% in the first round, and Vieira believes he could be one of the top vote-getters and then challenge for the leadership of the Reds.
observador
