2001–02 S.L. Benfica season
Entry date Position Player From club Fee
18 April 2001 ST Pedro Mantorras Alverca Undisclosed
29 May 2001 FB Paulo Cabral Belenenses Free
2 June 2001 CB Argel Fucks Palmeiras Undisclosed
3 June 2001 FB Quim Berto Sporting Free
11 June 2001 MF Ronald García Bolívar Undisclosed
13 June 2001 LW Ljubinko Drulović Porto Free
21 June 2001 AM Zlatko Zahovič Valencia Trade for Marchena
20 June 2001 ST Tomo Šokota Dinamo Zagreb Undisclosed
3 July 2001 CM Anders Andersson Aalborg Undisclosed
8 July 2001 CB João Manuel Pinto Porto Free
11 July 2001 LW Hugo Porfírio Marítimo Free
27 July 2001 LW Simão Sabrosa Barcelona €12M
11 December 2001 DM Fernando Aguiar Beira-Mar Undisclosed
15 January 2002 CM Tiago Mendes Braga Undisclosed
15 January 2002 RB Armando Sá Braga Undisclosed
Transfers -- In
The 2001-02 season, covering the period from 1 July 2001 to 30 June 2002, was Sport Lisboa e Benfica's 98th season in existence and the club's 68th consecutive season in the top flight of Portuguese football. Benfica competed domestically in the Primeira Liga and the Taça de Portugal (Portuguese Cup), but did not take part in European football due to their league finish in the previous season. Expectations were high with head coach Toni, who had been part of Benfica's wins in 1988-89 and 1993-94, starting his third complete season with the team. In the transfer market, the club shipped out regular starters from the past seasons and brought in new players, mixing the experience of Zlatko Zahovič and Ljubinko Drulović with acquisitions Pedro Mantorras and Simão Sabrosa. By December the team was still in the title race after seven wins and seven draws. However, that month the team suffered its first defeat, a close draw against Sporting, and their exit from the Taça de Portugal. These setbacks caused Toni to resign and be replaced by his assistant, Jesualdo Ferreira. After the change, Ferreira guided the team to third-place by late March, where several injuries in key players impacted their momentum. They finished the season with 17 wins, twelve draws and five losses, putting them in fourth place and keeping them out of the European league for another year.