Álvaro Benito
Spanish footballer and musician From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Álvaro Benito Villar (born 10 December 1976) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a left midfielder. He later worked as a Rock musician.
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Álvaro Benito Villar | ||
| Date of birth | 10 December 1976 | ||
| Place of birth | Salamanca, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Ávila | |||
| 1991–1994 | Real Madrid | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1994–1995 | Real Madrid C | 20 | (1) |
| 1995–1997 | Real Madrid B | 12 | (2) |
| 1995–2002 | Real Madrid | 21 | (2) |
| 1997–1998 | → Tenerife (loan) | 2 | (1) |
| 2001–2002 | Real Madrid B | 11 | (1) |
| 2002–2003 | Getafe | 6 | (0) |
| Total | 72 | (7) | |
| International career | |||
| 1992–1993 | Spain U16 | 13 | (0) |
| 1993–1995 | Spain U18 | 5 | (1) |
| 1996 | Spain U21 | 1 | (0) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2015–2019 | Real Madrid (youth) | ||
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Club career
Born in Salamanca, Region of León, Benito emerged through Real Madrid's youth ranks, making his senior debut not yet aged 18 with the C team. He progressed to the reserves the following year.[1][2]
Benito was relatively used by the main squad in the 1995–96 season,[3] and contributed seven matches the following campaign as they were crowned La Liga champions.[4] In November 1996, he suffered a severe knee injury from which he would never fully recover, undergoing three operations in only four months in 1998 in Pittsburgh, United States; he was involved in a car accident afterwards, which further curtailed his recovering process.[5]
After one unassuming loan with CD Tenerife and another spell with Castilla, Benito was released by Real Madrid in summer 2002, joining city neighbours Getafe CF of Segunda División.[6] He appeared rarely for his new club, again due to injury.[7]
After retiring, Benito was in charge of several of Real's youth sides, starting with the Alevín B in 2015.[8][9][10] He was dismissed in late February 2019, due to criticism of the first team following a 0–3 home defeat against FC Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey on a radio show.[11]
International career
Benito won his only cap for the Spain under-21 side on 12 November 1996, coming on as a late substitute for FC Barcelona's Roger García in a 1–1 home draw against Slovakia for the 1998 UEFA European Championship qualifiers, but being stretchered off shortly after with a serious injury that all but ended his career.[12][5]
Musical career
During his rehabilitation period, Benito started playing guitar and writing songs, going on to put together a band, Pignoise. The group, which also featured another former footballer, Héctor Polo (Real Zaragoza, Rayo Vallecano), eventually used many of the songs he composed prior to its creation.[13]
Honours
Real Madrid
Spain U16
- UEFA European Under-16 Championship runner-up: 1992
References
External links
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