Christian Benítez

Christian Benítez
This name uses Spanish naming customs; the first or paternal family name is Benítez and the second or maternal family name is Betancourt.
Chucho Benítez
Benitez.jpg
Benítez playing for Ecuador in March 2009
Personal information
Full name Christian Rogelio Benítez Betancourt
Date of birth May 1, 1986 (1986-05-01) (age 25)
Place of birth Quito, Ecuador
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1]
Playing position Striker
Club information
Current club América
Number 11
Youth career
1997–2005 El Nacional
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2004–2007 El Nacional 83 (29)
2007–2011 Santos Laguna 90 (51)
2009–2010 → Birmingham City (loan) 30 (3)
2011– América 15 (8)
National team‡
2005– Ecuador 45 (20)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 23 March 2011.

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 20 July 2011

Christian Rogelio Benítez Betancourt (born May 1, 1986), also known as Chucho, is an Ecuadorian footballer who plays as a forward for Club América of the Primera División de México. He began his career with El Nacional in Ecuador and then joined Santos Laguna, with whom he won the award for Best Player of the Clausura 2008.[2] He spent the 2009–10 season on loan to Premier League club Birmingham City. He has been a member of the Ecuador national football team since 2006.

Contents

Personal life

Benitez was born in Quito,[3] the son of former Ecuador international footballer Ermen Benítez.[4] In 2007 he married Liseth, daughter of fellow international player Cléber Chalá;[5] she gave birth to twins in August 2009.[6]

Club career

El Nacional

Regarded as one of the best players ever to compete in the Ecuadorian top flight,[by whom?] Benítez was scouted by top clubs such as Villarreal CF of Spain[7] due to his outstanding performances for El Nacional, though the club denied any knowledge of Villarreal's interest.[8] He was also linked with a move to Red Star Belgrade of the Serbian Superliga.[citation needed]

Santos Laguna

In July 2007, he made an unexpected move to Santos Laguna of the Primera División de México. With his arrival and that of Vicente Matías Vuoso, Santos had an impressive season with wins over several top Mexican clubs. He was considered one of the best foreign strikers in the Mexican league alongside Giancarlo Maldonado, Humberto Suazo, Salvador Cabañas, and Hector Mancilla.[citation needed] In 2007, Benítez received an award as the best Ecuadorian footballer playing outside Ecuador,[9] succeeding PSV Eindhoven's Édison Méndez.

Despite interest from Portuguese club Benfica,[10] Benítez decided to remain in Mexico. His 10 goals made a major contribution to Santos winning the Clausura 2008 title, and his personal reward was selection as best player of the season.[2] Benítez is the fourth Ecuadorian to win a Mexican championship, after Ítalo Estupiñán, Álex Aguinaga, and Agustín Delgado.[citation needed]

Birmingham City

On June 3, 2009, Birmingham City announced the signing of Benítez on a three-year contract for an undisclosed club record transfer fee, which press reports speculated to be in the region of £6 million rising to £9m.[11] The move was subject to the striker receiving a work permit and passing a medical.[4][12] The medical revealed unforeseen knee problems,[13] which prompted the deal to be renegotiated on a "protected purchase" basis. The club would pay an initial $2m (£1.2m) with an option to abort the deal on medical grounds after the first year; thereafter the fee could potentially rise, depending on appearances and success, to a club record $12.5m (£7.7m).[14][15] The player eventually signed on July 7.[14] The club later clarified that he was in fact on loan.[16] While recovering from shoulder surgery and awaiting his visa, Benítez played in an all-star match in Ecuador without asking the club's permission.[17]

He made his Birmingham debut as a second-half substitute in Birmingham's opening match of the season, a 1–0 defeat at Manchester United, and came close to equalising, drawing a "wonderful one-handed diving save" from Ben Foster.[18] His first Premier League start came against Hull City on September 19; he played a key role in a 1–0 win and "could have had a hat-trick but for the supreme goalkeeping of Boaz Myhill".[19] Benítez scored his first goal for the Blues on November 9 away to Liverpool, with a close-range header after Scott Dann had nodded the ball on, in a game which finished 2–2.[20] He scored the first of what manager Alex McLeish described as "two classy goals" as Birmingham knocked Everton out of the FA Cup at Goodison Park.[21] However, after his season produced only four goals and Birmingham's attempt to renegotiate the agreed transfer fee was unsuccessful, the club chose not to take up their option to purchase, and the player returned to Santos Laguna.[22][23]

Return to Santos Laguna

On July 21, 2010, Benítez signed a new three-year deal with Santos Laguna,[24] in the first tournament after his return he was the top goalscorer with 15 goals.

América

Benitez signed to play for América on May 22, 2011. The transfer fee was reported to be of $10 million, which established a record for a club in México. He scored a goal in his debut on July 24, in the 2-1 win against Querétaro. On August 21, 2011 Benítez made his first hat trick with América against Club Atlas in a 5-2 win.

International career

Benítez was a member of the Ecuador national team at the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.

Although considered by many as a surprise selection by Ecuador's Colombian-born coach Luis Fernando Suarez, he had impressed with his speed, elusiveness and skill in pre-World Cup showings against Netherlands, Japan and the Copa Libertadores 2006 experience. He was a candidate for the Gillette Best Young Player Award, a new award made at the end of the FIFA World Cup to the best young player born on or after January 1, 1985. His only appearance was in the 3–0 loss to Germany, replacing Felix Borja midway through the match.

His first international goal came in September 2006 against Peru. Then in April 2007, he scored another goal against Peru in Ecuador's 2–0 win in a friendly held in the Mini Estadi in Barcelona, Spain. He also scored in a 1–1 draw with the Republic of Ireland in a friendly match played in New Jersey on May 23, 2006.[25] This added to the belief that he could excel in Europe.[26]

Benítez started all three games during the Copa America 2007, scoring against Chile. Despite his attacking flair, Ecuador were eliminated in the first stage, losing all three matches. In an international friendly against El Salvador on September 8, 2007, Benítez scored twice in an emphatic 5–1 home win in Quito.[27]

In a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bolivia, he scored a wonderful solo effort.[citation needed] Two months later, he showed his ability in the air as well when he scored the only goal of the match with a header against Chile.[citation needed]

International goals

Statistics

Club performance League Cup League Cup Continental Total
Season Club League Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ecuador League Cup League Cup South America Total
2004 El Nacional Serie A 1 0 N/A N/A 0 0 1 0
2005 30 6 N/A N/A 0 0 30 6
2006 38 16 N/A N/A 0 0 38 16
2007 15 7 N/A N/A 0 0 15 7
Mexico League Cup League Cup North America Total
2007-08 Santos Laguna Primera División 40 17 N/A N/A 0 0 40 17
2008-09 20 14 N/A N/A 8 4 28 18
England League FA Cup League Cup Europe Total
2009–10 Birmingham City Premier League 30 3 5 1 1 0 0 0 36 4
Mexico League Cup League Cup North America Total
2010-11 Santos Laguna Primera División 35 20 N/A N/A 4 1 39 21
2011-12 America Primera División 8 5 N/A N/A 0 0 8 5
Total Ecuador 84 29 N/A N/A 0 0 84 29
Total Mexico 90 51 N/A N/A 0 0 115 61
Total England 30 3 5 1 1 0 0 0 36 4
Career total 212 88 5 1 1 0 12 5 230 94

Honors

Club

Ecuador El Nacional

Mexico Santos Laguna

Individual

Ecuador El Nacional

  • 2006 Serie A MVP

Mexico Santos Laguna

References

  1. ^ http://www.mediotiempo.com/jugador.php?id_jugador=7414&todos=1
  2. ^ a b "Santos reap golden harvest". FIFA. 2008-07-30. http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=835965.html. Retrieved 2008-09-25. 
  3. ^ "Ficha del jugador [Player details]" (in Spanish). Ecuadorian Football Federation. http://www.ecuafutbol.org/Servicios/FichaJugadores.aspx?valor1=1715547665. Retrieved 2009-09-29. 
  4. ^ a b "Birmingham sign striker Benitez". BBC Sport. 2009-06-03. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/8081077.stm. Retrieved 2009-06-03. 
  5. ^ "El mejor gol navideño [The best goal for Christmas]" (in Spanish). Diario Extra. 2007-12-24. Archived from the original on 2008-05-24. http://web.archive.org/web/20080524061540/http://www.diario-extra.com/html/noticias.asp?codigo=20071224162232. 
  6. ^ "Mellizos, mejores 'goles' de Chucho [Twins, Chucho's best 'goals']" (in Spanish). Hoy. 2009-09-06. http://www.hoy.com.ec/noticias-ecuador/mellizos-mejores-goles-de-chucho-366572.html. Retrieved 2009-09-29. 
  7. ^ Townsend, Walter (2007-06-26). "Ecuador Team Guide". AboutABall. http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=172. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 
  8. ^ "El Nacional no conoce interès del Villareal" (in Spanish). CRE Satelital Ecuador. 2007-01-16. http://www.cre.com.ec/Desktop.aspx?Id=283&e=91238. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 
  9. ^ Sánchez Pineda, Joselo (2007-12-13). "Cristian Benítez premiado por AER como mejor Ecuatoriano en el exterior". Ecuador Football Federation. http://www.ecuafutbol.org/UI/detalle.aspx?seccion=1&categserie=7&nivel=0&subnivel=0&id=10893&tabla=N. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 
  10. ^ "Alexis Sánchez y Christian Benítez interesan al Benfica" (in Spanish). Goal.com. 2007-11-25. Archived from the original on 2007-11-26. http://web.archive.org/web/20071126043429/http://www.goal.com/es/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=492061. 
  11. ^ Walker, Andy (2009-06-04). "Birmingham City pay record £9m for Ecuador striker Christian Benitez". Birmingham Post. http://www.birminghampost.net/midlands-birmingham-sport/west-midlands-sports/birmingham-city-fc/2009/06/04/birmingham-city-pay-record-9m-for-ecuador-striker-christian-benitez-65233-23788306/. Retrieved 2009-06-14. 
  12. ^ "Blues make record signing". Birmingham City F.C. 2009-06-03. http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1685586,00.html. Retrieved 2009-06-03. 
  13. ^ Tattum, Colin (2009-07-06). "Medical concerns delay Benitez's £9m move to Blues". Birmingham Mail. http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/birmingham-city-fc-news/2009/07/06/medical-concerns-delay-benitez-s-9m-move-to-blues-97319-24084241/. Retrieved 2009-07-07. 
  14. ^ a b "Blues bag Benitez". Birmingham City F.C. 2009-07-07. http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0,,10412~1715657,00.html. Retrieved 2009-07-08. 
  15. ^ Tattum, Colin (2009-07-08). "Birmingham City insist on 'get out' clause in new deal for Christian Benitez". Birmingham Mail. http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/birmingham-city-fc-news/2009/07/08/birmingham-city-insist-on-get-out-clause-in-new-deal-for-christian-benitez-97319-24102744/. Retrieved 2009-08-19. "Blues will pay just $2 million, about £1.2 million, for the next 12 months and at the end of that period have a 'get out' option to cover themselves should Benitez's knee have caused him grief in that time. Thereafter, they will shell out money over a period of years, incorporating chunks for appearances and success, that could take the eventual price to $12.5 million, or £7.75 million." 
  16. ^ "Player Profiles: Christian Benitez". Birmingham City F.C. http://www.bcfc.com/page/ProfilesDetail/0,,10412~47565,00.html. Retrieved 2010-05-07. 
  17. ^ Tattum, Colin (2009-07-20). "Injury-hit Christian Benitez plays all-star game in Ecuador". Birmingham Mail. http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/birmingham-city-fc-news/2009/07/29/injury-hit-christian-benitez-plays-all-star-game-in-ecuador-97319-24266103/. Retrieved 2009-08-06. 
  18. ^ Sonaji, Pranav (2009-08-16). "Man Utd 1–0 Birmingham". BBC Sport. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/8197957.stm. Retrieved 2009-08-16. 
  19. ^ Cross, Jeremy (2009-09-21). "Alex McLeish is full of hope for Christian Benítez at Birmingham". The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article6841683.ece. Retrieved 2009-09-25. 
  20. ^ Kay, Oliver (2009-11-10). "Steven Gerrard's penalty rescues point for Liverpool". The Times. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/sport/football/premier_league/article6910071.ece. Retrieved 2009-11-10. 
  21. ^ "Everton 1–2 Birmingham". BBC Sport. 2010-01-23. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/8468587.stm. Retrieved 2010-02-23. 
  22. ^ Tattum, Colin (2010-05-14). "Reasons for Blues not signing Christian Benitez explained". Birmingham Mail. http://www.birminghammail.net/birmingham-sport/birmingham-city-fc/birmingham-city-fc-news/2010/05/14/birmingham-city-reasons-for-blues-not-signing-christian-benitez-explained-97319-26442822/. Retrieved 2010-05-14. 
  23. ^ "Birmingham City opt against signing Christian Benitez". BBC Sport (BBC). 2010-05-14. http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/b/birmingham_city/8656185.stm. Retrieved 2010-05-18. 
  24. ^ "Former Birmingham loanee Benitez signs new deal in Mexico". Mirrror Football. 2010-07-21. http://www.mirrorfootball.co.uk/news/Transfer-news-West-Ham-and-Sunderland-target-and-former-Birmingham-loanee-Christian-Benitez-signs-new-deal-in-Mexico-article532877.html. Retrieved 2010-07-21. 
  25. ^ "Ecuador 1–1 Ireland". ESPNsoccernet. 2007-05-23. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=433135&cc=5901. Retrieved 2007-05-24. 
  26. ^ "Christian Benitez, el hijo de la Pantera y el punta del futuro" (in Spanish). Diario AS. 2007-06-01. http://www.as.com/articulo/futbol/Christian/Benitez/hijo/Pantera/punta/futuro/dasftb/20070601dasdaiftb_55/Tes/. Retrieved 2007-06-01. 
  27. ^ "Ecuador 5–1 El Salvador". ESPNsoccernet. 2007-09-08. http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=461509&cc=5901. Retrieved 2007-09-11. 

External links

v · d · eClub América – current squad

1 Navarrete · 3 Mosquera · 4 Rojas · 5 Molina · 6 Valenzuela · 7 Rosinei · 8 Sánchez · 10 Montenegro · 11 Benítez · 12 H. González · 13 D. Reyes · 15 Castillo · 16 Acuña · 17 Olascoaga · 18 Reyna · 19 Layún · 20 Pineda · 21 Gallardo · 22 Aguilar · 23 Martínez · 24 Márquez · 25 R. González · 26 Medina · 29 Rodríguez · 30 Vuoso · 32 Pimentel · 33 Treviño · 34 Corral · 47 Jiménez · 55 J. Reyes · Manager: Tena

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