Mário Coluna
Encyclopedia
Mário Esteves Coluna (ˈmaɾiu kuˈlunɐ; born August 6, 1935 at Inhaca
, Portuguese East Africa
) is a former Portuguese
and Mozambican
footballer
. He was primarily a left-half and was nicknamed the "O Monstro Sagrado" ('The sacred monster').
, where he was assigned to Benfica in 1954/55, the team he played until 1969/70. He won 10 National Championships, in 1954/55, 1956/57, 1959/60, 1960/61, 1962/63, 1963/64, 1964/65, 1966/67, 1967/68 and 1968/69, and 6 Cups of Portugal in 1955, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1964 and 1969. He won the European Cup
twice with Benfica, in 1961 and 1962, and also played in the finals of 1963, 1965 and 1968, this last time as the captain. In the 8 of December 1970, Coluna made is farewell game in Estádio da Luz with Benfica before moving to Lyon. In this tribute to his career, were invited to play some of the biggest football stars back then (Cruiff, Hurst, Suarez, Bobby Moore, and many others).
He played 57 times for the Portugal national team
, scoring 8 goals. His first appearance was in a friendly match with Scotland
on May 4, 1955, losing 0-3, and his last on December 11, 1968, in a 2-4 defeat to Greece
, in a World Cup qualifying match.
Coluna captained the legendary team of the "Magriços
" in all, except the second, of the games of the World Cup 1966 finals, where Portugal reached third place.
He also played for Lyon
, in France
, in 1970/71 and 1971/72, before retiring.
in 1961 (1961 European Cup Final
) where Béla Guttmann
´s Benfica beat the Spanish formation for 3-2 in Bern. Coluna Scored a fantastic goal in this game a long range volley impossible for Ramallets to defend. The Barcelona FC squad included player's such as Ladislao Kubala
, Sándor Kocsis
and Zoltán Czibor's
.
The Second final was next year this time against the 5 time champions Real Madrid
. Coluna Scored once again in S.L. Benfica victory 5-3 against the Spanish Giants.
The next three finals Benfica lost. In the Wembley final against AC Milan, Coluna met Giovanni Trapattoni
that would become S.L. Benfica's coach (2004/05) and a fan Favourite in Estádio da Luz. The final against the Italian squad is a bad memory for Coluna since he was injured by Trapattoni and S.L. Benfica lost it. Nowaday's Coluna still can't forgive the Italian, and says:"I´m Thankfull for the championship he has won for S.L. Benfica as a Benfica Fan, but I can´t forgive what he has done to me!. The other two finals where against Inter Milan (1965) and Manchester United (1968) Benfica lost both.
, because of his great technical skills, but he achieved greater notoriety, as a central midfielder
. He also served as the country's Minister of Sports, from 1994 to 1999.
10x Portuguese Liga
:
1954/55, 1956/57, 1959/60, 1960/61, 1962/63, 1963/64, 1964/65, 1966/67, 1967/68 and 1968/69
6x Portuguese Cup:
1955, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1964 and 1969
5x Uefa Champions Cup
Finals
Winner: 1961 and 1962
Runner-Up:1963, 1965 and 1968
PORTUGAL NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM
World Cup 1966: Bronze Medal (Third Place)
Inhaca
Inhaca is a settlement in Mozambique, on the subtropical Inhaca Island off the East African coast. Inhaca settlement is centered on a missionary station located about 32km east of Maputo.-Geography and administration:...
, Portuguese East Africa
Portuguese East Africa
Mozambique or Portuguese East Africa was the common name by which the Portuguese Empire's territorial expansion in East Africa was known across different periods of time...
) is a former Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
and Mozambican
Mozambique
Mozambique, officially the Republic of Mozambique , is a country in southeastern Africa bordered by the Indian Ocean to the east, Tanzania to the north, Malawi and Zambia to the northwest, Zimbabwe to the west and Swaziland and South Africa to the southwest...
footballer
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
. He was primarily a left-half and was nicknamed the "O Monstro Sagrado" ('The sacred monster').
Career
Coluna was first noticed in Mozambique, playing at Desportivo of Lourenço MarquesGrupo Desportivo de Maputo
Grupo Desportivo de Maputo, usually known as Desportivo de Maputo, Desportivo Maputo or by the acronym GDM, is a association football club from Maputo, Mozambique.- History :...
, where he was assigned to Benfica in 1954/55, the team he played until 1969/70. He won 10 National Championships, in 1954/55, 1956/57, 1959/60, 1960/61, 1962/63, 1963/64, 1964/65, 1966/67, 1967/68 and 1968/69, and 6 Cups of Portugal in 1955, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1964 and 1969. He won the European Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
twice with Benfica, in 1961 and 1962, and also played in the finals of 1963, 1965 and 1968, this last time as the captain. In the 8 of December 1970, Coluna made is farewell game in Estádio da Luz with Benfica before moving to Lyon. In this tribute to his career, were invited to play some of the biggest football stars back then (Cruiff, Hurst, Suarez, Bobby Moore, and many others).
He played 57 times for the Portugal national team
Portugal national football team
The Portugal national football team represents Portugal in association football and is controlled by the Portuguese Football Federation, the governing body for football in Portugal. Portugal's home ground is Estádio Nacional in Oeiras, and their head coach is Paulo Bento...
, scoring 8 goals. His first appearance was in a friendly match with Scotland
Scotland national football team
The Scotland national football team represents Scotland in international football and is controlled by the Scottish Football Association. Scotland are the joint oldest national football team in the world, alongside England, whom they played in the world's first international football match in 1872...
on May 4, 1955, losing 0-3, and his last on December 11, 1968, in a 2-4 defeat to Greece
Greece national football team
The Greece national football team represents Greece in association football and is controlled by the Hellenic Football Federation, the governing body for football in Greece. Greece's home ground is Karaiskakis Stadium in Piraeus and their head coach is Fernando Santos...
, in a World Cup qualifying match.
Coluna captained the legendary team of the "Magriços
Magriços
Os Magriços was the nickname of the Portugal national football team which reached third place in the 1966 FIFA World Cup in England.It was based on the Benfica team that won the European Cup in 1961 and 1962, and included Mário Coluna, Eusébio, José Augusto, José Augusto Torres, and António Simões...
" in all, except the second, of the games of the World Cup 1966 finals, where Portugal reached third place.
He also played for Lyon
Olympique Lyonnais
Olympique Lyonnais is a French association football club based in Lyon. They play in France's highest football division, Ligue 1. The club was formed as Lyon Olympique Universitaire in 1899, according to many supporters and sport historians, but was nationally established as a club in 1950. The...
, in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, in 1970/71 and 1971/72, before retiring.
European Cup Finals
Coluna played five European Cup finals with S.L. Benfica. The first against FC BarcelonaFC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
in 1961 (1961 European Cup Final
1961 European Cup Final
The 1961 European Cup Final was held at the Wankdorf Stadium, Bern, on 31 May 1961, and saw Benfica play against Barcelona. This was the first final not to include Real Madrid, who had won the previous five finals. Benfica lifted the trophy for the first time, beating Barcelona 3–2.-Match...
) where Béla Guttmann
Béla Guttmann
Béla Guttmann was a Jewish Hungarian footballer and coach. He played as a midfielder for MTK Hungária FC, SC Hakoah Wien, Hungary and several clubs in the United States. However he is perhaps best remembered as a coach and manager of some the world’s leading football teams, including AC Milan, São...
´s Benfica beat the Spanish formation for 3-2 in Bern. Coluna Scored a fantastic goal in this game a long range volley impossible for Ramallets to defend. The Barcelona FC squad included player's such as Ladislao Kubala
Ladislao Kubala
László Kubala Stecz , also referred to as Ladislav Kubala, Ladislao Kubala, was a footballer, who played as a forward with, among others, Ferencvárosi TC, ŠK Slovan Bratislava, Vasas SC, FC Barcelona and RCD Espanyol. He also played for three different national teams, Czechoslovakia, Hungary and...
, Sándor Kocsis
Sándor Kocsis
Sándor Kocsis Péter was a Hungarian footballer who played for Ferencváros TC, Budapest Honvéd, Young Fellows Zürich, FC Barcelona and Hungary. During the 1950s, along with Ferenc Puskás, Zoltán Czibor, József Bozsik and Nándor Hidegkuti, he was a member of the Mighty Magyars...
and Zoltán Czibor's
Zoltán Czibor
Zoltán Czibor Suhai , also referred to as Czibor Zoltán, was a Hungarian footballer who played for several Hungarian clubs, including Ferencváros TC and Honvéd, and Hungary before joining CF Barcelona. Czibor played as a left-winger or striker and was notable for having a powerful shot, good...
.
The Second final was next year this time against the 5 time champions Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
. Coluna Scored once again in S.L. Benfica victory 5-3 against the Spanish Giants.
The next three finals Benfica lost. In the Wembley final against AC Milan, Coluna met Giovanni Trapattoni
Giovanni Trapattoni
Giovanni Trapattoni , sometimes known as "Trap" or "Il Trap", is an Italian football coach and former player, considered the most successful club coach in the history of Serie A. As a player he was part of Italy's squad at the 1962 FIFA World Cup....
that would become S.L. Benfica's coach (2004/05) and a fan Favourite in Estádio da Luz. The final against the Italian squad is a bad memory for Coluna since he was injured by Trapattoni and S.L. Benfica lost it. Nowaday's Coluna still can't forgive the Italian, and says:"I´m Thankfull for the championship he has won for S.L. Benfica as a Benfica Fan, but I can´t forgive what he has done to me!. The other two finals where against Inter Milan (1965) and Manchester United (1968) Benfica lost both.
Playing style
A creative central midfielder, Coluna was known for is stamina and strength, that allowed him to control all the areas in the field. He was also renowned for his elegant and efficient style of play. Coluna used to score long distance goals with ease due to his unerringly powerful and accurate shot. In his early days in S.L. Benfica he was tested as a striker by Otto GlóriaOtto Glória
Otto Martins Glória was a Brazilian football coach. He had his greatest successes with SL Benfica in Lisbon, Portugal, which he guided to nine national trophies...
, because of his great technical skills, but he achieved greater notoriety, as a central midfielder
Football Federation of Mozambique
After Mozambique became independent in 1975, Coluna held the post of President of the Football Federation of MozambiqueFederação Moçambicana de Futebol
The Federação Moçambicana de Futebol is the governing body of football in Mozambique. It was founded in 1976, affiliated to FIFA in 1980 and to CAF in 1978. It organizes the national football league Moçambola and the national team.-External links:...
. He also served as the country's Minister of Sports, from 1994 to 1999.
Honours and awards
SL BENFICA10x Portuguese Liga
Portuguese Liga
The Primeira Liga , formerly called Primeira Divisão, currently named Liga ZON Sagres after their main sponsors, is the top professional association football division of the Portuguese football league system...
:
1954/55, 1956/57, 1959/60, 1960/61, 1962/63, 1963/64, 1964/65, 1966/67, 1967/68 and 1968/69
6x Portuguese Cup:
1955, 1957, 1959, 1962, 1964 and 1969
5x Uefa Champions Cup
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
Finals
Winner: 1961 and 1962
Runner-Up:1963, 1965 and 1968
PORTUGAL NATIONAL FOOTBALL TEAM
World Cup 1966: Bronze Medal (Third Place)