Benfica to pip Man United for Guinness world record

 

10 November 2006 |

 

Portuguese giants Benfica have set a new Guinness world record for the football club with the most paid up members, surpassing the previous record set by Manchester United, Portuguese media reported on Friday.

 

Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira and a Guinness World Record official will make the announcement at a press conference later on Friday, sports daily A Bola reported citing club officials.

 

The Lisbon-based club, founded in 1904, counts over 160,000 members following a membership drive launched earlier this year, compared to 152,000 members for previous record holders Manchester United.

I am number 134,944!!!! :dance:

Maybe, but Man U have millions more "fans" worldwide (for example, most of China:P)!!

I doubt if people in China have even heard of Benfica!!:rolleyes:

and, if wahtshisface hadn't taken over Man U, they'd have more paid up members. you just need to look at the memership list for FC United!!!

and' date=' if wahtshisface hadn't taken over Man U, they'd have more paid up members. you just need to look at the memership list for FC United!!![/quote']

 

How many members do they have, then?:rolleyes:

How many members do they have' date=' then?:rolleyes:[/quote']

 

way more than any other club in that division. they're doing wonders for gate revenues!!!!

way more than any other club in that division. they're doing wonders for gate revenues!!!!

 

I have respect for their stand.;)

Maybe' date=' but Man U have millions more "fans" worldwide (for example, most of China:P)!![/quote']

 

true, there's loads of people who travel to england for just one game...

true' date=' there's loads of people who travel to england for just one game...[/quote']

 

And I bet that doesn't happen so often with Benfica.;)

true' date=' there's loads of people who travel to england for just one game...[/quote']

 

I know that... I'm not in conditions to discuss that... but what I can say is that those are not real fans, those are fans of the Man U's. marketing!!!

 

Benfica is said to have 6 million supporters in Portugal, plus 3 million portuguese abroad... plus Angola, Mozambique and other african ex-colonies... even in Brazil...

 

of course african people can't afford to go watch football to Portugal like asians to England...

I know that... I'm not in conditions to discuss that... but what I can say is that those are not real fans, those are fans of the Man U's. marketing!!!

 

Benfica is said to have 6 million supporters in Portugal, plus 3 million portuguese abroad... plus Angola, Mozambique and other african ex-colonies... even in Brazil...

 

of course african people can't afford to go watch football to Portugal like asians to England...

 

Well that goes to show that the vast majority of Benfica fans are Portuguese speakers, whereas Man U have fans who speak countless different languages.;)

neither Benfica or Man U are the biggest clubs on the Earth, obviously.

 

SLB has more "paid supportes" than anyone else, although it doesn't mean too much. Man U are popular more thanks to their "good financial strategy" and flawless marketing than worldwide success (they became popular and "cool club to support" in 90s)

 

i'd say the most popular and (according to statistics) biggest club ever is Real Madrid. close 2nd might be FC Barcelona

 

also in top 5 would be Juventus, AC Milan and probably Liverpool or Man Utd, of course if we count only european clubs, because Boca or River for example would be near the top, too

neither Benfica or Man U are the biggest clubs on the Earth, obviously.

 

SLB has more "paid supportes" than anyone else, although it doesn't mean too much. Man U are popular more thanks to their "good financial strategy" and flawless marketing than worldwide success (they became popular and "cool club to support" in 90s)

 

i'd say the most popular and (according to statistics) biggest club ever is Real Madrid. close 2nd might be FC Barcelona

 

also in top 5 would be Juventus, AC Milan and probably Liverpool or Man Utd, of course if we count only european clubs, because Boca or River for example would be near the top, too

 

But not on a "global" basis. Nobody cares about them outside of Argentina (and possibly other Spanish-speaking countries).;)

 

And Real's biggest "selling-point" worldwide is David Beckham. And why is he so popular? Because he played for MANCHESTER UNITED!!:P

Benfica is said to have 6 million supporters in Portugal, plus 3 million portuguese abroad... plus Angola, Mozambique and other african ex-colonies... even in Brazil...

 

of course african people can't afford to go watch football to Portugal like asians to England...

 

true but the same goes for english clubs, they also have fans abroad who cant afford to travel to england.

 

but there's also many english fans who can't afford to see their team, which doesn't suprise me if tickets are about 33£.

true but the same goes for english clubs, they also have fans abroad who cant afford to travel to england.

 

but there's also many english fans who can't afford to see their team, which doesn't suprise me if tickets are about 33£.

 

Very true. Those ticket prices are a total rip-off (as are countless other things in the UK)!!:veryangry2:

Very true. Those ticket prices are a total rip-off (as are countless other things in the UK)!!:veryangry2:

 

i totally agree. and you probably often end up paying more but i'm lucky to have a friend who works at anfield. that helps a lot.

But not on a "global" basis. Nobody cares about them outside of Argentina (and possibly other Spanish-speaking countries).;)

 

Boca and River and many other South American clubs "gave" Europe so so many good football players...

it's just all about money. they can't allow themselves to "feed" their own players for many years, that's why they export them to us

 

the European football is very overrated by the way. the majority of top clubs in Europe based on non-europeans

 

And Real's biggest "selling-point" worldwide is David Beckham. And why is he so popular? Because he played for MANCHESTER UNITED!!:P

 

jesus, i'm not talking about "money". i'm talking about traditons and achievements

 

as much as i hate Real Madrid, i can't disagree with the fact that they are the biggest club of the last century, you can't either i guess

Boca and River and many other South American clubs "gave" Europe so so many good football players...

it's just all about money. they can't allow themselves to "feed" their own players for many years, that's why they export them to us

 

the European football is very overrated by the way. the majority of top clubs in Europe based on non-europeans

 

 

 

jesus, i'm not talking about "money". i'm talking about traditons and achievements

 

as much as i hate Real Madrid, i can't disagree with the fact that they are the biggest club of the last century, you can't either i guess

 

Aha! But this thread is about the number of fans/supporters, and if Man U have more fans in China than any other team (as they almost certainly DO), they MUST be the most-supported club in the world!!;)

i totally agree. and you probably often end up paying more but i'm lucky to have a friend who works at anfield. that helps a lot.

 

What does he do there?:rolleyes:

Aha! But this thread is about the number of fans/supporters' date=' and if Man U have more fans in China than any other team (as they almost certainly DO)[/quote']

 

Title of the thread: Biggest club in the World (misleading, though)

 

when you talk about fans, you mean the 7 years old girls who buy David Beckham's no. 7 Man Utd t-shirts or people who actually have clue about football?

 

undoubtfully, United is a big club (i'm being a fan, too), but there's no way they are the most popular club worldwide.

 

 

they MUST be the most-supported club in the world!!;)

 

i believe Real or Barca have by far more supporters than Man U

What does he do there?:rolleyes:

 

he works there as a security

Title of the thread: Biggest club in the World (misleading, though)

 

when you talk about fans, you mean the 7 years old girls who buy David Beckham's no. 7 Man Utd t-shirts or people who actually have clue about football?

 

undoubtfully, United is a big club (i'm being a fan, too), but there's no way they are the most popular club worldwide.

 

 

 

 

i believe Real or Barca have by far more supporters than Man U

 

I disagree. Manchester United are widely believed to be the "most popular" and most well-known club in the world, and I'm NOT a fan.;)

Go take a straw poll in China (the most heavily POPULATED country in the world) and then come back to me.;)

he works there as a security

 

So he has to deal with all the Pooligans?:rolleyes:

So he has to deal with all the Pooligans?:rolleyes:

 

no, with the away club's fans

I disagree. Manchester United are widely believed to be the "most popular" and most well-known club in the world, and I'm NOT a fan.;)

Go take a straw poll in China (the most heavily POPULATED country in the world) and then come back to me.;)

 

o rly?

 

http://english.people.com.cn/200511/29/eng20051129_224317.html