Eusébio was one of the greats in world football, he was on a par with Pele and Franz Beckenbauer. But freedom and big money were denied him in Portugal – where he was regarded as national property. An obituary.

When the excavators were approaching, cried Eusébio. In 2003, the old “Estádio da Luz” was demolished in Lisbon. 50 years after the foundation stone of the gigantic stadium disappeared with space for 120,000 people. Benfica was here become a top European club – and Eusébio legend. Now the football world mourns the Eusébio, who died of a cardiac arrest at the age of 71 years.

“Always forever Eusébio,” wrote Portugal’s current star player Cristiano Ronaldo on Twitter about the man who was one of the few exceptional athletes in the history of his sport, one of those players who were worshiped as far back as idols. Franz Beckenbauer falls into this category, Bobby Charlton, Pele, of course, and just Eusébio. The massive attacker goal threat like no other European footballer of his time, but always had to live with the stigma, behind Pelé to be considered only as the second best footballer in the world.

Eusébio da Silva Ferreira was born as one of nine siblings on 25 January 1942 in Lourenço Marques, now Maputo, capital of the former Portuguese colony of Mozambique. There he played for Sporting Lourenço Marques, a training club Sporting Lisbon. At 18 he went to the Portuguese capital , but the city rivals Benfica . To his move from Africa to Europe have grown up to this day myths.
” The boy is gold ” , to Benfica coach Bela Guttmann said when he saw play in 1960 Eusébio . While Sporting had a Erstkaufsrecht , but the scouts of the club allegedly classified the attackers for not talented enough , they say. Another story tells that Eusébio was kidnapped by the Benfica managers and worked until he signed a contract. The most probable is that Benfica was simply faster than any other club , and Eusébio’s mother (his father died when Eusébio was five years old ) already had a contract signed when Sporting Lourenço Marques was in representations is .

Black Panther Eusebio Dies:Eleven league titles, five Cup wins, European Cup

From 1961 to 1975 , Eusébio went hunting for goals for Benfica . During this time he won with the club eleven league titles, five times the national cup and crowning the 1962 European Champion Clubs’ Cup . At the final victory over the star-studded Real Madrid Eusébio scored the 4-3 lead his team and met later for a 5-3 final score.

In 365 appearances for Benfica Eusébio reach 373 hits . ” Eusébio’s goals , which are explosions, hammer blows . , If he takes it alone , he was not prancing like Pele . With Eusébio it is as if he were a fire streak across the pitch , before all his opponents pale with terror recede ,” wrote Karl -Heinz Huba in his book ” The Great in the storm.”

The comparison with the Brazilian Pelé , Eusébio had throughout his career often endure . Pele led his country to three World Championship titles ( 1958, 1962 and 1970) , Eusébio’s greatest success with the national team was the third place at the 1966 World Cup in England. He was the outstanding player of the tournament as top scorer with nine goals . Unforgettable is his appearance in the quarterfinals , as Portugal 0:3 lay back against North Korea, Eusébio scored four goals turned the game and prepared to hit for a 5-3 final score.

Black Panther Eusebio Dies: In Mozambique, Eusébio was worshiped

“Pele Europe” baptized him at that time the journalists. The ennobled vehemently and pleaded, “Please do not call me that Pele Pele is My name is Eusébio…” Nicknamed he was going soon, another accompanied him since his early days at Benfica: “Pantera Negra”, Black Panther, Eusébio was whether his quickness and explosiveness, coupled called with great firepower and exceptional technical skills.

But despite all the sporting success was Eusébio’s struggle not only for goals and a victory, but also for recognition and money. In Portugal, he was respected, but always considered by the ruling white class of the Portuguese dictatorship as Africans. In his native country he was, however, as a hero who had brought it through football to wealth and fame.

However, Eusébio earned only a fraction of what Pele, Beckenbauer and Charlton reaped. Benfica paid for his exceptional footballer not only comparatively poor, but prevented by calling Impetuous’ redemption requests always a change Eusébio to Spain or Italy, where the top clubs attracted the attacker with a lot of money.

Three times he spoke in Portuguese Prime Minister António de Oliveira Salazar in order to leave the country may. But the dictator rejected every time with the comment, Eusébio belong to the Portuguese people.

“If I had to Inter Milan may change, I could have bought me the biggest square of Lisbon”, Eusébio said after his career, at the end he hoofed it through the U.S. and Canada. It is one of the few critical sets of the idol. Grudge against Benfica he almost never, at least not publicly expressed. Become a Club he remained faithful even after his career, worked in the club as a junior and assistant coach as well as a consultant.

Eusébio, who was married and the father of two daughters since 1965, knew what he had to thank the football. “We players are not mortal, but the football.”: In an interview with the “world,” he once said