Martim Mayer, with Benfica in his blood. Follow the launch of his candidacy

There's a packed house in a red-painted Capitol, and DJ and radio host André Henriques takes the stage, not to play music for the crowd but to introduce a new candidate for the presidency of Benfica. Grandson of the historic Borges Coutinho, who led the club from Luz between 1969 and 1977, and supported by some of the best ever, including António Simões, "the European champion with Benfica in Amsterdam" (1962) as the candidate's representative , Martim Mayer presents his candidacy for the presidency of Benfica today, under the slogan "Benfica in Blood: Honoring the Past, Leading the Future."

The launch kicked off almost an hour later than scheduled, but that didn't dampen the spirit, with many other supporters watching the live broadcast on the YouTube channel Martim Mayer created for his candidacy. And the candidate took the stage with Simões's approval: "Martim has the people and the project. I trust him and support him." Other supporters included musician Tozé Brito, Commander António Frias, and Luís Mascarenhas.

Member number 5206, the 51-year-old businessman, who had already entered the race in 2012 against Luís Filipe Vieira, revealed his intention to advance last month in an interview with the sports newspaper A Bola , adding his name to those of João Noronha Lopes (manager and owner of the V!RA chicken restaurants), João Diogo Manteigas and Cristóvão Carvalho (both lawyers). The elections for the presidency of Benfica are scheduled for October 25th and may still win more candidates, including the current president, Rui Costa, who according to A Bola is likely to advance, and possibly also his predecessor, Vieira .