Leandro Benítez

Leandro Benítez
Benítez with Estudiantes in 2010
Personal information
Full name Leandro Damián Benítez[1]
Date of birth (1981-04-05) 5 April 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth Ensenada, Argentina
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Left winger
Youth career
Estudiantes de La Plata
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2000–2013 Estudiantes LP 247 (13)
2002–2004Quilmes (loan) 85 (8)
2005–2006Olimpo (loan) 28 (3)
2013–2014 Quilmes 18 (0)
2014–2015 Estudiantes 5 (0)
2015 Boca Unidos 11 (0)
2015–2016 Guaraní Antonio Franco 15 (0)
2016–2017 Everton La Plata
Managerial career
2017–2018 Estudiantes II
2017 Estudiantes (caretaker)
2017 Estudiantes (caretaker)
2018 Estudiantes (caretaker)
2018–2019 Estudiantes
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Leandro Benítez (born 5 April 1981) is a retired Argentine footballer who usually played as a midfielder on the left side of the pitch.[2]

Career

A native of Ensenada, Benítez grew in the youth system of Estudiantes de La Plata, and in 2001 was loaned to Quilmes where he played two years, and then to Olimpo where he stayed another two years.

Back in Estudiantes since 2005, Benítez was part of the 2006 Apertura championship team. In 2008, he was runner up with the team in the Copa Sudamericana. Subsequently, he was a starter and key contributor on the team that won the 2009 Copa Libertadores. The midfielder played in 14 games, and scored 1 goal (against Nacional in the semifinal) during the tournament.

In the 2009 FIFA Club World Cup, Benítez scored twice in the semi-final against Pohang Steelers in a 2–1 win.[3]

Coaching career

After retiring, Benítez became the manager of Estudiantes's reserve team. On 14 June 2017, Benítez was appointed as caretaker manager of Estudiantes until the end of the season following the departure of Nelson Vivas.[4] On 20 September 2017, he was once again appointed as the caretaker manager of the club, this time following the departure of Gustavo Matosas.[5] He was in charge for one game, before a new manager was appointed nine days later. On 7 May 2018, he was again appointed as caretaker manager for the rest of the season after Lucas Bernardi resigned.[6]

At the end of the season, he was appointed as the permanent manager of the club.[7] On 24 February 2019, Benítez decided to resign after a period with poor results.[8]

Honours

Estudiantes

References

  1. ^ "FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2009 presented by Toyota: List of Players" (PDF). FIFA. 9 December 2009. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 September 2012.
  2. ^ Leandro Benítez anunció su retiro‚ TyC Sports, 5 January 2017
  3. ^ "Pohang Steelers 1 – 2 Estudiantes La Plata". ESPN. 15 December 2009. Archived from the original on 4 June 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2009.
  4. ^ Leandro Benítez tomó las riendas de Estudiantes, tycsports.com, 14 June 2017
  5. ^ Chino Benitez, el DT interino de Estudiantes, elgrafico.com.ar, 20 September 2017
  6. ^ Leandro Benítez será técnico de Estudiantes hasta el último partido de la Copa, radionacional.com.ar, 7 May 2018
  7. ^ Leandro Benítez asume como entrenador de Estudiantes de La Plata, efe.com, 14 June 2018
  8. ^ ESTUDIANTES SE QUEDÓ SIN DT: RENUNCIÓ LEANDRO BENÍTEZ, infocielo.com, 24 February 2019