1998–99 S.L. Benfica season
Entry date Position Player From club Fee
1 July 1998 DM Luís Andrade Belenenses Undisclosed
1 July 1998 RW Nandinho Salgueiros Undisclosed
1 July 1998 DM Marco Freitas Vitória Guimarães Free
1 July 1998 DM Michael Thomas Liverpool Free
1 July 1998 LW Mark Pembridge Sheffield Wednesday Free
1 July 1998 LW Hugo Porfírio Racing Santander Undisclosed
8 December 1998 ST Dean Saunders Sheffield United Undisclosed
16 December 1998 FW Jorge Cadete Celta de Vigo Undisclosed
1 January 1999 LB Bruno Basto Alverca Loan return
14 January 1999 RB Gary Charles Aston Villa Undisclosed
9 March 1999 LB Steve Harkness Liverpool Undisclosed
Transfers -- In
The 1998-99 European football season was the 95th season of Sport Lisboa e Benfica's existence and the club's 65th consecutive season in the top flight of Portuguese football. The season ran from 1 July 1998 to 30 June 1999; Benfica competed domestically in the Primeira Divisão and the Taça de Portugal. The club also participated in the UEFA Champions League as a result of finishing second in the Primeira Divisão in the previous season. After guiding Benfica to second place, Graeme Souness remained in charge for a first full season. The Scottish brought in a handful of British players to the team, but only Michael Thomas, Mark Pembridge and Dean Saunders got regular playing time. To offset, Benfica lost the likes of Edgar Pacheco, Brian Deane and Scott Minto. The season started with the qualifying rounds of the UEFA Champions League, which the club successfully passes, although not without drama. Domestically, Benfica fared better, quickly reaching the top spots by early October. However, a home draw with Alverca, starts a six-match winless spree that put them in fifth place in the league and negatively impacted their Champions League campaign. Benfica eventually regained their step in the Primeira Divisão. From late November till early February, they won 8 out of 9 matches, including seven in a row. This allowed them to battle the second place with Boavista with a match between in 14 March assuming significant importance.