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DATE:
Friday 22nd July 2005
Albion's first meeting with
a side from Portugal came in May 1969 against Vitoria Setubal during the
Palo Alto International Tournament held in California, USA. Albion lost the
game 1-0 in front of a crowd of 6,000.
Nine years would pass before the club again faced Portuguese
opposition. After knocking Turkish side Galatasary out in the first round of
the UEFA Cup Albion were drawn against Sporting Club Braga. Albion
won the first leg in Portugal 2-0 thanks to two Cyrille
October 1987 saw
Albion travel to Portugal for a mid-season break which
included a friendly game against Portuguese second division side Esperanca
de Lagos. The game ended 1-1 although it was off the field activities that
made all the headlines after a number of
Albion players were involved in a brawl at a bar after the match. Albion's last meeting
against a team from Portugal came at the start of last season when Boavista
were the visitors to The Hawthorns as part of the club's 125th anniversary
celebrations. A dull game ended 0-0 in front of a crowd of 7,683.
BENFICA
CONNECTIONS
Former
Albion midfielder Jordao had a spell playing for Benfica in
the late 1990's. The Angolan born star also spent time at three other
Portuguese clubs: Campomaiorense, Estrela da Amadora and Sporting Club
Braga from where he moved to The Hawthorns in August 2000. He spent four
years at Albion before rejoining Amadora in 2004.
Ex-Albion manager Jimmy Hagan managed Benfica from
1970-73. He later managed FC Porto, Sporting Lisbon, Boavista and Vitoria
Setubal whilst in Portugal. PORTUGUESE CONNECTIONS
Former Albion players Tony Grealish, Peter Eastoe and
Peter Barnes all had spells playing in Portugal; Albion legend Ronnie
Allen had a short spell as manager of Sporting Lisbon in the early
1970's; Sir Bobby Robson, an Albion player from 1956-62 managed both
Sporting Lisbon and FC Porto during the 1990's; Former Albion boss Keith
Burkinshaw also had a spell as coach of Sporting Lisbon.
PREVIOUS MATCHES
AGAINST PORTUGUESE OPPOSITION
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