Delfín Benítez Cáceres
Encyclopedia
Delfín Benítez Cáceres (24 September 1910 – 8 January 2004) was a Paraguay
an football striker
.
Benítez started his career in Libertad
of his native country. As one of the key players of the Paraguayan national football team
in the early 1930s, he gained the attention of Argentinian
club Boca Juniors
and signed with them in 1932. He soon became one of the key players in the team and during the seven years he spent at the club he scored 107 goals in 162 matches, making him the fifth all-time top scorer in Boca Juniors' history http://www.agrupacionnuevoboca.com.ar/Club/Campeonatos/Gmaximos.asp. Boca fans consider Benítez as "perhaps the best foreign player to ever wear the blue and gold jersey of Boca Juniors" http://www.informexeneize.com.ar/biografia_delfin_benitez_caceres.htm.
Near the end of his football career, Benítez also played for Argentinian sides Racing Club
(1939–41) and Ferro Carril Oeste
(1941–44). During his time at Racing he became the top scorer in the Primera División Argentina
and in South American football for 1940 with 33 goals, tied with Isidro Lángara
of San Lorenzo
.
He earned 15 caps for Paraguay, including his participation at the 1929 South American Championship and both of the team's matches at the 1930 World Cup
against the United States
and Belgium; he scored three goals for Paraguay. Later, he appeared once for the Argentina national football team
in 1934, scoring one goal.
After retiring from football as a player he became a coach and led Independiente Medellín
to a Colombia
n national championship in 1955. He also coached several Venezuela
n football teams.
Paraguay
Paraguay , officially the Republic of Paraguay , is a landlocked country in South America. It is bordered by Argentina to the south and southwest, Brazil to the east and northeast, and Bolivia to the northwest. Paraguay lies on both banks of the Paraguay River, which runs through the center of the...
an football striker
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
.
Benítez started his career in Libertad
Club Libertad
Club Libertad is a sports club based in the District Tuyucuá of the city of Asuncion, capital of Paraguay. It was founded on July 30, 1905 and currently plays in the Paraguayan Primera División...
of his native country. As one of the key players of the Paraguayan national football team
Paraguay national football team
The Paraguay national football team is controlled by the Paraguayan Football Association and represents Paraguay in men's international football competitions. The team has reached the second round of the World Cup on four occasions . The 2010 trip also featured their first appearance in the...
in the early 1930s, he gained the attention of Argentinian
Argentina
Argentina , officially the Argentine Republic , is the second largest country in South America by land area, after Brazil. It is constituted as a federation of 23 provinces and an autonomous city, Buenos Aires...
club Boca Juniors
Boca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
and signed with them in 1932. He soon became one of the key players in the team and during the seven years he spent at the club he scored 107 goals in 162 matches, making him the fifth all-time top scorer in Boca Juniors' history http://www.agrupacionnuevoboca.com.ar/Club/Campeonatos/Gmaximos.asp. Boca fans consider Benítez as "perhaps the best foreign player to ever wear the blue and gold jersey of Boca Juniors" http://www.informexeneize.com.ar/biografia_delfin_benitez_caceres.htm.
Near the end of his football career, Benítez also played for Argentinian sides Racing Club
Racing Club de Avellaneda
Racing Club is an Argentine professional football club from Avellaneda, a suburb of Greater Buenos Aires. Founded in 1903, Racing has been historically considered one of the "big five" clubs of Argentine football...
(1939–41) and Ferro Carril Oeste
Ferro Carril Oeste
Club Ferro Carril Oeste, known simply as Ferro Carril Oeste or Ferro, is a sports club from the neighbourhood of Caballito, in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The club was founded on July 28, 1904 by 95 railway workers from the Buenos Aires Western Railway...
(1941–44). During his time at Racing he became the top scorer in the Primera División Argentina
Primera División Argentina topscorers
This is a list of Argentine Primera División top scorers, that enumerates all players that have finished a season as top goalscorers in the top level of the Argentine football league system. These statistics only include seasons from the professional era of Argentine football...
and in South American football for 1940 with 33 goals, tied with Isidro Lángara
Isidro Lángara
Isidro Lángara Galarraga was a Spanish football striker. He played 12 times for Spain, scoring 17 goals.- Biography :...
of San Lorenzo
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro
Club Atlético San Lorenzo de Almagro is an Argentine sports club based in Boedo neighbourhood, Buenos Aires, mostly known because of its football team....
.
He earned 15 caps for Paraguay, including his participation at the 1929 South American Championship and both of the team's matches at the 1930 World Cup
1930 FIFA World Cup
The 1930 FIFA World Cup was the inaugural FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in Uruguay from 13 July to 30 July 1930...
against the United States
United States men's national soccer team
The United States men's national soccer team represents the United States in international association football competitions. It is controlled by the United States Soccer Federation and competes in CONCACAF...
and Belgium; he scored three goals for Paraguay. Later, he appeared once for the Argentina national football team
Argentina national football team
The Argentina national football team represents Argentina in association football and is controlled by the Argentine Football Association , the governing body for football in Argentina. Argentina's home stadium is Estadio Monumental Antonio Vespucio Liberti and their head coach is Alejandro...
in 1934, scoring one goal.
After retiring from football as a player he became a coach and led Independiente Medellín
Independiente Medellín
Corporación Deportiva Independiente Medellín is a professional Colombian football team competing in Fútbol Profesional Colombiano, the Colombian first division. The club is based in the city of Medellín and founded in 1913. It has won the league's national tournament known as Copa Mustang five...
to a Colombia
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n national championship in 1955. He also coached several Venezuela
Venezuela
Venezuela , officially called the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , is a tropical country on the northern coast of South America. It borders Colombia to the west, Guyana to the east, and Brazil to the south...
n football teams.