Biography

Miguel Angel Benitez born in Gardena, California

Gardena, California

Gardena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The population was 58,829 at the 2010 census, up from 57,746 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Gardena is located at ....

 in 1986.

Currently a pool goalkeeper for Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer

Major League Soccer is a professional soccer league based in the United States and sanctioned by the United States Soccer Federation . The league is composed of 19 teams — 16 in the U.S. and 3 in Canada...

.

He is training under the supervision of Bruce Arena and Ian Feuer with the Los Angeles Galaxy

Los Angeles Galaxy

The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...

.

Benitez was in the line-up of the Galaxy's first two games while keeper Donavan Ricketts was nursing an injury.

He has also traveled to backup Chivas USA goalkeeper during the middle of the season.

Benitez is a strong prospect. He's tall, strong, and a smart field general directing the team from the back.

Benitez is currently under contract with Major League Soccer.

Life Motto: "Continuous Improvement" Benitez says, "Every hardship in life has a lesson. I try to pay attention to what I have to learn from every experience, good or bad."

Education

St. Joseph E.S. Hawthorne, Ca
Bishop Montgomery H.S. Torrance, Ca
Loyola Marymount University, Ca B.A. Business
CSUDH, M.A. Business Admin.

Soccer History

Miguel Benitez played in the Coast Soccer League, known as the best soccer league in the western part of the United States. He played for Palos Verdes Soccer Club and then for South Bay Soccer Club (Force). Benitez considers his memories of the era as enjoyable and above all competitive. "Soccer was my life,tournament after tournament, weekend after weekend," all of which prepared him for the next step.

He entered his senior year at Bishop Montgomery solicited by prospective soccer programs such as UCLA, UCONN, UCI, CSUN, and LMU. He selected Loyola Marymount University to continue his education in a private Catholic university.

Benitez played soccer at Loyola Marymount University

Loyola Marymount University

Loyola Marymount University is a comprehensive co-educational private Roman Catholic university in the Jesuit and Marymount traditions located in Los Angeles, California, United States...

Lions and on and off with Orange County Blue Star

Orange County Blue Star

Orange County Blue Star is an American soccer team based in Irvine, California, United States. Founded in 1997, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at...

 with Nick Theslof

Nick Theslof

Nick Theslof is an American soccer manager and coach, who was midfield coach and international scout to Jürgen Klinsmann at FC Bayern Munich...

. Theslof coached Miguel Benitez and other notable players such as Robbie Rogers

Robbie Rogers

Robbie Rogers is an American soccer player who currently plays for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer and the United States men's national soccer team.-Youth and College:...

 now playing for the Columbus Crew and the U.S. National Team. Under the direction of Theslof, they won State Championships, Regional Championships, and various Premier League titles in the Coast Soccer League.

Miguel Benitez last started for California State University Dominguez Hills Toros. He was recruited to play his final year of eligibility by Joe Flanagan, a well-respected coach in the South Bay area of Los Angeles. Benitez aided the Toros to their NCAA D2 National Championship with a trail of victories and a long hot streak.

Accomplishments

- NCAA Division 2 National Champion

- State and U.S.Regional Champion Premier League South Coast League

- Played for Palos Verdes Soccer Club, South bay Force Soccer Club

- U.S. Olympic Development Goal Keeper (86)

- Daily Breeze 2004 Player of the Year

- Bishop Montgomery H.S.Most Valuable Player

- All-CIF Division I first-team honors as a junior and senior

- DEL REY LEAGUE Goalie of the Year in 2002

- NCAA D2 Tournament Golden Glove

- Major League Soccer Contract 2009

Pictures

ESPN Link http://soccernet.espn.go.com/players/stats?id=12552&cc=5901

CSUDH Soocer http://www.gotoros.com/roster.aspx?rp_id=605

DailyNews Insidesocal.com http://www.insidesocal.com/soccer/2008/11/a-few-words-with-cal-state-dom.html

Wikipedia MLS Players List List of current MLS players

Chivas USA http://chivas.usa.mlsnet.com/news/team_news.jsp?ymd=20090508&content_id=250219&vkey=news_cdc&fext=.jsp&team=t120

MLS Players http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/wire?section=soccer&id=3965175