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===El Nacional===
===El Nacional===
Regarded as one of the best players ever to compete in the Ecuadorian top flight,{{By whom|date=September 2009}} Benítez was scouted by top clubs such as [[Villarreal CF]] of [[Spain]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=172 |title=Ecuador Team Guide |publisher=AboutABall |first=Walter |last=Townsend |date=2007-06-26 |accessdate=2009-09-25}}</ref> due to his outstanding performances for [[Club Deportivo El Nacional|El Nacional]], though the club denied any knowledge of Villarreal's interest.<ref>{{cite news | date=2007-01-16 | url=http://www.cre.com.ec/Desktop.aspx?Id=283&e=91238 | title=El Nacional no conoce interès del Villareal | publisher=CRE Satelital Ecuador |language=Spanish | accessdate=2009-09-25}}</ref> He was also linked with a move to [[Red Star Belgrade]] of the [[Serbian Superliga]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}
Regarded as one of the best players ever to compete in the Ecuadorian top flight,{{By whom|date=September 2009}} Benítez was scouted by top clubs such as [[Villarreal CF]] of [[Spain]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.aboutaball.co.uk/footballnews/View.php?ArticleID=172 |title=Ecuador Team Guide |publisher=AboutABall |first=Walter |last=Townsend |date=2007-06-26 |accessdate=2009-09-25}}</ref> due to his outstanding performances for [[Club Deportivo El Nacional|El Nacional]], though the club denied any knowledge of Villarreal's interest.<ref>{{cite news | date=2007-01-16 | url=http://www.cre.com.ec/Desktop.aspx?Id=283&e=91238 | title=El Nacional no conoce interès del Villareal | publisher=CRE Satelital Ecuador |language=Spanish | accessdate=2009-09-25}}</ref> He was also linked with a move to [[Red Star Belgrade]] of the [[Serbian Superliga]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}

===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|date=September 2009}} In 2007, Benítez received an award as the best Ecuadorian footballer playing outside Ecuador,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.ecuafutbol.org/UI/detalle.aspx?seccion=1&categserie=7&nivel=0&subnivel=0&id=10893&tabla=N |title=Cristian Benítez premiado por AER como mejor Ecuatoriano en el exterior |publisher=Ecuador Football Federation |first=Joselo |last=Sánchez Pineda |date=2007-12-13 |accessdate=2009-09-25}}</ref> succeeding [[PSV Eindhoven]]'s [[Édison Méndez]].

Despite interest from Portuguese club [[Benfica]],<ref>{{cite news | date=2007-11-25 | url=http://www.goal.com/es/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=492061 | title=Alexis Sánchez y Christian Benítez interesan al Benfica | publisher=Goal.com | language=Spanish |archiveurl=http://web.archive.org/web/20071126043429/http://www.goal.com/es/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=492061 |archivedate=2007-11-26}}</ref> Benítez decided to remain in Mexico. His 10 goals made a major contribution to Santos winning the [[Primera División de México Clausura 2008|Clausura 2008]] title, and his personal reward was selection as best player of the season.<ref name=FIFAMVP/> Benítez is the fourth Ecuadorian to win a Mexican championship, after [[Ítalo Estupiñán]], [[Álex Aguinaga]], and [[Agustín Delgado]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2009}}


===Birmingham City===
===Birmingham City===

Revision as of 14:57, 19 October 2010

Christian Benítez
Benítez playing for Ecuador in March 2009
Personal information
Full name Christian Rogelio Benítez Betancourt
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Santos Laguna
Number 11
Youth career
1997–2005 El Nacional
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 El Nacional 83 (29)
2007– Santos Laguna 70 (42)
2009–2010 Birmingham City (loan) 30 (3)
International career
2005– Ecuador 32 (13)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 07:59, 4 October 2010 (UTC)

Template:Spanishname2 Christian Rogelio Benítez Betancourt (born May 1, 1986), also known as "Chucho", is an Ecuadorian footballer who plays as a forward for Santos Laguna. He began his career with El Nacional in Ecuador and then joined Santos Laguna of Mexico, 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.

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]

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.[9] The move was subject to the striker receiving a work permit and passing a medical.[4][10] The medical revealed unforeseen knee problems,[11] 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).[12][13] The player eventually signed on July 7.[12] The club later clarified that he was in fact on loan.[14] While recovering from shoulder surgery and awaiting his visa, Benítez played in an all-star match in Ecuador without asking the club's permission.[15]

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.[16] 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".[17] 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.[18] 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.[19] 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.[20][21]

Return to Santos Laguna

On July 21, 2010, Benítez signed a new deal 3-year deal with Santos Laguna. Although it has been reported that both Sunderland and West Ham are still interested in taking the forward on loan again.[22]

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.[23] This added to the belief that he could excel in Europe.[24]

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.[25]

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

# Date Venue Opponent Score Final Competition
1. September 6, 2006 East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States  Peru 1–0 1–1 International friendly
2. May 23, 2007 East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States  Republic of Ireland 1–0 1–1 International friendly
3. June 6, 2007 Barcelona, Spain  Peru 1–0 2–0 International friendly
4. June 26, 2007 Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela  Chile 1–2 2–3 2007 Copa América
5. September 8, 2007 Quito, Ecuador  El Salvador 2–0 5–1 International friendly
6. September 8, 2007 Quito, Ecuador  El Salvador 4–1 5–1 International friendly
7. August 20, 2008 East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States  Colombia 1–0 1–0 International friendly
8. September 6, 2008 Quito, Ecuador  Bolivia 3–1 3–1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
9. October 12, 2008 Quito, Ecuador  Chile 1–0 1–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
10. September 9, 2009 La Paz, Bolivia  Bolivia 1–3 1–3 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
11. September 4, 2010 Zapopan, Mexico  Mexico 0–1 1–2 International friendly
12. October 12, 2010 Montreal, Canada  Poland 1–0 2–2 International friendly
13. October 12, 2010 Montreal, Canada  Poland 2–2 2–2 International friendly

Statistics

Template:Football player statistics 1 Template:Football player statistics 2 |- |2004||rowspan="4"|El Nacional||rowspan="4"|Serie A||1||0||colspan="2"|N/A||colspan="2"|N/A||0||0||1||0 |- |2005||30||6||colspan="2"|N/A||colspan="2"|N/A||0||0||0||0 |- |2006||38||16||colspan="2"|N/A||colspan="2"|N/A||0||0||0||0 |- |2007||15||7||colspan="2"|N/A||colspan="2"|N/A||0||1||0||8 Template:Football player statistics 2 |- |2007–08||rowspan="2"|Santos Laguna||rowspan="2"|Primera División||40||17||colspan="2"|N/A||colspan="2"|N/A||0||0||0||0 |- |2008–09||20||14||colspan="2"|N/A||colspan="2"|N/A||0||0||0||0 Template:Football player statistics 2 |- |2009–10||Birmingham City||Premier League||30||3||5||1||1||0||0||0||0||0 |- Template:Football player statistics 384||29||colspan="2"|N/A||colspan="2"|N/A||0||0||0||0 Template:Football player statistics 360||31||colspan="2"|N/A||colspan="2"|N/A||0||0||0||0 Template:Football player statistics 330||3||5||1||1||0||0||0||0||0 Template:Football player statistics 5|| || || || || || || || || Template:Football player statistics end

Honors

Club

Ecuador El Nacional

Mexico Santos Laguna

Individual

References

  1. ^ http://www.mediotiempo.com/jugador.php?id_jugador=7414&todos=1
  2. ^ "Santos reap golden harvest". FIFA. 2008-07-30. Retrieved 2008-09-25.
  3. ^ "Ficha del jugador" (in Spanish). Ecuadorian Football Federation. Retrieved 2009-09-29. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ a b "Birmingham sign striker Benitez". BBC Sport. 2009-06-03. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
  5. ^ "El mejor gol navideño". Diario Extra (in Spanish). 2007-12-24. Archived from the original on 2008-05-24. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  6. ^ "Mellizos, mejores 'goles' de Chucho". Hoy (in Spanish). 2009-09-06. Retrieved 2009-09-29. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |trans_title= ignored (|trans-title= suggested) (help)
  7. ^ Townsend, Walter (2007-06-26). "Ecuador Team Guide". AboutABall. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  8. ^ "El Nacional no conoce interès del Villareal" (in Spanish). CRE Satelital Ecuador. 2007-01-16. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  9. ^ Walker, Andy (2009-06-04). "Birmingham City pay record £9m for Ecuador striker Christian Benitez". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 2009-06-14.
  10. ^ "Blues make record signing". Birmingham City F.C. 2009-06-03. Retrieved 2009-06-03.
  11. ^ Tattum, Colin (2009-07-06). "Medical concerns delay Benitez's £9m move to Blues". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2009-07-07.
  12. ^ a b "Blues bag Benitez". Birmingham City F.C. 2009-07-07. Retrieved 2009-07-08.
  13. ^ Tattum, Colin (2009-07-08). "Birmingham City insist on 'get out' clause in new deal for Christian Benitez". Birmingham Mail. 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.
  14. ^ "Player Profiles: Christian Benitez". Birmingham City F.C. Retrieved 2010-05-07.
  15. ^ Tattum, Colin (2009-07-20). "Injury-hit Christian Benitez plays all-star game in Ecuador". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2009-08-06.
  16. ^ Sonaji, Pranav (2009-08-16). "Man Utd 1–0 Birmingham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 2009-08-16.
  17. ^ Cross, Jeremy (2009-09-21). "Alex McLeish is full of hope for Christian Benítez at Birmingham". The Times. Retrieved 2009-09-25.
  18. ^ Kay, Oliver (2009-11-10). "Steven Gerrard's penalty rescues point for Liverpool". The Times. Retrieved 2009-11-10.
  19. ^ "Everton 1–2 Birmingham". BBC Sport. 2010-01-23. Retrieved 2010-02-23.
  20. ^ Tattum, Colin (2010-05-14). "Reasons for Blues not signing Christian Benitez explained". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 2010-05-14.
  21. ^ "Birmingham City opt against signing Christian Benitez". BBC Sport. 2010-05-14. Retrieved 2010-05-18.
  22. ^ "Former Birmingham loanee Benitez signs new deal in Mexico". Mirrror Football. 2010-07-21. Retrieved 2010-07-21.
  23. ^ "Ecuador 1–1 Ireland". ESPNsoccernet. 2007-05-23. Retrieved 2007-05-24.
  24. ^ "Christian Benitez, el hijo de la Pantera y el punta del futuro". Diario AS (in Spanish). 2007-06-01. Retrieved 2007-06-01.
  25. ^ "Ecuador 5–1 El Salvador". ESPNsoccernet. 2007-09-08. Retrieved 2007-09-11.
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