Benfica icon Eusebio ‘stable’ as he battles lung condition

BENFICA and Portugal legend Eusebio is likely to stay in hospital over Christmas after being diagnosed with double pneumonia, Jose Roquette, a clinical director at Lisbon’s Hospital da Luz, said.

The former striker is in a stable condition despite being admitted on Wednesday with an infection in both lungs. “He’s eating well,” said Roquette. “He had a good night.”

The 69-year-old’s condition is not thought to be life-threatening and doctors treating him said they are optimistic about his chances of a full recovery, although the illness requires close monitoring and he will undergo treatment for several more days.

Asked when Eusebio might be released, Roquete was quoted as saying: “It may take two, three, four, five, six days, we do not know.”

The head of the hospital’s intensive care, Ja Joao Sa, reportedly said Eusebio was taken to the unit for “better monitoring of his medical condition”.

Eusebio was also admitted to the Hospital da Luz in 2007 when he underwent a heart operation to prevent a possible stroke.

According to Portuguese sport website abola.pt, Joao Sa has confirmed there is no link between that episode and Eusebio’s current illness.

Eusebio’s former club Benfica were quick to offer their support to arguably the greatest player in the club’s history.

“Benfica wish a speedy recovery to the Black Panther,” read a statement on Benfica’s official website, slbenfica.pt.

Eusebio da Silva Ferreira played for nine clubs in a 22-year professional career but it was at Benfica where he forged his reputation as one of the game’s greats, turning out for the club 614 times between 1960 and 1975 and scoring an astonishing 638 goals.

During his time at the Stadio da Luz, Eusebio won 11 Portuguese league titles, five Portuguese cups and the European Cup in 1962. Despite being born in Mozambique, Eusebio was eligible to play only for Portugal as his homeland was a dependency of the European nation. He scored 41 goals in 64 international appearances between 1961 and 1973, and finished as the top scorer at the 1966 World Cup in England.

He was named one of the ten best football players of all time by Fifa in 1998.

The Portuguese Football Federation (FPF) also wished Eusebio – who has been employed as an ambassador for the national team – a quick return to health.

“On behalf of the Portuguese Football Federation we wish a speedy recovery to Eusebio and also to express that the whole Portuguese football family is behind him,” a statement read. “Eusebio is a symbol of Portuguese football.

“It will take a lot of strength to overcome this difficulty, but he has honoured Portugal for many years with his distinguished presence, including as ambassador of the national team.”