The first European champions for Portugal were honored by the FPF (Portuguese Football Federation).
The junior team was crowned champion after defeating Poland.
It was 65 years ago that "for the first time, the name of Portugal was inscribed on the list of winners of an official European competition, and this fact only evokes unconditional 'congratulations' to all who contributed to this unforgettable achievement." This is how the well-known journalist Fernando Soromenho wrote about a conquest that marked the history of Portuguese football.
The 14th edition of what was then called the UEFA International Tournament, which only 20 years later became known as the European Junior Championship, saw Portugal defeat Poland 4-0 in the final.
Sir Stanley Rous, then vice-president of UEFA and who five months later became president of FIFA, praised the organization and thanked Portugal for “the traditional Portuguese hospitality”.
The tournament was held in Braga, Porto, Coimbra, Leiria, Évora and Lisbon, between March 28 and April 8, and featured 13 national teams: Portugal, Italy, England, Spain, Turkey, Austria, West Germany, Romania, Netherlands, Belgium, Poland, France and Greece. Hungary, East Germany and Yugoslavia withdrew at the last minute.
The final was played on April 8, 1961, at the Estádio da Luz, and Portugal, coached by José Maria Pedroto and David Sequerra, defeated Poland with a 'four-goal haul' by Serafim.
Ficha da final
Estádio da Luz.
Árbitro: José Ortiz (Espanha)
PORTUGAL – Rui; Amândio e Nogueira; Carriço, Manuel Moreira e Oliveira Duarte; Crispim, Jorge, Serafim, Simões e Peres.
POLÓNIA – Karasinski; Beaszczyk e Rewilac; Jandana, Kapcinsky e Nowak; Hansmer, Szoltysik, Musialek, Kasprzyk e Kowalik.
Golos: Serafim (9m, 27m de penálti, 48m e 77m).
