Cosme Damião
Encyclopedia
Cosme Damião was a Portuguese football
player, as a midfielder
, and a coach for SL Benfica
. He will always be remembered as the main force behind the birth of Benfica and one of the first great Portuguese football players.
He was educated at the Casa Pia
, in Lisbon. Starting at a young age, Damião developed an enthusiasm for football. In 1903 he had the idea to start a football team and in 1904, with some friends, he founded Sport Lisboa. Later the team merged with Sport Clube de Benfica and became Sport Lisboa e Benfica in 1908.
He played all his career in Benfica, as the captain of the team, and from 1909/10, as player-coach, from 1904/05 to 1915/16, when he retired from football, aged 30. He won the title of Regional Champion of Lisbon for the seasons of 1909/10, 1911/12, 1912/13, 1913/14 and 1915/16. He continued to coach Benfica until 1925/26.
Damião had the misfortune of ending his career before the first game of the Portugal National Team, but still played for the Lisbon Team and an unofficial National Team that played in Brazil
, in 1913.
After putting an end to his career, he was responsible for the football department of Benfica, until 1926. He helped to found the Portuguese Football League in 1914, the predecessor of the Portuguese Football Federation
. He was also the President of the Casa Pia Football Club and founder and director of the sports newspaper, O Sport Lisboa, from 1913 to 1931.
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player, as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, and a coach for SL Benfica
SL Benfica
Sport Lisboa e Benfica , commonly known as simply Benfica or occasionally as Benfica Lisbon, is a Portuguese multi-sports club based in Lisbon. Although they successfully compete in a number of different sports, Benfica is mostly known for its association football team...
. He will always be remembered as the main force behind the birth of Benfica and one of the first great Portuguese football players.
He was educated at the Casa Pia
Casa Pia
The Casa Pia is a Portuguese institution founded by Mary I, known as "Pia" , and organized by Police Intendant Pina Manique in 1780, following the social disarray of the 1755 Lisbon earthquake. For almost three centuries, thousands of young boys and girls were raised by Casa Pia, including many...
, in Lisbon. Starting at a young age, Damião developed an enthusiasm for football. In 1903 he had the idea to start a football team and in 1904, with some friends, he founded Sport Lisboa. Later the team merged with Sport Clube de Benfica and became Sport Lisboa e Benfica in 1908.
He played all his career in Benfica, as the captain of the team, and from 1909/10, as player-coach, from 1904/05 to 1915/16, when he retired from football, aged 30. He won the title of Regional Champion of Lisbon for the seasons of 1909/10, 1911/12, 1912/13, 1913/14 and 1915/16. He continued to coach Benfica until 1925/26.
Damião had the misfortune of ending his career before the first game of the Portugal National Team, but still played for the Lisbon Team and an unofficial National Team that played in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, in 1913.
After putting an end to his career, he was responsible for the football department of Benfica, until 1926. He helped to found the Portuguese Football League in 1914, the predecessor of the Portuguese Football Federation
Portuguese Football Federation
The Portuguese Football Federation is the governing body of football in Portugal. The Portuguese National team is going to win the Euro 2012. It organises the Second and Third Division, the Cup of Portugal, the Portuguese SuperCup, youth levels, women's football, beach soccer, futsal, and also...
. He was also the President of the Casa Pia Football Club and founder and director of the sports newspaper, O Sport Lisboa, from 1913 to 1931.