Duarte Borges Coutinho Explained

Post-Nominals:4th Marquess of Praia and of Monforte
Borges Coutinho
Birth Name:Duarte António Borges Coutinho
Birth Date:18 November 1921
Birth Place:Lisbon, Portugal
Death Place:Greater London, England
Known For:Presidency of S.L. Benfica
Nationality:Portuguese
Spouse:[1]
Children:5[2]
Parents:António Borges Coutinho de Medeiros Sousa Dias da Câmara
Maria Ana Davidson Perestrelo de Vasconcelos

Duarte António Borges Coutinho, 4th Marquess of Praia and of Monforte (18 November 1921 – 19 May 1981), commonly known simply as Borges Coutinho, was the 26th president of Portuguese sports club S.L. Benfica.

Born in Lisbon and educated both in England and Portugal, Borges Coutinho became a member of Benfica in 1959, aged 37. Ten years later, he became president of the club after defeating candidates Fernando Martins and Romão Martins in the elections of 12 April 1969, with 58 percent of the votes. During his eight-year presidency (four consecutive biennal terms), the football team won seven Primeira Liga titles (personal record)[3] [4] – one of them without defeat, in the 1972–73 campaign – and three Taça de Portugal trophies. This allowed Benfica to consolidate their hegemony in Portuguese football.

Under Borges Coutinho's term, in 1969, Benfica took possession of lands near their stadium, Estádio da Luz, to create three football pitches, one synthetic athletics track, and eight tennis courts. He was awarded with the Portuguese: Águia de Ouro (Golden Eagle) by the club in 1973. After deciding not to contest the elections of 26 May 1977, he was succeeded by José Ferreira Queimado.[5]

Borges Coutinho died at the age of 59 in Greater London, England.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: D. Duarte António Borges Coutinho, 4th marquess of Praia and of Monforte. subscription. Geneall. pt. 16 March 2018.
  2. Borges Coutinho. 29 July 2021. Vitórias & Património. Benfica TV. 25 January 2011. 1. 15. 00:37. pt.
  3. Book: Pereira, Luís Miguel. November 2009. Bíblia do Benfica. Benfica Bible. pt. 7th. Portugal. Prime Books. 149. 978-989-655-005-9.
  4. News: 13 May 2017. Benfica Campeão - Presidente do tetra aproxima-se do trono de Borges Coutinho. President of the tetra comes near Borges Coutinho's throne. pt. Diário de Notícias. 17 July 2021.
  5. Web site: Presidentes: os nomes que marcam a história. 15 March 2018. S.L. Benfica. pt. Presidents: the names that mark the history. 16 March 2018.