Sven-Göran Eriksson arrived at Benfica on 27 June 1982, aged just 34, straight from winning the UEFA Cup with IFK Göteborg. He was an instant success: Benfica took the 1982-83 title losing only once, four points clear of Porto, added the Taça de Portugal for a double and reached the UEFA Cup final, losing to Anderlecht. He retained the championship in 1983-84 before leaving for Roma.

He returned on 28 July 1989 from Fiorentina and won the Supertaça in his first months back. In 1989-90 he took Benfica to the European Cup final in Vienna, beaten 1-0 by Milan, then won a third league title in 1990-91. A trophyless 1991-92, second behind Porto, ended his time at the Luz and he moved on to Sampdoria.

Eriksson is credited with modernising Portuguese football, replacing man-marking with zonal defending and aggressive collective pressing in a disciplined 4-4-2.

He also opened a lasting Swedish pipeline to Lisbon - Glenn Strömberg, Mats Magnusson, Jonas Thern and Stefan Schwarz - while working with Chalana, Carlos Manuel and Nené. He died in August 2024.