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#RangersFC legend Willie Henderson remembers when he first met @SLBenfica legend Eusebio in 1964.
The story of an incredible friendship which lasted 50 years 
Willie Henderson has two @SLBenfica tops which were given to him by his good friend and Portuguese icon Eusebio.
The older of the two still has signs of dirt on the white, stitched number 10 on the back, confirming it is a top which the great man donned during an incredible career, spanning from 1957-1980, in which he scored more than 700 goals, with 473 of them for Benfica, a club record.
The second strip is from around 2007 but what makes this special to Willie is that it was signed and presented to him by Eusebio on his last visit to Glasgow before he sadly died in January 2014.
So how did the Lisbon-born striker and Baillieston boy Henderson become best pals? Willie explained: "The two of us first met in Copenhagen in 1964.
"I had been selected to play in a game to celebrate the centenary of Danish football and Helmut Schoen was the manager of a European Select side that would be taking on Benfica.
“We were in a restaurant before the match when all the players met. There was only one seat left for me to sit on and it was next to Eusebio.
“When I think back on it now I’m sure it was meant to be, because the friendship that grew from that moment lasted many, many years.
“When I think back on it now I’m sure it was meant to be, because the friendship that grew from that moment lasted many, many years.
"He wasn't just at one time in his life arguably the best player in the world, he was also a nice man.
"I actually didn’t play in the exhibition match in 1964, I was on the bench. Jim Baxter was in the team but for me it was just nice to be part of it. I was only 19 so to be in that squad was a really big deal.
“After the game there was a banquet and from the squad of about 24 players it ended with just me and Eusebio going out on the town in Copenhagen for a few more drinks.
“We had a great time and over the years any time our paths crossed for European games or internationals we would always meet up afterwards.
Henderson and Eusebio met once again the following year when Benfica, the Portuguese champions at that time, travelled to Ibrox for a friendly on 28 September 1965.
But despite going behind to a Jose Augusto goal before the half hour mark, George McLean equalised for Scot Symon’s side before half-time and a late double from the prolific Jim Forrest, in the 81st and 86th minutes, secured the victory.
Willie laughed: "I remember that game well. I was so quick that night I passed two pigeons, I was flying man!
“But it was great that Benfica were over and it was another opportunity to meet Eusebio. And I can assure you we didn't go to the pictures after the game!
“But it was great that Benfica were over and it was another opportunity to meet Eusebio. And I can assure you we didn't go to the pictures after the game!
"In fact, I remember when Eusebio came off the plane he had a big box and he had to get it through customs. It was a case of Mateus Rose wine for me!
“They are great memories and we won the game 3-1 at Ibrox which shows how good a team we had.
“They are great memories and we won the game 3-1 at Ibrox which shows how good a team we had.
“For me, it was a big challenge playing against a side like Benfica at the age of just 21. I was living the dream and at that time I probably didn't realise what I was achieving because I was so young.
“But I certainly enjoyed it. The pressure was huge but we set high standards and I am happy I was able to step up to the plate. I also had a very good relationship with the manager, Scot Symon, which helped.
“They were good times and to have Benfica and Eusebio come to Ibrox was great.
"My last international cap was against Portugal in 1971 and he was playing in that one as well. After the game he took me out to a cracking restaurant in Lisbon because he knew I loved seafood!”
"My last international cap was against Portugal in 1971 and he was playing in that one as well. After the game he took me out to a cracking restaurant in Lisbon because he knew I loved seafood!”
"The jerseys do bring back a lot of great memories of the games I played in and the players I went up against.
"I finished up friends with some of them, especially Eusebio, but I think the best way to sum it up is that I lived the dream.
"I finished up friends with some of them, especially Eusebio, but I think the best way to sum it up is that I lived the dream.
