José de La Cruz Benítez
Encyclopedia
José de La Cruz Benitez Santa Cruz, (born 3 May 1952 in Asunción
) is a former football
player who played as a goalkeeper.
Benítez started in the youth divisions of Olimpia Asunción
and made his debut with the first team squad in 1971. In 1977 he was transferred to Internacional
of Brazil
where he won several titles and became a favorite among the fans. In a friendly match on 4 December 1983, Benítez suffered a severe injury after colliding with another player during a game which forced Benítez to end his football career.
He made 94 appearances in the Campeonato Brasileiro
for Internacional and Palmeiras.
Benítez made an appearance for the Paraguay national football team
in a 1978 FIFA World Cup
qualifying match against Brazil.
Asunción
Asunción is the capital and largest city of Paraguay.The "Ciudad de Asunción" is an autonomous capital district not part of any department. The metropolitan area, called Gran Asunción, includes the cities of San Lorenzo, Fernando de la Mora, Lambaré, Luque, Mariano Roque Alonso, Ñemby, San...
) is a former football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
player who played as a goalkeeper.
Benítez started in the youth divisions of Olimpia Asunción
Olimpia Asunción
Club Olimpia is a Paraguayan sport club based in Asunción. It is best known for its professional football team which plays in the Paraguayan Primera División....
and made his debut with the first team squad in 1971. In 1977 he was transferred to Internacional
Sport Club Internacional
Sport Club Internacional is a Brazilian football team and multi-sport club from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, founded on April 4, 1909, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Cruzeiro. They play in red shirts, white shorts and...
of Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
where he won several titles and became a favorite among the fans. In a friendly match on 4 December 1983, Benítez suffered a severe injury after colliding with another player during a game which forced Benítez to end his football career.
He made 94 appearances in the Campeonato Brasileiro
Campeonato Brasileiro Série A
The Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...
for Internacional and Palmeiras.
Benítez made an appearance for the Paraguay 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 a 1978 FIFA World Cup
1978 FIFA World Cup
The 1978 FIFA World Cup, the 11th staging of the FIFA World Cup, was held in Argentina between 1 June and 25 June. The 1978 World Cup was won by Argentina who beat the Netherlands 3–1 after extra time in the final. This win was the first World Cup title for Argentina, who became the fifth...
qualifying match against Brazil.
Career
- 1971-1977 : Olimpia AsunciónOlimpia AsunciónClub Olimpia is a Paraguayan sport club based in Asunción. It is best known for its professional football team which plays in the Paraguayan Primera División....
- - 1977-1977 : InternacionalSport Club InternacionalSport Club Internacional is a Brazilian football team and multi-sport club from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, founded on April 4, 1909, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Cruzeiro. They play in red shirts, white shorts and...
- - 1978-1978 : PalmeirasSociedade Esportiva PalmeirasSociedade Esportiva Palmeiras is a Brazilian football club from São Paulo. The club was founded on August 26, 1914, as Palestra Italia but changed to the current name on September 14, 1942...
- - 1978-1983 : InternacionalSport Club InternacionalSport Club Internacional is a Brazilian football team and multi-sport club from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, founded on April 4, 1909, and are one of the only five clubs to have never been relegated, along with Santos, São Paulo, Flamengo and Cruzeiro. They play in red shirts, white shorts and...
-
Titles
- Under-20 South American Champion: 1971 (with the Paraguay national football teamParaguay national football teamThe 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...
) - Paraguayan LeagueLiga Paraguaya: Primera DivisiónThe División Profesional de la Asociación Paraguaya de Fútbol , also known as the Primera División , or due to sponsorship reasons Copa TIGO, is the top-flight professional football league in Paraguay...
: 1971, 1975 (with Olimpia) - Campeonato GaúchoCampeonato GaúchoThe Campeonato da Primeira Divisão de Futebol Profissional da FGF is the top tier of the footballleague of the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil.-Clubs:Clubs qualified to Campeonato Gaúcho Primeira Divisão 2011.*Canoas*Caxias...
: 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983 (with Internacional de Porto Alegre) - Campeonato BrasileiroCampeonato Brasileiro Série AThe Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...
: 1979 (with Internacional de Porto Alegre)