Mário Coluna: The Story of the Sacred Monster
When you mention greats such as Cristiano Ronaldo, Eusébio and Luís Figo, make sure that Mário Coluna's name follows.
Mario Coluna was one of the world's most influential and comprehensively technically proficient midfielders throughout the 1960s, majestically gracing and presiding over the European football scene.
Captain of Sport Lisboa e Benfica and the Portugal National Team, compatriot and team-mate Eusébio never eclipsed his brilliance - the greatest compliment and tribute that can be paid to his undeniable quality and influence in Portuguese football.
Both made the journey from Lourenço Marques (now Maputo, Mozambique) to Lisbon, and when young Eusébio arrived, he carried a letter from his mother asking Coluna to look after her sun in the intense hustle and bustle of the Portuguese capital.
Coluna originated from the more modest neighborhoods of Lourenço Marques as a formidable athlete from a young age, excelling in various sports including boxing, basketball and multiple olympic track events.
At 17 years of age, Coluna even held the national high-jump record and was a national champion.
Initially, his aspirations centred on the ambition of becoming a successful car mechanic, but football could offer a promising path out of poverty. The route the likes of Eusébio, Matateu and Peyroteo chose, but others lacked the temerity to try.
To symbolise the struggle, only aged 15 did he play football wearing shoes.
Coluna scored goals for fun when representing Desportivo de Lourenço Marques, a satellite club of Benfica in the then-Portuguese colony. His excellent athleticism coupled with innate technical aptitude resulted in immediate dominance in Mozambique.
Naturally, his talents and impact garnered the attention of the traditional Portuguese ‘Big 3’, but Desportivo's role as a feeder club to Benfica destined him for ‘Os Encarnados’.
Futebol Clube do Porto and Sporting Clube de Portugal tried, but the 19-year-old would commence his 16-year-long tenure with Benfica in 1954. It was later revealed by Coluna’s daughter that her grandfather would never have allowed Coluna to join Sporting (as a minor, he would’ve needed his father's permission to travel to mainland Portugal).
The future would dictate that the correct decision was undoubtedly made.
The adaptation to big-city life was not easy for Coluna. The 34-hour journey to Lisbon weighed heavy, and while Benfica had other plans, Coluna’s uncle insisted that his nephew would stay with him and be integrated into familiar surroundings.
Although only 5’8 (1.73m), Coluna was rugged, physically assured, and exuded a commanding aura on the ball. His elegant style almost looked unnatural for his unique build.
The new Brazilian coach Otto Gloria was captivated by his elegance and relentless running, and despite José Águas blocking his path in attack, Coluna netted twice on debut in a 5-0 drubbing of Setúbal’s Vitória FC.
Coluna often struggled to see how he’d have a successful future with such a figure in his path, and considered returning to Mozambique, but Benfica simply would not let him give up.
Coluna scored 17 goals in his debut season, second only to Águas.
Initially deployed as a centre-forward, Coluna would then drop into supporting midfield roles alongside spearhead Águas. His ferocious and assertive finishing ability would not prevent him from showcasing his complete technical arsenal, his destiny was as Benfica’s midfield maestro.
Brazilian staples Vasco da Gama and Flamengo became fascinated by Coluna after Benfica’s visit to Brazil in 1956, however, Salazar’s Estado Novo regime prevented that move as it ‘implicated forbidden professionalism’ in football.
The ‘60’s brought Benfica’s Golden Era, and Coluna was at the very heart of it as the puppeteer, pulling the strings for Benfica’s most successful generation and for Portugal’s ‘Magriços’ in 1966 (where he earned a spot in FIFA’s Team of the Tournament).
Benfica won two European Cups, in 1960/61 and 1961/62 respectively. To clinch both titles, Coluna scored in both finals, leading by example. Naturally, Eusébio and Hungarian manager Bela Guttman were equally essential.
Of the ten National Championships conquered by Coluna’s Benfica, seven came in the glorious ‘60’s, as did four of seven Portuguese Cups (known as the Taça de Portugal).
Coluna was ever-present, featuring in 525 official fixtures for Benfica, 328 as captain, scoring 127 goals across 16 years. Undoubtedly one of the best ever for Portugal’s biggest and most successful club.
That legacy speaks for itself.
He also contributed with eight goals in 57 caps for Portugal in the country's most successful era barring the last decade.
He was frequently described as "The Portuguese Didi" due to his influence on every aspect of the game from midfield. Jaime Graça, another prominent Benfica figure, attested to Coluna's unquestionable influence: "He was the one who guided how we occupied spaces on the field. His eyes alone talked to you. He was like a father at the head of the table.”
He was known as a man of few words, commanding respect through stature. His captaincy was symbolic and iconic, one of few players of darker skin to wield true power and superiority.
The 1963 European Cup Final is the living proof of his leadership. In the first half of the final against AC Milan at Wembley, a malicious challenge fractured Coluna’s foot, in an era before substitutions became prominent. Coluna stoically endured the entire 90 minutes as Benfica were unfortunately defeated.
The infamous Bela Guttman ‘curse’ would extend to 1965 and 1968, bringing Benfica and Coluna two more European Cup Final defeats.
He equally demonstrated his influence during the 1966 World Cup in an amusing episode where he saved Otto Glória (now Seleção manager) from being sent off. After a foul call against Portugal, Glória approached the touchline. Coluna followed him and, using his limited English, told the referee, "Mr. Referee, I'm the captain of my team. I'm so sorry about my coach." He managed to convince the referee with the same ease he convinced thousands of fans throughout his career.
Eusébio’s connection with Coluna was evident when on and off the pitch, developing an immediate and special bond. Eusébio continued to call Coluna ‘Sir’ throughout their lives post-retirement, and Coluna’s eulogy expressed that Eusébio was like a son to him.
The embodiment of resilience and leadership.
After leaving Benfica in 1970, Coluna played for one season in Lyon before coaching in Portugal and Mozambique - eventually becoming president of the National Football Federation and Sports Minister in Mozambique upon gaining independence from Portugal in 1975. Coluna always represented Mozambique with distinction despite representing Portugal international.
“He was and will always be a football genius who magnified football and took Benfica to a global dimension. He will forever be in our hearts.” - Former Benfica president Luís Filipe Vieira
