In 1962, Béla Guttmann stood on top of Europe. His team, S.L. Benfica, had just beaten Real Madrid 5–3 in Amsterdam to win their second straight European Cup. They were fearless, attacking, modern. A young Eusébio announced himself to the world. Lisbon felt like the center of football. It was Benfica’s golden age. And then it ended, abruptly. After delivering back-to-back European titles in 1961 and 1962, Guttmann reportedly asked for a pay rise. Benfica’s board said no. Guttmann walked away. What happened next became legend. According to the story that has followed the club for more than six decades, Guttmann declared that Benfica would not win another European Cup for 100 years. Whether those were his exact words remains debated. But what cannot be debated is what followed. Benfica ...