Antonio Benítez

Antonio Benítez

Personal information
Full name	Antonio Benítez Fernández
Date of birth	(1951-06-02) 2 June 1951
Place of birth	Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
Position(s)	Left back
Youth career
	Xerez
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1968–1970	Xerez
1970–1983	Betis	288	(21)
International career
1974	Spain amateur	1	(0)
1974–1977	Spain	3	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Template:Spanish name Antonio Benítez Fernández (born 2 June 1951 in Jerez de la Frontera, Cádiz, Andalusia - 19 February 2014) was a Spanish footballer who played as a left defender.

Club career

Benítez started his career with local Xerez CD in the third division. In 1970 he joined Andalusia neighbours Real Betis, immediately achieving promotion to La Liga, as champions.

Benítez made his debut in the top level on 3 October 1971, in a 0–2 away loss against Valencia CF, and finished the season with 28 games and one goal as the Verdiblancos ranked in 13th position, being relegated the following campaign. Late into the decade, he would win the 1977 Copa del Rey, suffer another top flight relegation with his main club, in 1978, and achieve immediate promotion back; during his early seasons, he played as a left winger.

Benítez retired from football in June 1984 at the age of 33, after only one game in two seasons combined with Betis. He appeared in more than 300 official games for the club.

International career

Benítez gained three caps for Spain in as many years, courtesy of manager László Kubala. His debut occurred on 12 October 1974 in a 1–1 friendly with Argentina, in Buenos Aires.

Honours

Betis

• Spanish Cup: 1976–77
• Second Division: 1970–71

External links

• BDFutbol profile
• National team data Template:Es icon
• Benítez.html Antonio Benítez at National-Football-Teams.com
• Antonio Benítez – FIFA competition record (archived)