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 | Mary McCoy | Saint Leo University

International Soccer Stars to Benefit from Catholic Education

Internationally Renowned Soccer Club Expanding Reach, Recruiting Student-Athletes for Boarding School at Pasco County-Tampa Area University

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Starting in fall 2025, Saint Leo University will serve as the official home for the first and only Benfica Residential Academy in the United States.

Sport Lisboa e Benfica (SL Benfica), an internationally renowned professional soccer club based in Portugal, is expanding its reach to the United States by offering a soccer academy for highly talented high school student-athletes (coeducational, grades 9-12). Students will be recruited from across the United States as well as from Argentina, Brazil, Ghana, Italy, Japan, Nigeria, Portugal, and many other countries around the world.

Benfica Residential Academy will use its own residence hall, athletic fields, and other amenities at Saint Leo University’s campus located just north of Tampa. Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School will provide course instruction to the high school students at University Campus. Bishop McLaughlin will host the Benfica Residential Academy students on its campus for school events, dances, and community service opportunities, and the student-athletes will graduate from the top local Catholic high school in Shady Hills, FL. There also will be opportunities for Saint Leo University students to work with and volunteer at the academy.

SL Benfica will begin recruiting in the United States and internationally in August of 2024 and welcome its first class of student-athletes one year later. Supported by an estimated 50 million fans worldwide, SL Benfica will look to recruit top student-athletes, who will excel on the field and in the classroom. 

Saint Leo University and SL Benfica also align in their values with both fostering a culture of respect, a focus on education, a pledge of integrity, and a commitment to excellence. 

“Our partnership with Benfica Residential Academy builds upon the university’s mission of helping learners of all ages grow in mind, body, and spirit,” said Ed Dadez, president of Saint Leo University. “Student-athletes from the United States and across the globe will enjoy our beautiful lakefront campus. They will engage in entertaining student activities, partner with student mentors, refuel in our dining facilities, and access other amenities that will add to their experience.”

SL Benfica officials also welcome the opportunity to host a residential academy in the United States.

"The opening of the Benfica Residential Academy in the United States represents a significant milestone in our mission to nurture and develop soccer talent globally,” said Manuel de Brito, SL Benfica’s vice president. “We are excited to bring our proven methodologies and commitment to excellence to young athletes in America, providing them with unparalleled opportunities both on and off the field."

Leandro Scabin, head of the U.S. market for SL Benfica added, “The dream has always been to provide high-performance athletes with quality education in a safe and constructive environment.”​

Those interested in more information about the Benfica Residential Academy as well as registration information can find it at http://www.benficaresidentialacademy.com/. Email info@benficaresidentialacademy.com or call (888) 423-6342 (888-4-BENFICA).


About SL Benfica

Founded in 1904, SL Benfica has won 86 trophies, including 38 Portuguese championships and two European Cups. With more than 290,000 club members and over 50 million fans worldwide, SL Benfica has invested more than $700 million in players over the past decade alone. Recognized globally, youth accolades include the 2022 UEFA Youth League and U20 Intercontinental Youth Cup and being named the Best Academy in 2015 and 2019.

Benfica Campus in Portugal is considered the largest academy in the world, having won three Global Soccer Awards and ranked as the “most profitable academy in the world”by the CIES Football Observatory, with more than $550 million in revenue just from talent trained in the last 10 years alone.

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About Saint Leo University

Saint Leo University is a Catholic Benedictine university dedicated to helping learners of all backgrounds and ages gain the competence and courage to be more. Offering more than 60 degree programs to more than 14,190 students each year, the nonprofit university is known for providing a values-based education in the liberal arts tradition and a community of belonging for those who seek a greater purpose in life. Saint Leo is regionally accredited and offers a campus in the Tampa Bay area of Florida, regional education centers, and several online programs. The university is home to more than 104,000 alumni. Learn more at https://www.saintleo.edu/.