Butt begins Benfica career
Tuesday, July 17, 2007
Article summary
Former FC Bayer Leverkusen No1 Jörg Butt has trained with his new SL Benfica team-mates, including €9m record signing Oscar Cardozo, for the first time today.
Article body
Former FC Bayer Leverkusen goalkeeper Jörg Butt has completed his first training session with SL Benfica after joining the Lisbon giants on a two-year contract.
Goalscoring reputation
The 33-year-old arrives as a free agent after making 191 league appearances in six seasons at the BayArena - and scoring seven Bundesliga goals. He replaces Brazilian goalkeeper Moretto who has joined AEK Athens FC on a season-long loan. Butt started his career at VfB Oldenburg in 1994 before joining Hamburger SV in 1997 and gaining a fine reputation as a free-kick and penalty taker, scoring 19 times in 133 league appearances. He then helped Leverkusen reach the UEFA Champions League final in his first season at the club in 2001/02.
Exalted company
Butt joined Benfica's €9m record signing Oscar Cardozo at his first training session after the Paraguayan traveled to Lisbon following the Copa América. Benfica will start their UEFA Champions League campaign in the third qualifying round after finishing third in the Liga last season. Leverkusen finished fifth in the Bundesliga to qualify for the first round of the UEFA Cup.
