Former Benfica player Fernando Chalana passed away on Wednesday. The ‘little genius’, as he became known, was 63 years old and his death was confirmed by Benfica in communication Posted in Website officially.
Born in Barreiro, Chalana first lined out for the “Eagles” in March 1976, days after he turned 17. “Until that date, no one had ever played in the Portuguese top flight so young,” Benfica wrote.
He was also one of the “embodiment” symbols for many years. Quick, technically advanced and almost unstoppable one-on-one, he was a complete misfit and was instrumental in Benfica’s successes in the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Despite the great international projection of the “Eagles” at the time, it was the 1984 European Championships in France that gave it a greater dimension abroad. It was on this platform that he interested Bordeaux so much that the French club signed him.
Our little genius, Fernando Chalana, passed away at the age of 63 in the early hours of Wednesday, August 10th. pic.twitter.com/uWUGZzgWVe
– SL Benfica (SL Benfica) August 10, 2022
This transfer allowed Benfica to make an important contribution to completing the work of the former third ring of the Stade da Luz, but removed the national football icon from Lisbon and Portugal. He competed in France between 1984 and 1987, but his success in Bordeaux was hampered by back-to-back injuries and unsportsmanlike problems.
He would return to Portugal and Benfica, before moving to Belenenses and ending his career with Estrela da Amadora in 1992 at the age of 33, almost without showing a glimpse of real football.
Nicknamed “Chalanix”, sticking to the world of comics and in particular Asterix, he amassed 27 caps for the national team (with two goals) between 1976 and 1988. After hanging up his boots, he kept in touch with the world of Benfica.
A great figure in Portuguese football.
Rest in peace Fernando Chalana?? pic.twitter.com/N7XI0OTfhu
– Portuguese Sporting Club (Sporting_CP) August 10, 2022
As a coach, he had a much shorter and more discreet career, with a short stint in the Orientals and some appearances for Benfica’s first team, both in transitional phases and in a caretaker role. But where he felt like a fish in the water was in the field. He will be remembered for his raids into passenger cars with his unusual left foot.
