Antonio Benítez
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Antonio Benítez Fernández | ||
Date of birth | 2 June 1951 | ||
Place of birth | Jerez de la Frontera, Spain | ||
Date of death | 19 February 2014 62) | (aged||
Place of death | Jerez de la Frontera, Spain | ||
Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in) | ||
Playing position | Left back | ||
Youth career | |||
Xerez | |||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
1968–1970 | Xerez | 49 | (3) |
1970–1984 | Betis | 303 | (24) |
Total | 352 | (27) | |
National team | |||
1974 | Spain amateur | 1 | (0) |
1974–1977 | Spain | 3 | (0) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals). |
Antonio Benítez Fernández (2 June 1951 – 19 February 2014) was a Spanish international footballer who played as a left back.[1]
Club career
Benítez started his career with local Xerez CD in the third division. In 1970 he joined Andalusia neighbours Real Betis, immediately achieving promotion to La Liga as champions.
Benítez made his debut in the top level on 3 October 1971, in a 0–2 away loss against Valencia CF, and finished the season with 28 games and one goal as the Verdiblancos ranked in 13th position, being relegated the following campaign. Late into the decade, he would win the 1977 Copa del Rey, suffer another top flight relegation with his main club, in 1978, and achieve immediate promotion back; during his early seasons, he played as a left winger.
Benítez retired from football in June 1984 at the age of 33, after only one game in two seasons combined with Betis. He appeared in more than 300 official games for the club.
International career
Benítez gained three caps for Spain in as many years, courtesy of manager László Kubala. His debut occurred on 12 October 1974 in a 1–1 friendly with Argentina, in Buenos Aires.
Honours
- Betis
References
- ↑ "Fallece Antonio Benítez, uno de los campeones de la Copa del Rey de 1977" (in Spanish). Mundodeportivo.com. Retrieved 2014-02-19.
External links
- BDFutbol profile
- National team data
- Real Betis profile (Spanish)
- Antonio Benítez at National-Football-Teams.com
- Antonio Benítez – FIFA competition record