My interactions with Eusebio: A tribute to the Black Panther

I had the privilege of meeting the late, incomparable Eusebio da Silva Ferreira (popularly known as Eusebio) thrice at various international tournaments. I found him a friendly, humble and amiable man, despite his fame as one of the all time greats in football and with one of the most powerful shots in the history of the game.

We first met on Jan 20, 1990 at the Salt Lake stadium in Kolkata when Olimpia (Paraguay) beat Gimnasia De la Plata (Argentina) in the Nehru Club Cup final. He was happy to be in the city of Mother Teresa and was also impressed that an Indian club Mohammedan Sporting (with future Nigerian World Cup player Emeka Ezeugo in their ranks) had reached the semi finals and beaten teams like Metallist Kharkov (Ukraine) and Zambia XI in their group matches.

Mohammedan Sporting had won both these matches 1-0 and lost just 0-1 to a penalty goal to ultimate winners Olimpia and so Eusebio had commented that the team Indian club team had a good defence.

Next we bumped into each other on 23 June 1996 at Villa Park, Birmingham, where he was very depressed to see Portugal lose 0-1 to Czech Republic in the Euro 1996 quarter finals. Portugal with famous players like Rui Costa and Luis Figo in their team were fancied for the title but faltered, due to lack of a goal-poacher.

The Portuguese media kept peppering Eusebio with questions of why his country lacked great finishers. Always polite and mild-mannered, Eusebio did not criticize Helder or Paulo Sousa (Portugal’s strikers) but with a wry smile did say, “You win matches in football by scoring goals.”

Our next meeting took place at the Amsterdam Arena on 24 June 2000. Portugal had just beaten Turkey 2-0 in the Euro 2000 quarter finals and Eusebio was witnessing the match as the lifelong ambassador to Benfica and Portugal national team. I would like to share some of the memories of my conversation with him during these three meetings.

Eusebio belonged to an age of innocence. Great players did not have agents and they were not constantly surrounded by TV cameras eager for a byte. They were paid well but not exorbitantly, did not have celebrity life styles and were much more accessible to fans and media alike.

The Mozambique born striker often laughingly said he would have never been famous but for a chance meeting between two coaches in a barbers shop in Lisbon. Carlos Bauer, an elegant right midfielder, who played for Brazil in the 1950 World Cup, had a decade later become a coach. In 1961 Bauer had taken a Brazilian team for a tour to Africa.

On their way back they stopped at Lisbon. There Bauer met Bela Guttmann, the wily Hungarian Jew who coached Benfica. Bauer had been Guttman’s player when the latter had coached Sao Paolo of Brazil. They both met at a barber’s shop and whilst having their hair cut chatted about football.

Bauer eulogized Eusebio, who was then a precocious teenager known for his blistering shots and explosive runs down the flanks. Initially Guttmann was hesitant. But he met Bauer again the next day and got convinced.

The rest as they say is history. The astute Guttmann persuaded Benfica to sign the raw but powerful Eusebio for just $20,000. It was considered a gamble for a nineteen year old striker. Also over fifty years ago, European clubs rarely recruited African players. In fact Portugal set the trend.

The world of European club football was very different then. Teams did not consist of multicultural players. In fact Benfica had a policy to recruit only players from Portugal and its colonies.

The Benfica management were initially hesitant but then agreed because they valued Guttmann’s judgment. Also African players had started making a mark in Portugal. The first to do so was Mario Coluna also from Mozambique who played as both left striker and later as left half back. His left-footed shooting was almost as ferocious as Eusebio’s with his right. Coluna had starred in Benfica’s memorable 3-2 win over Barcelona in the 1961 European Cup Champions Cup final at Berne in Switzerland. He scored the vital third goal.

Guttman could spot talent and had also introduced another African player, Jose Aguas, the centre forward from Angola. He was quick in thought and movement and excelled in playing with his back to the goal. Another Angolan to join Benfica was inside forward Joaquim Santana.

So the process of recruiting African players for European clubs was started by Guttmann. Didier Drogba, Yaya Toure, Michael Essien and numerous other contemporary African footballers in the Premiership and other European leagues owe their careers to a trend started by this visionary Hungarian coach of Benfica.

Eusebio was known for his exploits in the 1966 World Cup where he finished top-scorer with nine goals. However the Black Panther from Mozambique always told me that his greatest match was the 1962 European Cup final against mighty Real Madrid. He was just twenty years old then and admitted he was overawed playing a side which included both Alfredo Di Stefano and Ferenc Puskas.

Eusebio fondly remembered this match as defensive tactics were not employed and shots flew into the net. Puskas scored a first half hat-trick and Real Madrid led 3-2. But then goals by Coluna and a brace by Eusebio (a penalty and an explosive free kick) enabled Benfica win 5-3.

Eusebio had said that this match established him as a world star as his effective dribbling, power and pace unsettled Real Madrid in the second half. However his abiding memory was a gesture at the end of the match. Puskas gave Eusebio his jersey. This was a poignant moment as the former Hungarian captain was idealized by Eusebio.

When asked about his great goal scoring ability, Eusebio always said it was due to his speed. It was said he could run 100 metres in 11 seconds. He was also capable of bewildering skill and possessed a stinging shot. He also had the physical and mental strength not to be intimidated by anyone, which Eusebio claimed was due to his tough upbringing in Mozambique.

He would have turned 72 on January 25. He started with Sporting Lourenco-Marques, a nursery club of Sporting Lisbon, but Guttman snatched him for Benfica. The top scorer in the Portuguese league seven times, he was European Footballer of the Year in 1965 and by the time he retired in 1978 had scored 733 times in 745 professional matches, including 41 in 64 internationals.

Eusebio in action against Hungary in the World Cup in 1966

History will remember him for his four goals feat which enabled Portugal recover and beat North Korea 5-3 in the 1966 World Cup quarter finals at Goodison Park, home ground of Everton. Eusebio admitted that Portugal was complacent and were overwhelmed by the pace and quick short-passing of North Korea in the opening twenty minutes. He always admitted that if the North Koreans had become defensive and pulled players back in midfield, Portugal would have struggled. But it remained an open game.

Eusebio always modest and low key never talked about his great individual feat. However journalists who saw that game said he took on the North Koreans virtually on his own. He moved from the right wing to the left, the left wing to the middle, using his footwork, body swerve and acceleration to get through the Korean defence. By half time he had made it 2-3.

Fifteen minutes into the second half, Eusebio broke through to score again. Next came an electrifying left wing run, in which he evaded several tackles before being tripped in the box. He scored from the resultant penalty kick. Portugal won 5-3.

England’s tenacious defensive midfielder Nobby Stiles was his nemesis in both the 1966 World Cup semi finals and 1968 European Cup final against Manchester United. Stiles closely marked him in both these matches and reduced his effectiveness.

During both these matches, especially the 1968 European Cup final, Stiles’ often resorted to rough tackles. Even years later when the modest Eusebio was questioned he praised Stiles and never complained about the constant kicks on his ankles. The two of them had a memorable reunion in 2005 and remained friends after that.

But above all Eusebio will be remembered for sporting spirit and large-hearted gestures. In the closing stages of the 1968 European Cup final, with the score 1-1 in a game United went on to win 4-1 in extra-time, Eusebio was denied what could have been a winner when his powerful shot was kept out by a fine save from goalkeeper Alex Stepney. As play continued in one of the most important games of his life, Eusebio stopped to applaud United’s goalkeeper.

Cristiano Ronaldo overtook Eusebio’s international scoring tally of 41 goals last year but took 106 caps to do so. Ronaldo is now Portugal’s most admired footballer a position once occupied by Eusebio who because of his humble demeanour was loved by all. He ranks amongst the pantheon of great players.

Some may claim he was not of the same class as Diego Maradona, Pele, Lionel Messi or Johan Cruyff. However, after Eusebio’ death, one of the all time great defenders Franz Beckenbauer on Twitter said, “one of the greatest football players ever has passed away.” If Beckenbauer can call him one of the greatest ever then why quibble.