Rui Pedro Braz to Depart Benfica Ahead of Club Elections

Benfica’s sporting director Rui Pedro Braz is set to leave the club before the October elections. This ends his four-year stay with the Portuguese giants. He informed Benfica president Rui Costa of his decision months ago and will step down after the summer transfer window. The separation is friendly, with Braz now planning to explore opportunities abroad.

WHAT HAPPENED?

Rui Pedro Braz has been a key figure at Benfica since joining in 2021 during the presidency of Luís Filipe Vieira. After Vieira’s resignation, Braz continued his work under Rui Costa. Over the years, he took an active role in Benfica’s football operations and transfer strategies. This summer’s transfer window will be his last in charge before he hands over responsibilities to Mário Branco, a football executive with experience at Fenerbahçe, Hajduk Split, and PAOK. The transition is being managed smoothly, as both Braz and Branco collaborate to prepare the squad for the upcoming campaign.

Benfica is also undergoing broader structural changes, with Lourenço Coelho departing as the general director. Mário Branco will assume both Coelho’s and Braz’s duties beginning July 14, in time for the team’s preseason start.

BENFICA’S RECENT PERFORMANCE

Benfica finished the 2024/25 Primeira Liga season in second place, just behind champions Sporting. The team had a solid Champions League campaign, reaching the quarter-finals, and reached the Taça de Portugal final, but the fans and management demand more than this. Several key signings and youth promotions were overseen by Rui Pedro Braz in recent seasons, helping the team remain competitive domestically and in Europe.

Benfica finished second in Portugal and sought international success in the Club World Cup following this season’s performance.

According to a previous report, Benfica were knocked out of the FIFA Club World Cup by Chelsea.

The squad begins preseason training next week, with the new sporting leadership aiming to maintain recent momentum and close the gap on Porto. Benfica’s next major fixture is the Supertaça match against Porto, a repeat of last year’s title-deciding clash.

WHAT COMES NEXT FOR BRAZ AND BENFICA?

Rui Pedro Braz leaves Benfica on good terms and is reportedly open to new projects abroad. He had previously been linked to sporting director roles in the Premier League, including a reported interview with Newcastle United last year. For Benfica, the leadership transition comes at a crucial time as the club seeks stability ahead of the October elections. Mário Branco will need to quickly adapt, with immediate priorities including summer transfers and shaping a squad capable of reclaiming the league title. Benfica remains within touching distance of the top of Portuguese football and will be eager to start the new season strongly under new management.