Eagle Vitória
Vitória in 2015
SpeciesHaliaeetus leucocephalus
OccupationMascot
Known forMascot of S.L. Benfica

Águia Vitória is the mascot of Portuguese football club S.L. Benfica. Before every Benfica match at the Estádio da Luz, the eagle (águia) flies around the stadium and, in the vast majority of cases, eventually lands on top of the club's crest without the eagle symbol, completing it.[1][2] On occasion, the exhibition flight does not go as expected, with the eagle missing the landing or flying out of the stadium.[3][4]

Vitória is a bald eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus), trained by André Rodrigues since April 2011.[5] The original eagle Vitória, whose trainer was Juan Bernabé, flew in the inauguration of the Estádio da Luz on 25 October 2003. It was apprehended days later and released in May 2006. In the meantime, it was replaced by a similar eagle with the same name.[6]

The eagle flying at Estádio da Luz before a UEFA Champions League match in 2019

Gloriosa is another eagle that flies in the stadium, where the eagles actually live.[1] They carry red and white ribbons, the club's colours.[2]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Duarte, Ricardo Oliveira; António, Ana (15 May 2013). "Vitória e Gloriosa - as águias do Benfica" [Vitória and Gloriosa - Benfica's eagle]. TSF (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 12 June 2013. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  2. 1 2 "Benfica's mascot eagle returns after flying away before game". The World Game. 2 April 2018. Archived from the original on 2 April 2018. Retrieved 2 April 2018.
  3. ↑ "Insólito antes do Benfica-Moreirense: águia Vitória aterrou no local errado" [Unusual moment before Benfica-Moreirense: eagle Vitória landed on the wrong place]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 15 January 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  4. ↑ "O insólito momento no qual a águia Vitória foge do Benfica-Eintracht" [The unusual moment when the eagle Vitória escapes from the Benfica-Eintrach match]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 12 April 2019. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  5. ↑ "André Rodrigues, treinador das águias Vitória e Gloriosa" [André Rodrigues, trainer of the eagles Vitória and Gloriosa]. YouTube (in Portuguese). Mais Educativa TV. 30 October 2014. 5 minutes and 36 seconds. Retrieved 1 April 2018.
  6. ↑ Pereira, Luís Miguel (November 2009). Bíblia do Benfica [Benfica Bible] (in Portuguese) (7th ed.). Portugal: Prime Books. p. 135. ISBN 978-989-655-005-9.
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