Benjamín Zarandona

Infobox Football biography
playername = Benjamín
fullname = Benjamín Zarandona Esono
dateofbirth = Birth date and age|1976|3|2|mf=y
cityofbirth = Valladolid, Castile and Leon
countryofbirth = Spain
height = height|m=1.84
currentclub = Unattached
clubnumber = –
position = Midfielder
years = 1994–1996
1995–1998
1998–2007
2000–2001
2005–2006
2007–2008
clubs= Real Valladolid B
Real Valladolid
Real Betis
Betis B
→Cádiz CF "(loan)"
Xerez CD
caps(goals) = 30 (6)
86 (11)
144 (7)
26 (2)
14 (0)
2 (0)
nationalyears = 1998
2004-present
nationalteam = Spain U21
Equatorial Guinea
nationalcaps(goals) = 3 (2)
pcupdate = 01 August 2008
ntupdate = 01 August 2008

Benjamín Zarandona Esono, Benjamín (born March 2, 1976 in Valladolid), is a Spanish-Equatorial Guinean footballer who plays as a midfielder, left or central. He is currently unattached, and is the older brother of Iván Zarandona, also a footballer.

Club career

Benjamín began his career with Real Valladolid, playing initially for the reserve team in "Segunda División B". The highlight of his career at Valladolid was helping them qualify for the 1997-98 UEFA Cup, where he played four games in the subsequent European campaign.

In 1998 he joined Real Betis, and in their UEFA Cup run he made 4 appearances, scoring twice. Benjamín spent the 2000-01 season playing for their B side in the "Segunda División".

After appearing in 26 league contests in 2004-05, as Betis achieved a UEFA Champions League qualification, Benjamín went on loan to Cádiz CF in 2005-06, as his role with Betis was gradually losing importance: he was unregistered as a first-team player for over a year, and a mutual termination of his contract was agreed in the summer of 2007.

In 2007-08, Benjamín joined second division side Xerez CD, but lasted only a few months, being released.

International career

In 1998, Benjamín helped Spain U21s win the 1998 UEFA U-21 Championship.

However, in 2004, he switched allegiances and, as his younger brother Iván, opted to represent Equatorial Guinea. [ [http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6702059.stm Equatorial Guinea import success] ] His brother Iván also plays for the nation.

Honours

*Spain U21:
**UEFA U-21 Championship: 1998

References

External links

* [http://elmundodeporte.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/envivos/fichas/1/190/4286.html Stats at ElMundoDeporte] es icon
* [http://www.lfp.es/historico/primera/plantillas/historial.asp?jug=6081 Stats at Liga de Fútbol Profesional] es icon
*FIFA player|297843