By Melody Gross 
Last season, Benfica celebrated national champion titles in the Under-13, Under-17 and Under-20 categories, in addition to all national awards in women's hockey, a dominance that has continued for more than 10 years in Portugal. The common denominator at the junior level and in women's hockey was Joao Rodriguez, the coach who recently left FC Luz, after seven years of service to the Red Club. Initially as a coaching coordinator, the role later piled on to the position of manager of the women's hockey team. In terms of formation, Benfica have become one of the most successful clubs in recent years, sharing the top spot in particular with Valongo. Former roller hockey player and son of joao rodriguez, The now former Eagles president helped create successful teams and develop the talent who today is known as Ze Miranda, Lucas Honorio or Thiago Sanchez. “We have managed to be the team with the highest number of players in the national teams and the team with the highest winning percentage in national and local tournaments. I feel proud of this demonstrated path,” highlights register Joao Rodriguez.
Joao Rodriguez won the four national champion titles in 2023/24
A father of two girls, the former Eagles manager is leaving Benfica to devote more time to his family and due to recent changes in the sport's leadership with the rise of Miguel Campos to hockey coordinator.
“In May, I had already informed President Rui Costa of my intention to leave. In fact, the previous year, I had already communicated my intention to leave. Since I have been at Benfica, I have been a father twice. I got married, and the truth is that training is always in the afternoon,” the president asked. I would like to stay for another year,” he said, explaining more details about his departure. “I left because the path I was going to follow in training was not the path I had dreamed of. When I started to feel that things were going to change, I thought it would be a good decision to leave, but I left with a sense of duty accomplished.”
About Luis Felipe Vieira and Rui Costa, the two presidents he dealt with, he praises Joao Rodriguez. “In terms of coaching, I always felt great appreciation from both Luis Felipe Vieira and Rui Costa. The first coaching contracts concluded – Zee Miranda, Jota, Ramalho, Lucas Onorio… – were with the approval of Luis Felipe. With Vieira, the monitoring was always Very close and was concerned about the conditions we had for our athletes.
Thiago Rafael, a former Benfica player, is now responsible for coordinating training. “Implementing the new structure means the current team managers become technical secretaries. There's nothing against that, it's a very important role, but it doesn't suit my profile.”
Call-up to the World Cup
Champions for 11 consecutive seasons, Benfica Women's Hockey has enjoyed historic dominance of the sport in Portugal. However, the unparalleled dominance has not translated into a World Cup call-up by Eagles players almost exclusively.
Maria Vieira (goalkeeper) and strikers Marlen Souza and Maria Sofía Silva were left out of Novara's squad, which culminated in a statement from the club and criticism from vice president Fernando Tavares of coach Helder Antunes, who will finish second. Qualifying for the World Cup, the best result in the last eight years.
Joao Rodriguez with Marilyn Souza and Maria Sofía Silva
“I do not discount the quality of any athlete called up to the national team, but I believe that Portugal has athletes with better qualities than those who have been called up. Marlene Sousa is the icon of the national team, she is capable of playing,” said Joao Rodriguez, who also defended Maria Vieira and Maria Sofía Silva. “He is the most symbolic figure in the tournament and was the best scorer in the national tournament this year.”
Regarding second place, the former president of the Eagles women's team talks about a defensive team. “It is the choices of each selector who then lives with the results. I do not attribute the success or failure of the national team to second place in the World Championship or third place in the European Championship. Although I was happy about it after the victory over Argentina, Portugal was not an attacking team Continuing: With Spain we lost 2-0, but we owe a lot to Claudia Vicente for these two results, because she had an extraordinary World Cup, as she is an athlete of high quality.”
Regarding Helder Antunes, Joao Rodriguez criticized the coach's failure to attend Benfica's matches. “It is a point that has to change for me. I have rarely seen national teams in the women's national championship. I have watched very few Benfica matches. These are technical choices that we must respect, but we are also free to make.” Analysis does not choose the best.”