Félix Antunes

Félix Assunção Antunes (14 December 1922 – 6 July 1998), known as Félix, was a Portuguese footballer who used to play as midfielder or as defender. He is notable for his run with S.L. Benfica.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Assunção and the second or paternal family name is Antunes.
Félix
Personal information
Full name Félix Assunção Antunes
Date of birth (1922-12-14)14 December 1922
Place of birth Barreiro, Portugal
Date of death 6 July 1998(1998-07-06) (aged 75)
Place of death Pretoria, South Africa
Position(s) Defender
Youth career
CUF
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
?–1944 Unidos Futebol Clube ? (?)
1946–1954 Benfica 188 (2)
International career
1949 Portugal 15 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Career

While he played football he was at the same time a CUF Indústrial Worker.

Félix used to have a great positional presence and he was the engine of the team, it was common among the supporters the expression "SL & FÉLIX". He played ten seasons with the Benfica jersey from 1944 to 1954. He was considered as one of the best defenders in the world back in the days.[1]

He started his career as a centre-back by the hand of János Biri (1946). With the arrival of Lippo Hertzka (1947), Félix started being used as midfielder, but when Ted Smith arrived he changed the all tactical perspective of the team, putting Félix at centre-back, the position he became famous at.

He was part of the team that won the Latin Cup against FC Bordeaux (1950).

He ended his career at 30 years old due to an episode that occurred after a Benfica loss against Vitória S.C., when after the game Félix threw his shirt to the floor on the locker room. Due to this disrespectful act against the SL Benfica symbol, the president of Benfica dismissed his services.[1]

National team

Félix represented the Portugal national football team 15 times.

Honours and awards

References
  1. "100 anos: Félix Antunes: DEFESAS-CENTRAI" (in Portuguese). Record. 22 April 2003.

Félix Antunes – FIFA competition record (archived)

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