Sokota signs with Porto..........adios!

Benfica announced this Thursday, the signing of Beto. The 28 year old Brazilian signed a three year deal with Benfica. Last year, the Beira-Mar midfielder scored six goals, including a goal against Benfica and Porto.

Benfica are chasing Paul Le Guen, who stepped down as coach of Lyon last month after leading the club to their fourth successive French title, to be their new manager.

Benfica football director Jose Veiga began talks with the 41-year-old after it became clear that Giovanni Trapattoni would not stay on for the second year of his two-year contract, the Diario de Noticias reported Wednesday.

Trapattoni, 66, is stepping down two weeks after leading Benfica to their first league title in 11 years because he wants to be closer to his family in Italy.

Le Guen would be expected to bring a more attacking style to Benfica which under Trapattoni, a one-time coach of Italy's national team, was criticised for its defensive tactics.

Former Spain coach and one-time coach of Benfica, Jose Antonio Camacho, had also been tipped as a possible replacement but Benfica were reported to have ruled him out after he demanded 250,000 euros (308,000 dollars) a month.

Former Ajax coach Ronald Koeman was also interested in the job.

I am available to coach Benfica as it is one of the big European clubs. If Benfica wants to talk to me I am available to listen," said Koeman who resigned from Ajax in March after they were knocked out of the UEFA Cup by French side Auxerre.

Koeman bound for Benfica
Former Dutch international Ronald Koeman will lead Portuguese champions SL Benfica into the UEFA Champions League after replacing Giovanni Trapattoni as coach.

Official unveiling
The 42-year-old, who was dismissed as coach of AFC Ajax midway through the season, will be unveiled at a press conference at the Estádio da Luz tonight at 20.30 local time. He has agreed a two-year contract and will hope to emulate the triumphs of his Italian predecessor, who steered Benfica to their first SuperLiga title in eleven years as well as the Portuguese Cup final.

Likely candidate
Koeman had long been touted as the most likely successor to Trapattoni, who chose not to guide Benfica into the Champions League, preferring to be close to his home and family in Italy. However, in recent days, the Dutchman had been only one name on a list of potential candidates which included former Olympique Lyonnais coach Paul Le Guen, Javier Irureta and Alberto Zaccheroni.

Painful memory
Benfica fans may prefer to forget that Koeman was a member of the PSV Eindhoven side that overcame the Lisbon Eagles in the 1988 European Champion Clubs' Cup final. The libero converted the opening kick in PSV's 6-5 penalty shoot-out victory after 120 goalless minutes in Stuttgart.

so far benfica signed three new players:
anderson: brazilian, center back, in own words "likes to play hard on the opponent".
beto: brazilian, defensive midfielder, ball recovering man with powerfull shot.
karyaka: russian, skilled attacking midfield (left), played left wing in prev. club but koeman wants to set him in the center.

karyaka has been the highlight with his game vision, precise passing and half range shoot.

next sunday benfica will be playing chelsea in lisbon.
that will be a good occasion to evalute these new guys.

Thanks benfica and nuno for the info.. yes should be a good match indeed!! looking forward to it. you guys seem like benfiquistas.. do you have a favorite place to watch the match?

I am looking forward to seeing moreira back in net and m. fernandes but i heard he was gonna have some minor surgery..

I also look forward to seeing mourinho's refreshed squad... specifically watching Tiago come back home!!! I can see him getting a special applause!!

Walt

FORZA MICCOLI!!!!!!!!!!