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Christian Benítez

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In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Benítez and the second or maternal family name is Betancourt.
Christian Benítez
Benítez with América in 2012
Personal information
Full name Christian Rogelio Benítez Betancourt[1]
Date of birth (1986-05-01)1 May 1986
Place of birth Quito, Ecuador
Date of death 29 July 2013(2013-07-29) (aged 27)
Place of death Doha, Qatar
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)[2]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1997–2005 El Nacional
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004–2007 El Nacional 84 (29)
2007–2011 Santos Laguna 95 (51)
2009–2010 → Birmingham City (loan) 30 (3)
2011–2013 América 79 (52)
2013 El Jaish 0 (0)
Total 288 (135)
International career
2005–2013 Ecuador 58[3] (24)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Christian Rogelio Benítez Betancourt (1 May 1986 – 29 July 2013), also known as Chucho, was an Ecuadorian professional footballer who played as a striker.

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.[4] He spent the 2009–10 season on loan to Premier League club Birmingham City, and then moved to Club América for a Mexican record US$10 million, where he was a regular scorer. He played for El Jaish of the Qatar Stars League at the time of his death. Benitez played 58 times for the Ecuador national football team from his debut in 2005, scoring 24 goals. He played for them at the 2006 FIFA World Cup and two Copa America tournaments.

Following his death, the Ecuadorian Football Federation retired Benítez's number 11 jersey from the national team.[3] However, due to FIFA regulations they had to reinstate it for the 2014 World Cup squad.[5]

Personal life

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Benitez was born in Quito,[1] the son of former Ecuador international footballer Ermen Benítez,[6] and of Rita Betancourt.[7] In 2007, he married Liseth, daughter of Cléber Chalá, also an Ecuador international;[8] she gave birth to twins in August 2009.[9]

He played under the nickname Chucho, a name "used in the Spanish-speaking Americas when referring affectionately to a small, pesky dog".[10]

Club career

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El Nacional

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Due to a series of strong performances for El Nacional, Benítez was scouted by clubs such as Villarreal of Spain,[11] though El Nacional denied any knowledge of the rumoured interest.[12]

Benítez contributed 29 goals in 83 league matches as El Nacional won both the 2005 Clausura and 2006 League Championships.

Santos Laguna

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In July 2007, he moved to Santos Laguna of the Mexican Primera División. With his arrival and that of Vicente Matías Vuoso, Santos had an impressive season with wins over several top Mexican clubs. In 2007, Benítez received an award as the best Ecuadorian footballer playing outside Ecuador,[13] succeeding PSV Eindhoven's Édison Méndez.[citation needed]

Despite interest from Portuguese club Benfica,[14] 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.[4]

Loan to Birmingham City

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Benítez playing against Stoke City

On 3 June 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.[15] The move was subject to the striker receiving a work permit and passing a medical.[6][16] The medical revealed unforeseen knee problems,[17] 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).[18][19] The player eventually signed on 7 July.[18] The club later clarified that the initial £1.2m was in fact a loan fee.[20][21] While recovering from shoulder surgery and awaiting his visa, Benítez played in an all-star match in Ecuador without asking the club's permission.[22]

He made his 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.[23] His first Premier League start came against Hull City on 19 September; 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".[24] Benítez scored his first goal for the Blues on 9 November away to Liverpool, with a close-range header after Scott Dann had nodded the ball on, in a game which finished 2–2.[25] 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.[26] 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.[27][28]

Return to Santos Laguna 2010

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On 21 July 2010, Benítez signed a new three-year deal with Santos Laguna,[29] in the first tournament after his return he was the top goalscorer with 16 goals. Leading the scoring table, Chucho led Santos to the 2010 Apertura Finals, losing to Monterrey.

Club América

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2011–12 season

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Benítez playing against Tijuana

Benitez signed to play for América on 22 May 2011. The transfer fee was reported to be of $10 million, which established a record for a club in Mexico. He scored a goal in his debut on 24 July in the 2–1 win against Querétaro. On 21 August, Benítez made his first hat trick with América against Atlas in a 5–2 win. In his first Súper Clásico, Benítez scored a header in a 3–1 loss to Chivas.

Benítez scored the opening goal for Club América's Clausura 2012 season in a 2–0 win against Querétaro. He ended the season with 14 goals and ended up being the league's top scorer along with Iván Alonso.

2012–13 season

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Benítez played his first game of the 2012–13 season on 21 July against Monterrey, in a 0–0 away draw. On 28 July, he scored his first goals of the season in a 4–2 victory over Chiapas. On 11 November, Benitez became joint top goal-scorer of the 2012 Apertura alongside Atlante's Esteban Paredes. Three days later, he scored both goals in a 2–0 play-off quarter-final win away to Morelia.

Benítez scored his first goals of the 2013 Clausura season in a 2–0 away win against Jaguares de Chiapas. On 2 March, he scored a hat trick, 2 headers and a left-footed strike against Cruz Azul in a 3–0 win. On 27 April, after losing 2–0 in an away match against Pachuca, Benitez scored a hat-trick to lead América to a 4–2 win. Benitez ended up as the Clausura 2013 Liga MX top scorer for the third consecutive season. On 26 May Benitez became Liga MX 2013 Clausura champions after defeating Cruz Azul 4–2 in a penalty shoot-out, where he converted the second penalty.

El Jaish

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Benítez left the club on 6 July 2013, and signed a contract with Qatari club El Jaish.[30] He made his debut in a match against Qatar SC in the Sheikh Jassim Cup on 28 July "without complaining of any health problems", according to El Jaish officials.[31] This was the only match he played for the club. A day later, he died from cardiac arrest at age 27.

International career

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Benitez playing for Ecuador in 2009

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 coach Luis Fernando Suárez, he had impressed with his speed, elusiveness and skill in pre-World Cup showings against the Netherlands and Japan, in addition to his 2006 Copa Libertadores 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 1 January 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 match held in the Mini Estadi in Barcelona, Spain. He also scored in a 1–1 draw with the Republic of Ireland, also in a friendly, played in New Jersey on 23 May 2007.[32] This added to the belief that he could excel in Europe.[33]

Benítez started all three games during the 2007 Copa América, scoring against Chile as Ecuador were eliminated in the first stage, losing all three matches. In an international friendly against El Salvador on 8 September 2007, Benítez scored twice in an emphatic 5–1 home win in Quito.[34]

In a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Bolivia, he scored his country's third goal in a 3–1 win.[35] A month later, he scored the only goal against Chile.[36]

Death and legacy

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On 29 July 2013, Benítez entered a hospital in Doha, Qatar, because of a strong pain in his abdomen. According to Miguel Herrera and other teammates in an interview with Mexican morning show Matutino Express, he did not receive immediate medical attention and a few hours later, Benítez went into respiratory failure.[37] He died from complications leading to cardiac arrest at the age of 27.[38][39]

Tens of thousands of people filed past the body, which lay in a glass-topped casket in the Coliseo General Rumiñahui in Quito, before the public funeral ceremony, which was attended by sporting and political figures including the president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa. The cortege received a police motorcycle escort through crowded streets to a private interment.[40][41]

Following his death, the Ecuadorian Football Federation announced that it would retire his number 11 jersey from the national team.[3] FIFA regulations required Ecuador to reinstate number 11 to their squad for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil; it was allocated to Felipe Caicedo.[5] His international teammate Antonio Valencia had Benítez's number tattooed onto his upper arm in tribute after his death.[42]

A multipurpose stadium was constructed and named in his honour in Guayaquil; opened in February 2014, it is used as the home stadium of Guayaquil City F.C.[43][44] Later that year, a statue of Benítez in typical goal celebration pose was unveiled at Santos Laguna's stadium. He was the third Santos player to be so honoured, after Jared Borgetti and Rodrigo Ruiz.[45][46]

Career statistics

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Club

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Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
El Nacional 2004 Serie A 1 0 – 1 0
2005 30 6 1 0 31 6
2006 38 16 12 0 50 16
2007 15 7 4 1 19 8
Total 84 29 17 1 101 30
Santos Laguna 2007–08 Primera División 40 17 – 40 17
2008–09 20 14 8 5 28 19
2010–11 35 20 4 1 39 21
Total 95 51 12 6 107 57
Birmingham City (loan) 2009–10 Premier League 30 3 5 1 1 0 – 36 4
América 2011–12 Primera División 36 22 – 36 22
2012–13 43 30 – – 43 30
Total 79 52 0 0 79 52
Career total 288 135 5 1 1 0 29 7 323 143

International goals

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Scores and results list Ecuador's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Benítez goal.
List of international goals scored by Christian Benítez
# Date Venue Opponent Score Final Competition
1 6 September 2006 East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States  Peru 1–0 1–1 International friendly
2 23 May 2007 East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States  Republic of Ireland 1–0 1–1 International friendly
3 6 June 2007 Barcelona, Spain  Peru 1–0 2–0 International friendly
4 26 June 2007 Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela  Chile 1–2 2–3 2007 Copa América
5 8 September 2007 Quito, Ecuador  El Salvador 2–0 5–1 International friendly
6 4–1
7 20 August 2008 East Rutherford, New Jersey, United States  Colombia 1–0 1–0 International friendly
8 6 September 2008 Quito, Ecuador  Bolivia 3–1 3–1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
9 12 October 2008 Quito, Ecuador  Chile 1–0 1–0 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
10 9 September 2009 La Paz, Bolivia  Bolivia 3–1 3–1 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification
11 4 September 2010 Zapopan, Mexico  Mexico 1–0 2–1 International friendly
12 12 October 2010 Montreal, Canada  Poland 1–0 2–2 International friendly
13 2–2
14 17 November 2010 Quito, Ecuador  Venezuela 1–0 4–1 International friendly
15 2–0
16 1 June 2011 Toronto, Canada  Canada 1–1 2–2 International friendly
17 2 September 2011 Quito, Ecuador  Jamaica 3–0 5–2 International friendly
18 4–0
19 6 September 2011 Quito, Ecuador  Costa Rica 4–0 4–0 International friendly
20 7 October 2011 Quito, Ecuador  Venezuela 2–0 2–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
21 15 November 2011 Quito, Ecuador  Peru 2–0 2–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
22 10 June 2012 Quito, Ecuador  Colombia 1–0 1–0 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification
23 21 March 2013 Quito, Ecuador  El Salvador 2–0 5–0 International friendly
24 26 March 2013 Quito, Ecuador  Paraguay 3–1 4–1 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honors

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Club

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El Nacional

Santos Laguna

Club América

Individual

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Ficha del jugador" [Player details] (in Spanish). Ecuadorian Football Federation. Archived from the original on 15 July 2014. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  2. ^ "Christian Benítez". MedioTiempo. Archived from the original on 17 June 2013. Retrieved 20 May 2013.
  3. ^ a b c "Número 11 de Ecuador siempre será de Chucho" [Ecuador's number 11 will always be Chucho's] (in Spanish). Ecuadorian Football Federation. 1 August 2013. Archived from the original on 19 August 2013.
  4. ^ a b "Santos reap golden harvest". FIFA. 30 July 2008. Archived from the original on 11 August 2008. Retrieved 25 September 2008.
  5. ^ a b Gowar, Rex (6 March 2014). "Soccer–Ecuador to reinstate Benitez's number 11 for World Cup". Reuters. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  6. ^ a b "Birmingham sign striker Benitez". BBC Sport. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  7. ^ Campos, Pablo (24 December 2007). "Teníamos un pacto con mi hijo: regresar juntos a vivir en Ecuador" [We had a pact with my son: to come back together to live in Ecuador]. El Comercio (in Spanish). Quito. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  8. ^ "El mejor gol navideño" [The best goal for Christmas]. Diario Extra (in Spanish). Guayaquil. 24 December 2007. Archived from the original on 24 May 2008.
  9. ^ "Mellizos, mejores 'goles' de Chucho" [Twins, Chucho's best 'goals']. Hoy (in Spanish). Quito. 6 September 2009. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 29 September 2009.
  10. ^ Northcroft, Jonathan (9 August 2009). "Pulling power". The Sunday Times. London. Retrieved 11 October 2013 – via NewsBank.
  11. ^ Townsend, Walter (26 June 2007). "Ecuador Team Guide". About A Ball. Archived from the original on 19 July 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  12. ^ Briones, Stalyn (16 January 2007). "El Nacional no conoce interès del Villarreal" [El Nacional is unaware of Villarreal's interest] (in Spanish). CRE Satelital Ecuador. Archived from the original on 5 April 2009. Retrieved 25 September 2009.
  13. ^ Sánchez Pineda, Joselo (13 December 2007). "Cristian Benítez premiado por AER como mejor Ecuatoriano en el exterior" [Cristian Benítez honoured by the AER as best Ecuadorian playing abroad] (in Spanish). Ecuadorian Football Federation. Archived from the original on 15 December 2007. Retrieved 30 July 2013.
  14. ^ "Alexis Sánchez y Christian Benítez interesan al Benfica" [Benfica are interested in Alexis Sánchez and Christian Benítez]. Goal.com (in Spanish). 25 November 2007. Archived from the original on 26 November 2007.
  15. ^ Walker, Andy (4 June 2009). "Birmingham City pay record £9m for Ecuador striker Christian Benitez". Birmingham Post. Archived from the original on 13 March 2012. Retrieved 14 June 2009.
  16. ^ "Blues make record signing". Birmingham City F.C. 3 June 2009. Archived from the original on 6 June 2009. Retrieved 3 June 2009.
  17. ^ Tattum, Colin (6 July 2009). "Medical concerns delay Benitez's £9m move to Blues". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  18. ^ a b "Blues bag Benitez". Birmingham City F.C. 7 July 2009. Archived from the original on 10 July 2009. Retrieved 8 July 2009.
  19. ^ Tattum, Colin (8 July 2009). "Birmingham City insist on 'get out' clause in new deal for Christian Benitez". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 19 August 2009. 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.
  20. ^ "Player Profiles: Christian Benitez". Birmingham City F.C. Archived from the original on 13 July 2009. Retrieved 7 May 2010.
  21. ^ Tattum, Colin (22 August 2009). "Revealed: The clever deals which mean Birmingham City aren't big spenders". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  22. ^ Tattum, Colin (20 July 2009). "Injury-hit Christian Benitez plays all-star game in Ecuador". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  23. ^ Soneji, Pranav (16 August 2009). "Man Utd 1–0 Birmingham". BBC Sport. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  24. ^ Cross, Jeremy (21 September 2009). "McLeish is full of hope for Benítez". The Times. London. p. 7[S1]. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  25. ^ Kay, Oliver (10 November 2009). "Steven Gerrard's penalty rescues point for Liverpool". The Times. London. Archived from the original on 31 May 2010. Retrieved 10 November 2009.
  26. ^ "Everton 1–2 Birmingham". BBC Sport. 23 January 2010. Retrieved 23 February 2010.
  27. ^ Tattum, Colin (14 May 2010). "Reasons for Blues not signing Christian Benitez explained". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  28. ^ "Birmingham City opt against signing Christian Benitez". BBC Sport. 14 May 2010. Retrieved 18 May 2010.
  29. ^ Nursey, James (21 July 2010). "Former Birmingham loanee Benitez signs new deal in Mexico". Mirror Football. Archived from the original on 29 October 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2010.
  30. ^ كما انفردنا ..الجيش يتعاقد رسميا مع الإكوادوري بينتيز [El Jaish officially contracts the Ecuadorian Benítez] (in Arabic). Alkass Sports Channels. 6 July 2013. Archived from the original on 8 July 2013. Retrieved 6 July 2013.
  31. ^ Khatri, Shabina (29 July 2013). "Qatar footballer dies at age 27 of 'respiratory arrest'". Doha News. Archived from the original on 5 August 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  32. ^ "Ecuador 1–1 Ireland: Makeshift Irish held". ESPNsoccernet. 23 May 2007. Archived from the original on 10 November 2012. Retrieved 24 May 2007.
  33. ^ Maldonado, Julio (1 June 2007). "Christian Benítez, el hijo de la Pantera y el punta del futuro" [Christian Benítez, son of 'the Panther' and striker of the future]. Diario AS (in Spanish). Madrid. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  34. ^ "Ecuador hit five past nine-man El Salvador". ESPNsoccernet. Reuters. 9 September 2007. Archived from the original on 23 October 2012. Retrieved 11 September 2007.
  35. ^ "2010 FIFA World Cup Qualifying South America / Ecuador VS Bolivia". Statbunker. 6 September 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  36. ^ "2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa: South America League Group: Ecuador–Chile". FIFA. 12 October 2008. Archived from the original on 5 August 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  37. ^ Ordorica, Ana Paula (29 July 2013). "Paralelo 23". Paralelo 23 (in Spanish). Mexico City. Televisa. FOROtv.
  38. ^ "Christian Benitez: Former Birmingham striker dies aged 27". BBC Sport. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 29 July 2013.
  39. ^ "Christian el 'Chucho' Benítez falleció en Qatar" [Christian 'Chucho' Benítez died in Qatar]. El Comercio (in Spanish). Quito. 29 July 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  40. ^ "'Chucho' Benítez es sepultado en cementerio de Quito" ['Chucho' Benítez buried in a Quito cemetery]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Barcelona. EFE. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  41. ^ "Rafael Correa dijo que Christian Benítez se ha convertido en leyenda" [Rafael Correa says that Christian Benítez has become a legend]. El Comercio (in Spanish). Quito. 2 August 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  42. ^ "Ecuador motivated by death of Christian Benitez". Associated Press. 31 May 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  43. ^ "En homenaje al 'Chucho' Benítez, se inaugura estadio que lleva su nombre" [In homage to 'Chucho' Benítez, the stadium that bears his name is opened] (in Spanish). CONMEBOL. 22 February 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  44. ^ Ávila, Andrés (15 March 2023). "Guayaquil City se muda al estadio Monumental" [Guayaquil City are moving to the Estadio Monumental]. Bendito Futbol (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  45. ^ "'Chucho' Benítez tiene su estatua en México" ['Chucho' Benítez has his statue in Mexico]. El Universo (in Spanish). Guayaquil. 12 August 2014. Retrieved 12 October 2023.
  46. ^ Padilla, Cristian (9 August 2014). "'Chucho' Benítez ya es un santo inmortal y se develó su estatua" ['Chucho' Benítez is now an 'immortal saint' and his statue is unveiled]. ESPN Deportes (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 October 2023.
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