The real life history:
Sport Lisboa e Benfica commonly referred to as simply Benfica, S.L. Benfica and in many fan anthems as SLB is a multisports club based in Lisbon, Portugal, best known for its football team. Sport Lisboa e Benfica was founded in 1904 by a group of twenty-four men. The club's main stadium is the Estádio da Luz in the Luz area of Lisbon. They were founding members of Portuguese Liga in 1933, and, together with FC Porto and Sporting CP, they have never been relegated from the Primeira Divisão. Benfica is the most successful and popular club in Portugal with a total of 31 Portuguese Liga, 27 Portuguese Cup, 4 SuperCup Cândido de Oliveira, 2 UEFA Champions League and 1 Latin Cup. The club has 7 UEFA Champions League finals and one UEFA cup making it the Portuguese club with most International Competion finals. SL Benfica has the biggest fan base among Portuguese clubs, having also the largest number of supporters outside of Portugal for a Portuguese club, with a total of 14 million Benfica's fans worldwide and over 160,000 registered paying supporters - a world record according to the Guiness Book of World Records.S.L. Benfica has retired the number of Hungarian player Miklós Fehér, who died of cardiac arrhythmia in January 2004 at Vitória S.C.'s ground in Guimarães after falling unconscious during a match for the Portuguese Liga.His number was 29.

The club had his best years between 1960-1970, with Eusébio being the main responsible for this success. During this decade, Benfica won 8 Championships, 3 portuguese cups and 2 Champions Cups.

Now-a-days, Benfica is still recovering from the worst period in its history, due to financial trouble, which was caused between 1994-2003.
With Pablo Aimar, José António Reyes and Suazo brought in this season (2008/09), the club expects to recover some of its significance.

In Football Manager 2009:
So, after the not so brief history of the club (courtesy of Wikipedia ), let's check the club's info in FM2009...

Legends: Eusébio, Sven-Goran Eriksson
Ícons: Mário Coluna, Rui Costa, António Simões, Toni, Michel Preud'Homme, Humberto Coelho, Fernando Chalana
Favourite People: Bella Gutman
Fierce Rivals: F.C. Porto, Sporting C.P.
Other Rivals: Belenenses (I believe Boavista FC should also be included, but this is the FM information, so...)
Finances: Secure
Average ticket Price: 13€
Average season ticket price: 470€
Season ticket owners: 35000
Value: 181m €
Continental Competition: Euro Cup
Press Prediction: 3rd
Status: Determined
Captain: Nuno Gomes
Vice-Caption: Luisão

The Staff:

Assistant Managers:

Francisco Escribá (43 years old):
I don't think he is any good, and so I always try to cut him loose, but his compensation fee is just to high, so you'll only be able to terminate his contract in 2010/11.

Diamantino Miranda (48 y.o):
No good, either. But his compensation fee is just to high, so you have to keep him until 2010/11

Fernando Chalana (49 y.o):
This man... Is also worthless, I believe. I always try to work with the best guys, and so I terminate his contract right away, when I arrive. This one you don't have to keep, you can terminate his contract as soon as you which.

Coaches:

Pako Ayestarán (45 y.o):
Brought in with Quique Flores (as Francisco Escribá), this guy is quite good. Defensive, Tactical and Physical training are his strengths. I usually keep him, until some better team comes along and takes him away.

Jorge Afonso (33 y.o):
He does a fairly good job in offensive training, but I usually cut him loose.

Emilio Álvarez (36 y.o):
He only trains the Goalies, and he sucks at it. Fired.

João Alves (55 y.o):
He is the youth team manager.I would prefer him as an Assistant Manager, but well... He needs another youth team manager to help him deal with the kids, since he is only 12 in working with youngsters.

The Physios:

All fired, all useless. I got two guys, were much better than the other 8 all together.

Scouts:

All fired, unless Rui Águas.

Rui Águas:
He's really good finding portuguese kids. Finding players for the first squad isn't easy, since all the other clubs in Portugal are crap, and the ones that aren't are rivals, so...

The players:
So, here are my lads!

Goal Keepers:

Quim (32 y.o):
I believe this guy has earned his space in the team. He's not world class, but since good keepers are very difficult to find, and expensive, I believe he can make into the first squad for the first season, backup in the second one.

Moreira (26 y.o):
This kid... Well, he could have easily become the best portuguese keeper, even one of the best in Europe, but his talent was wasted trough out the years, being relegated to the bench by players like Bossio, and blowing up his knee, later... Last season was spent injuried, now he is back. In FM is not great, he is an all right back-up.

Moretto (30 y.o):
Garbage. I believe he is not worthy of this team. Should be sold at the first chance.

Before anything, I must say our defense is quite unbalanced. We have Luisão and David Luiz for the center, and they are great, but then we have pour left an right backs.

Léo (LB, 33):
He was a great defender, he has past his prime, but he still manages to do it. Good enough as a back up for first season.

David Luiz (CB, 21):
Great defender, and he will improve a lot! He may want to leave, but if you offer him a new contract and mark his price like 60m you will not be bothered, and he will be happy by staying. He just becomes great in the future (screenie for you guys, unfortunately it is in portuguese, since I don't have the english idiom in my game)
Beggining:


2010/11:


Luisão (CB, 27)
He is quite good for the portuguese league, and will certainly be good enough for some of the major leagues' mid-table clubs. I sold him for 18m in the beggining of season 1.

Miguel Vítor (CB, 19)
I simply love this kid. He isn't that great in the beggining, I know, but if you keep him, you won't regret. He becomes quite well balanced and he was formed in the club.
Beggining:


2010/11:


Sídnei (CB, 18)
He is supposed to become great, and he will get there, but I eventually sold him, after a couple of seasons, since he wasn't getting many chances to play and also didn't evolve as expected. But he should become a good defender.

Zoro (CB, 24)
This guy is just not worth the trouble, I believe. I sold him for 800k, and I'm happy with my deal.

Katsouranis (CB, DM, CM, 29)
His best position is CM, but he can also do wonders as DM and perform very well as CB most of the time. One of my key players, I would say. Recovers lots of balls, scores quite often with headings and does a good job holding the midfield.

Maximiliano Pereira (RB, RM, CM, 24)
This is the only "right back" the club has. He is far better as a CM, but there's not much of a choice for the right back, so he has to do it, at least as a back-up, if you bring anyone else.

Jorge Ribeiro (LB, 26)
This portuguese player is not the best in the world, but does alright. I prefer him to Léo, but my Assistant Managers don't agree. That's up to your opinion.

Rúben Amorim (DM, CM, 23)
He is not the best thing in the world and I sent him out on a loan. Anyway, he probably could do a sufficient job in the midfield.

Binya (DM, CM, 23)
I lend and then sold him. He didn't even get a chance to try and get his place, nor I think he would make it. Not good enough for Benfica. At least, not my Benfica.

Fellipe Bastos (DM, CM,18)
He is supposed to become good enough for the first squad, but he didn't. I had him lend for one season, then another and then I sold him. I believe he would have been able to be at least a good back-upo, but I had other plans for the team.

Hassan Yebda (DM, CM, 24)
Despite the unfortunate hair cut he had (ehehe), he is a good player. Good enough to fight for his place in the first season, played a few matches, but the competition became too strong. If you're low on money, I advise you keep him.

David Simão (LM, 18)
Eheh. The only thing similar to Simão Sabrosa is the name. I tried to turn him into "something", first in the U-18 squad, then a few Cup matches and then a loan. And then another loan. And then... I terminated his contract. I believe he is garbage.

Carlos Martins (CM, 26)
Oh, well... He just isn't the right guy for my team. He is offensive, which I like. His mentals? Not too bad. But he has a very bad stamina and even worse physical condition. He didn't get many chances to play, though he stayed for a full season, then I sold him.

Balboa (RW, 23)
He came from Real Madrid, so he can't be that bad, but he can't be that great, either. He does alright for the first season, every other match. Then there's Urreta. And bye. Sold him. But he isn't all that bad. But not that great, either.

Urretaviscaya (RW, LW, 18)
Who would say this kid would have his space in my squad in the very first season? His stats aren't great, but he evolves, and well, in the first season. Then he just kind of evolves slower. If he playes enough matches in the first season, he will stay for longer. Doesn't become a Ronaldo, or Messi, but becomes a Simão, which is already good enough.

2010/11:


Coelho (18)
He does a few positions and... that's it. Nothing more to see. Terminated. NEXT.

Angel Di María (LW, OMF, 20)
He is very good. He played enough matches and proved himself to be of great value. Every now and then there may be a few guys trying to take him away, but he's happy here and he's great. What else could you want? He becomes THE key player of the team in 2010/11, as well as David Luiz.

Beggining:


2010/11:


José António Reyes (LW, OMF, FS, 24)
He is here on loan, and that's all the time he'll stay. While he is here, he is one of the star players.

Pablo Aimar (OMF, 28)
Yes, he is supposed to be the "new" Rui Costa arround. But no, he isn't. He plays inconsistently, and so I lend him. Then I sold him. Probably would work better if I played differently. Not my key player, but could be.

Nuno Gomes (ST, 32)
Old. Doesn't play much, surely past his prime. But he is a symbol of the club itself. In my 2010/11 season he was still here, but in january I terminated his contract, not because I didn't want him, but because I respected him. He wanted to play, but he wouldn't in Benfica,so it was the best thing to do. Surely will be back as a scout or assistant manager. Very important as captain.

Óscar Cardozo (TS, 25)
This is the man. He didn't score as many as I wanted in my first season, but by the end of 2008/09 he was already showing the kind of performance I expected. The seasons after were much better. He is certainly one of the stars in this team.

Beggining:


2010/11:


Ariza Makukula (TS, 27)
He scored a few goals back in 2007/08, and that's all. Since he moved to Benfica, he never grabbed a place in the starting eleven, nor in real life nor in FM. He is too slow, and too low in off the ball. Waste of wage, Sell him as soon as possible.

Mantorras (FS, 26)
He was very promising when he came, too many years ago. Now he isn't good enough for Benfica, and though being just 26, he should really consider retiring. Sell him as soon as possible.

David Suazo (FS, 28)
He is certainly one of the star players in the team, but he spends a little too much time injuried and takes his time to adapt.

Who you could buy, as I did:
For the defensive problem, there are a few options, within the budget:
Paulo Ferreira, LB, RB. I bought him for 1.7m, and had him for a season and sold him for 12m to AC Milan. Meaning? He performs great. Best SB in the portuguese league.
David Santon, RB, RM, RW. For only 3.9m, he was a great deal. Plays well in any of the positions indicated, and he is very young. Improves a lot, and very fast.
Razvan Rat, LB. For 3.3m he didn't do bad, but he isn't that great. He does the job for the first season.
In case of selling Luisão, i recommend Petri Pasanen, from Werder Bremen. He costed 6.5m and did very well, playing with David Luiz.
For the midfield I vividly recommend Javad Nekounam, from Osasuna, who costed 3.9m and performed great, later becoming my captain. Great as CM or DM.
Also, Francesco Bolzoni is a great deal, 3.7m, great progression and outstanding player, he can only get better.
For goalkeeper, I got Enyeama, for 1m. I paied that much just because I wanted the bid to be accepted before someone else could bid. About his performance, he is Enyeama, and that says it all, doesn't it?


Well, I guess this is all... Probably lacking a few things, so I hope you guys point out what lacks, so that I can make betters ones in the future.
If any of you are interested I can show you guys how I'm doing in the game. ;)

Forgot to mention: Cabeceamento= Heading; Finalização= Finishing, Sem bola= off the ball, posicionamento= positioning, Desarme= Tackling, Impulsão= Jumping, Compostura= Composure, Marcação= Marking. Any other can be found on google translate or ask me, if any other doubts occur... (This is refering to the screenshots, in case you haven't noticed it ;))