Academic Manuel de Almeida Damásio, a Portuguese businessman and educational administrator, born in 1936 in Lisbon. He gained prominence by presiding over Sport Lisboa e Benfica from 1994 to 1997, a period marked by major financial and sporting challenges at the club. After his time in football, he distinguished himself in Portugal's private higher education sector. He is the founder and president of the Lusófona Group, responsible for the creation and expansion of Lusófona University of Humanities and Technologies, considered the largest private university in the country. Under his leadership, the group grew in influence, establishing institutions in various regions of Portugal and in Portuguese-speaking countries such as Angola and Mozambique. Recognized for his entrepreneurial vision, Damásio played a decisive role in consolidating private higher education in the Lusophone world. He is also a certified accountant and was a university professor. His work is marked by an innovative spirit and a commitment to education. Even away from the sporting spotlight, he remains a relevant figure in the Portuguese academic and business landscape.
