Xico (footballer)
Encyclopedia
Francisco Ferreira also known as Xico Ferreira, was a Portuguese
football player, notable for his run at SL Benfica
. He played as a central midfielder.
Legend. He started his professional career in 1936 only 17 years old, at Porto spending two professional seasons until 1938/39 when he moved to SL Benfica. He moved to SL Benfica due to a wage dispute with Porto's board, it is well known the episode when Xico Ferreira asked for a pay raise and the answer he got from Porto Staff was : O senhor ou assina a ficha ou põe-se na rua, porque não queremos malandros cá dentro a pedirem dinheiro" (Either you sign the document or you get out, we don´t want scoundrels here, asking for money."
After this episode, it was obvious that he could not stay in Porto much longer. Xico received a new contract from Porto when they realized that they were on the verge of losing him, but Xico didn't back down on his word to the SL Benfica
board.
He was known for his strong character and fair play, not allowing his teammates to do any kind of hard challenges on opponents. In one episode, Benfica player Jacinto
tackled a Porto player, leading to Xico putting his arms on Jacinto's shoulders and waged him in sign of reproval. In 1943, he was nominated Captain of the Benfica squad.
He won five Portuguese Liga
championships (four with SL Benfica, and one with Porto), and six Portuguese Cups. He failed to play the final of Taça Latina 1949/50 due to illness.
Xico received two transfer offers, one from Torino FC in 1949. The President was in awe with Xico's abilities and one from Real Madrid
1945. He turned down the first due to his love for the Lisbon
Club and the Torino transfer was cancelled due to the Superga air disaster
.
. He debuted against France ( 28-1-1940 ), Portugal lost that game by 3-2. His final game was against Belgium (17-6-1951) a draw.
, Grande Torino president, was an admirer of Xico's abilities, and after the Italy-Portugal game played in Genoa
in 1949, the two became friends. In Xico Ferreira's tribute game, the five-time Italian champions were invited as honorary guests (May 3, 1949). Benfica won by 4-3, but this victory had a bitter ending for Xico, SL Benfica, and the football world as no one could have predicted the tragic events that would result after the match. On the return home, the plane that transported all the players and staff of the Grande Torino squad crashed. Due to fog, the pilot crashed against one of the towers of the Basilica of Superga
resulting in the death of all the passengers.
This incident would crush Xico, since he was invited to go to Italy to discuss his future. In order to alleviate his conscience he sent 50 contos (250 Euros) to the families of those who died, and on his personal trophy room he put a picture with a black frame of the Grande Torino team.
1x Portuguese Liga
- 1938/1939
SL BENFICA
4x Portuguese Liga
- 1941/42, 1942/43, 1944/45 and 1949/50
6x Portuguese Cup - 1939/40, 1942/43, 1943/44, 1948/49, 1950/51 and 1951/52
1x Taça Marechal Craveiro Lopes - 1952
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...
football player, notable for his run at SL Benfica
SL Benfica
Sport Lisboa e Benfica , commonly known as simply Benfica or occasionally as Benfica Lisbon, is a Portuguese multi-sports club based in Lisbon. Although they successfully compete in a number of different sports, Benfica is mostly known for its association football team...
. He played as a central midfielder.
Club career
In spite of spending his youth career at rival club FC Porto, Xico would become a SL BenficaSL Benfica
Sport Lisboa e Benfica , commonly known as simply Benfica or occasionally as Benfica Lisbon, is a Portuguese multi-sports club based in Lisbon. Although they successfully compete in a number of different sports, Benfica is mostly known for its association football team...
Legend. He started his professional career in 1936 only 17 years old, at Porto spending two professional seasons until 1938/39 when he moved to SL Benfica. He moved to SL Benfica due to a wage dispute with Porto's board, it is well known the episode when Xico Ferreira asked for a pay raise and the answer he got from Porto Staff was : O senhor ou assina a ficha ou põe-se na rua, porque não queremos malandros cá dentro a pedirem dinheiro" (Either you sign the document or you get out, we don´t want scoundrels here, asking for money."
After this episode, it was obvious that he could not stay in Porto much longer. Xico received a new contract from Porto when they realized that they were on the verge of losing him, but Xico didn't back down on his word to the SL Benfica
SL Benfica
Sport Lisboa e Benfica , commonly known as simply Benfica or occasionally as Benfica Lisbon, is a Portuguese multi-sports club based in Lisbon. Although they successfully compete in a number of different sports, Benfica is mostly known for its association football team...
board.
He was known for his strong character and fair play, not allowing his teammates to do any kind of hard challenges on opponents. In one episode, Benfica player Jacinto
Jacinto
Jacinto is a Spanish and Portuguese name meaning Hyacinth, which can refer to Saint Hyacinth, a Roman martyr , or the Hyacinth flower itself.A common English nickname for Jacinto is Jack.-See also:*Hyacinth*San Jacinto*Jacinta...
tackled a Porto player, leading to Xico putting his arms on Jacinto's shoulders and waged him in sign of reproval. In 1943, he was nominated Captain of the Benfica squad.
He won five 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...
championships (four with SL Benfica, and one with Porto), and six Portuguese Cups. He failed to play the final of Taça Latina 1949/50 due to illness.
Xico received two transfer offers, one from Torino FC in 1949. The President was in awe with Xico's abilities and one from 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...
1945. He turned down the first due to his love for the Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
Club and the Torino transfer was cancelled due to the Superga air disaster
Superga air disaster
The Superga air disaster took place on Wednesday, 4 May 1949, when a plane carrying almost the entire Torino A.C. football squad, popularly known as Il Grande Torino, crashed into the hill of Superga near Turin killing all 31 aboard including 18 players, club officials, journalists accompanying the...
.
International career
He received 25 caps for the Portugal national football teamPortugal 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...
. He debuted against France ( 28-1-1940 ), Portugal lost that game by 3-2. His final game was against Belgium (17-6-1951) a draw.
Torino honourary guest
Ferruccio NovoFerruccio Novo
Ferruccio Novo was an Italian football player, coach, and club president. He was born in TurinHe was a player of Torino F.C., and became club president in 1939. Moreover, as the Technical Commission Chairman of the Italy national football team, he led them to the 1950 FIFA World Cup....
, Grande Torino president, was an admirer of Xico's abilities, and after the Italy-Portugal game played in Genoa
Genoa
Genoa |Ligurian]] Zena ; Latin and, archaically, English Genua) is a city and an important seaport in northern Italy, the capital of the Province of Genoa and of the region of Liguria....
in 1949, the two became friends. In Xico Ferreira's tribute game, the five-time Italian champions were invited as honorary guests (May 3, 1949). Benfica won by 4-3, but this victory had a bitter ending for Xico, SL Benfica, and the football world as no one could have predicted the tragic events that would result after the match. On the return home, the plane that transported all the players and staff of the Grande Torino squad crashed. Due to fog, the pilot crashed against one of the towers of the Basilica of Superga
Basilica of Superga
The Basilica of Superga is a church in the vicinity of Turin.It was built from 1717 to 1731 for Victor Amadeus II of Savoy by Filippo Juvarra, at the top of the hill of Superga, to fulfill a vow the duke had made during the Battle of Turin...
resulting in the death of all the passengers.
This incident would crush Xico, since he was invited to go to Italy to discuss his future. In order to alleviate his conscience he sent 50 contos (250 Euros) to the families of those who died, and on his personal trophy room he put a picture with a black frame of the Grande Torino team.
Honours and awards
FC PORTO1x 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...
- 1938/1939
SL BENFICA
4x 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...
- 1941/42, 1942/43, 1944/45 and 1949/50
6x Portuguese Cup - 1939/40, 1942/43, 1943/44, 1948/49, 1950/51 and 1951/52
1x Taça Marechal Craveiro Lopes - 1952