Xico (footballer) - Club Career

Club Career

In spite of spending his youth career at rival club FC Porto, Xico would become a SL Benfica 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.