Gregorio Benito

Goyo Benito
Personal information
Full nameGregorio Benito Rubio
Date of birth31 October 1946
Place of birthPuente del Arzobispo, Spain
Height1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing positionCentre back
Youth career
Salesianos Atocha
1963–1966Real Madrid
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
1966–1982Real Madrid317(2)
1966–1968Rayo Vallecano (loan)43(0)
National team
1969–1970Spain U232(0)
1966–1970Spain amateur13(0)
1971–1978Spain22(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Benito and the second or maternal family name is Rubio.

Gregorio "Goyo" Benito Rubio (born 31 October 1946 in El Puente del Arzobispo, Toledo, Castile-La Mancha) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a central defender.

Club career

After practicing track and field in his early teens, inclusively being national javelin throw champion at school level,[1] Benito signed for La Liga powerhouse Real Madrid in the 1963 summer, aged nearly 17. After two years on loan to neighbouring Rayo Vallecano, in Segunda División (his second being cut short as he was called for military service in Sidi Ifni[1]), he returned to his main club, remaining there for the following 14 seasons and winning six leagues and five Spanish Cups.

In 1982, after just 16 league appearances in his last two seasons combined, Benito retired from football at the age of 35. He amassed Real Madrid official totals of 420 games and three goals.

International career

Benito earned 22 caps for Spain, during roughly seven years. His debut was on 9 May 1971 in a 2–0 win in Cyprus for the UEFA Euro 1972 qualifiers, but he would never take part in any major international tournament, as the national team failed to qualify for any during that timeframe.[2]

Additionally, Benito represented the nation at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico, playing in all the matches for the eventual quarterfinalists.[3]

Honours

Real Madrid

References

External links