View source for Mário Coluna

{{Short description|Portuguese footballer (1935–2014)}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2014}}
{{Portuguese name|Esteves|Coluna}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Mário Coluna
| image = Mario Coluna (1969).jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = Coluna in 1969
| fullname = Mário Esteves Coluna<ref name=Bio>{{WorldFootball.net|coluna}}</ref>
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1935|8|6|df=yes}}<ref name=Bio/>
| birth_place = [[Inhaca]], [[Portuguese Mozambique]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2014|2|25|1935|8|6|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Maputo]], Mozambique
| height = 1.73 m<ref name=Bio/>
| position = [[Midfielder#Central midfielder|Midfielder]]
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = Albasini
| youthyears2 = 
| youthclubs2 = [[Clube Ferroviário de Maputo|Ferroviário]]
| youthyears3 = 1951–1954
| youthclubs3 = [[GD Maputo|Desportivo Lourenço Marques]]
| years1 = 1954–1970
| clubs1 = [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]]
| caps1 = 364
| goals1 = 89
| years2 = 1970–1971
| clubs2 = [[Olympique Lyonnais|Lyon]]
| caps2 = 19
| goals2 = 2
| years3 = 1971–1972
| clubs3 = Estrela Portalegre
| caps3 = 
| goals3 = 
| totalcaps = 383
| totalgoals = 91
| nationalyears1 = 1955–1968
| nationalteam1 = [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]]
| nationalcaps1 = 57
| nationalgoals1 = 8
| medaltemplates = {{Medal|Sport|Men's [[Association football|football]]}}
{{medal|Country|{{fb|POR}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|3rd|[[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966 England]]|}}
}}
'''Mário Esteves Coluna''' ({{IPA|pt|ˈmaɾiu kuˈlunɐ}}; 6 August 1935 – 25 February 2014) was a Portuguese [[Association football|footballer]] who played mainly as a [[Midfielder#Central midfielder|central midfielder]].

He spent most of his career with [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]], appearing in 525 official matches and scoring 127 goals over 16 professional seasons. Dubbed ''O Monstro Sagrado'' (The Sacred Monster), he won 19 major titles with his main club, including ten [[Primeira Liga]] and two [[UEFA Champions League|European Cups]].<ref name=SM>{{cite news|url=https://www.dn.pt/desporto/benfica/ate-sempre-monstro-sagrado-3704945.html|title=Até sempre, "Monstro Sagrado"|trans-title=See you soon, "Sacred Monster"|newspaper=[[Diário de Notícias]]|first=Sérgio|last=Pires|language=pt|date=25 February 2014|access-date=24 October 2023}}</ref>

Coluna represented [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] at the [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966 World Cup]] and earned a total of 57 [[Cap (sport)|caps]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/geral/selecao/lista-completa-dos-internacionais-portugueses|title=Lista completa dos internacionais portugueses|trans-title=Complete list of Portuguese internationals|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=pt|date=18 February 2004|access-date=24 October 2023}}</ref> He was considered one of the best midfielders of his generation, also being viewed as one of the most talented Portuguese players of all time.<ref name=FIFA>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2012/m=3/news=coluna-benfica-midfield-colossus-1597575.html|title=Coluna, Benfica's midfield colossus|publisher=FIFA|date=9 March 2012|access-date=17 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151106132721/http://www.fifa.com/news/y=2012/m=3/news=coluna-benfica-midfield-colossus-1597575.html|archive-date=6 November 2015}}</ref>

==Club career==
Born in [[Inhaca]], [[Portuguese Mozambique]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://maisfutebol.iol.pt/benfica/liga/mario-coluna-um-ano-de-saudade|title=Mário Coluna: um ano de saudade|trans-title=Mário Coluna: one year missing him|publisher=Mais Futebol|language=pt|date=24 February 2015|access-date=24 October 2023}}</ref> to a [[Portuguese people|Portuguese]] father and a Mozambican mother, Coluna was spotted by [[S.L. Benfica]] while playing for [[GD Maputo|Desportivo de Lourenço Marques]], where he excelled at basketball and track and field.<ref name=FIFA/> Signed by the [[Lisbon]] club in 1954, he started out as an [[inside forward]], scoring a career-best 14 goals in 26 games in his [[1954–55 Primeira Divisão|first season]] in Portugal and winning the first of his [[Primeira Liga]] championships; subsequently, he was successfully reconverted as a [[Midfielder#Central midfielder|central]] or [[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|attacking midfielder]] by manager [[Otto Glória]], where he put to good use his stamina and strength, adding to this an accurate and powerful long-distance shot and technical skills.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.publico.pt/2014/02/25/desporto/noticia/morreu-mario-coluna-o-grande-capitao-do-benfica-europeu-1626160|title=Morreu Mário Coluna, o grande capitão do Benfica europeu|trans-title=Death of Mário Coluna, the great captain of European Benfica|newspaper=[[Público (Portugal)|Público]]|first=Nuno|last=Sousa|language=pt|date=25 February 2014|access-date=23 October 2018}}</ref>

Coluna [[Captain (association football)|captained]] Benfica from 1963 to 1970, in 328 matches. Already at the service of [[Olympique Lyonnais]], he was awarded a [[testimonial match]] by his main club on 8 December 1970, playing against a [[UEFA]] selection that featured the likes of [[Johan Cruyff]], [[Dragan Džajić]], [[Geoff Hurst]], [[Bobby Moore]], [[Uwe Seeler]] or [[Luis Suárez (footballer, born 1935)|Luis Suárez]]. He retired professionally aged 35, after [[1970–71 French Division 1|one sole campaign]] with the French side – he still spent one year with amateurs Sport Clube Estrela from [[Portalegre, Portugal|Portalegre]], acting as [[player-coach]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.jn.pt/desporto/interior/morreu-mario-coluna-o-monstro-sagrado-que-apadrinhou-eusebio-3706740.html|title=Morreu Mário Coluna, o "Monstro Sagrado" que apadrinhou Eusébio|trans-title=Death of Mário Coluna, the "Sacred Monster" who godfathered Eusébio|newspaper=[[Jornal de Notícias]]|language=pt|date=25 February 2014|access-date=23 October 2018}}</ref>

Coluna scored in both European Cup finals won by Benfica: in [[1961 European Cup final|1961]], he beat [[FC Barcelona]]'s [[Antoni Ramallets]] from long range in a 3–2 win in [[Bern]]. [[1962 European Cup final|The following year]], against fellow Spaniards [[Real Madrid CF|Real Madrid]], he netted the 3–3 equaliser and, subsequently, was supposed to take the [[Penalty kick (association football)|penalty]] that resulted in the 4–3 lead (eventual 5–3 victory), when youngster [[Eusébio]] politely asked if he could shoot it instead.<ref name=FIFA/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1624123.html|title=Eusebio-inspired Benfica rock Real|publisher=FIFA|date=2 May 2012|access-date=18 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120508014009/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1624123.html|archive-date=8 May 2012}}</ref>

==International career==
Coluna played 57 times for the [[Portugal national football team|Portugal national team]], scoring eight goals. His first appearance was in a [[Exhibition game|friendly]] with [[Scotland national football team|Scotland]] on 4 May 1955 (3–0 loss), and his last on 11 December 1968 in a 4–2 defeat in [[Greece national football team|Greece]] for the [[1970 FIFA World Cup]] [[1970 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|qualifiers]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.publico.pt/2014/02/25/desporto/noticia/mario-coluna-os-dados-principais-de-uma-grande-carreira-1626166|title=Mário Coluna: os dados principais de uma grande carreira|trans-title=Mário Coluna: the main stats of a great career|newspaper=Público|language=pt|date=25 February 2014|access-date=24 October 2023}}</ref>

Coluna captained the ''Magriços'' in all except one of the matches during the third-place campaign at the [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966 World Cup]] in England.<ref name=FIFA/><ref name=WC>{{cite news|url=https://expresso.pt/desporto/2016-07-13-A-lenda-dos-Magricos-comecou-ha-50-anos|title=A lenda dos Magriços começou há 50 anos|trans-title=The legend of the ''Magriços'' started 50 years ago|newspaper=[[Expresso (newspaper)|Expresso]]|first1=Paulo|last1=Paixão|first2=José Pedro|last2=Castanheira|language=pt|date=13 July 2016|access-date=9 April 2020}}</ref>

==Style of play==
Coluna was noted for his leadership skills, calm demeanor and respectful conduct, as well as his vision and reading of the game, passing range and powerful long shots.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.publico.pt/2014/02/25/desporto/noticia/mario-coluna-um-marionetista-para-a-historia-1626176|title=Mário Coluna, um marionetista para a história|trans-title=Mário Coluna, a puppeteer for the ages|newspaper=Público|first=Nuno|last=Sousa|language=pt|date=25 February 2014|access-date=24 October 2023}}</ref><ref name=SM/>

==Post-retirement and death==
After [[Mozambique]] became independent in 1975, Coluna held the post of President of [[Mozambican Football Federation|its Football Federation]]. He also served as the country's Minister of Sports, from 1994 to 1999.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.uefa.com/news-media/news/0212-0e89032b6693-36660e417e12-1000--portugal-and-benfica-great-coluna-dies/|title=Portugal and Benfica great Coluna dies|publisher=UEFA|date=25 February 2014|access-date=24 October 2023}}</ref>

Coluna died on 25 February 2014 at the age of 78 in [[Maputo]], after not being able to overcome a pulmonary infection.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Benfica/interior.aspx?content_id=869895|title=Morreu Mário Coluna|trans-title=Mário Coluna died|newspaper=[[Record (Portuguese newspaper)|Record]]|language=pt|date=25 February 2014|access-date=25 February 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140301204731/http://www.record.xl.pt/Futebol/Nacional/1a_liga/Benfica/interior.aspx?content_id=869895|archive-date=1 March 2014|df=dmy-all}}</ref>

==Honours==
'''Benfica'''
*[[Primeira Liga]]: [[1954–55 Primeira Divisão|1954–55]], [[1956–57 Primeira Divisão|1956–57]], [[1959–60 Primeira Divisão|1959–60]], [[1960–61 Primeira Divisão|1960–61]], [[1962–63 Primeira Divisão|1962–63]], [[1963–64 Primeira Divisão|1963–64]], [[1964–65 Primeira Divisão|1964–65]], [[1966–67 Primeira Divisão|1966–67]], [[1967–68 Primeira Divisão|1967–68]], [[1968–69 Primeira Divisão|1968–69]]<ref>{{cite magazine|date=April–June 2017|title=Especial 'Tetra'|trans-title='Tetra' special edition|language=pt|magazine=Mística|location=Portugal|publisher=[[Impresa]] Publishing|issue=33|page=69|issn=3846-0823}}</ref>
*[[Taça de Portugal]]:<ref>{{cite web|url=https://desporto.sapo.pt/futebol/supertaca/artigos/luisao-faz-historia-e-torna-se-no-jogador-com-mais-titulos-no-benfica|title=Luisão faz história e torna-se no jogador com mais títulos no Benfica|trans-title=Luisão makes history and becomes the player with most titles at Benfica|publisher=SAPO|language=pt|date=5 August 2017|access-date=28 August 2017}}</ref> [[1955 Taça de Portugal final|1954–55]], [[1957 Taça de Portugal final|1956–57]], [[1959 Taça de Portugal final|1958–59]], [[1962 Taça de Portugal final|1961–62]], [[1964 Taça de Portugal final|1963–64]], [[1969 Taça de Portugal final|1968–69]]
*[[UEFA Champions League|European Cup]]:<ref>{{cite magazine|date=May 2015|title=Bicampeões para a história|trans-title=Back-to-back champions for the ages|language=pt|magazine=[[Visão]]|location=Portugal|publisher=Impresa Publishing|page=45|issn=0872-3540}}</ref> [[1960–61 European Cup|1960–61]], [[1961–62 European Cup|1961–62]]
*[[Intercontinental Cup (1960–2004)|Intercontinental Cup]] runner-up: [[1961 Intercontinental Cup|1961]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/intercontinental-cup-1961-514912|title=Intercontinental Cup 1961|publisher=FIFA|date=7 May 2007|access-date=25 September 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190925002004/https://www.fifa.com/news/intercontinental-cup-1961-514912|archive-date=25 September 2019}}</ref> [[1962 Intercontinental Cup|1962]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/news/extraordinary-pele-crowns-santos-lisbon-1782903|title=Extraordinary Pele crowns Santos in Lisbon|publisher=FIFA|date=11 October 2012|access-date=25 September 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190604172048/https://www.fifa.com/news/extraordinary-pele-crowns-santos-lisbon-1782903|archive-date=4 June 2019}}</ref>

'''Portugal'''
*[[FIFA World Cup]] third-place: [[1966 FIFA World Cup|1966]]<ref name=WC/>

'''Individual'''
*[[World Soccer (magazine)|World Soccer]] World XI: 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966<ref>{{cite web|url=http://beyondthelastman.com/2013/04/29/eric-battys-world-xis-the-sixties/|title=Eric Batty's World XI – The Sixties|publisher=Beyond the Last Man|date=29 April 2013|access-date=26 November 2015}}</ref>
*[[FIFA World Cup awards#All-Star Team|FIFA World Cup All-Star Team]]: [[1966 FIFA World Cup#All-star team|1966]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cnnportugal.iol.pt/mundial/geral/inglaterra-1966-a-equipa-ideal|title=Inglaterra 1966: a equipa ideal|trans-title=England 1966: the all-star team|publisher=[[CNN Portugal|TVI 24]]|language=pt|date=1 November 2001|access-date=24 October 2023}}</ref>
*[[FIFA]] XI: 1967<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/fifa-xi.html|title=FIFA XI´s Matches – Full Info|website=[[RSSSF]]|first=Marcelo|last=Leme de Arruda|access-date=25 October 2015}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{ForaDeJogo}}
*{{NFT player}}
*{{FIFA player}}
*{{EU-Football.info|3772}}
*{{IMDb name}}

{{Portugal squad 1966 FIFA World Cup}}
{{1966 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{1963 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1964 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1965 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1966 World Soccer World XI}}
{{1967 World Soccer World XI}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Coluna, Mario}}
[[Category:1935 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Maputo Province]]
[[Category:People from Portuguese Mozambique]]
[[Category:Mozambican emigrants to Portugal]]
[[Category:Black Portuguese sportspeople]]
[[Category:20th-century Portuguese sportsmen]]
[[Category:Mozambican men's footballers]]
[[Category:Portuguese men's footballers]]
[[Category:Men's association football midfielders]]
[[Category:Primeira Liga players]]
[[Category:S.L. Benfica footballers]]
[[Category:Ligue 1 players]]
[[Category:Olympique Lyonnais players]]
[[Category:UEFA Champions League–winning players]]
[[Category:Portugal men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1966 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:Portuguese expatriate men's footballers]]
[[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in France]]
[[Category:Portuguese expatriate sportspeople in France]]
[[Category:Culture ministers of Mozambique]]
[[Category:Sports ministers of Mozambique]]