José Ignacio Benítez Castañeda (born 9 February 1979) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a left winger.
Football career Born in Huelva, Andalusia, Benítez graduated from Recreativo de Huelva's youth setup. After two years with the reserves, he was promoted to the first team in Segunda División by manager Lucas Alcaraz, and subsequently renewed his contract despite suffering an injury in the pre-season.Benítez, del estrellato y las lesiones a dirigir a un equipo de prebenjamines (Benítez, from stardom and injuries to managing a prebenjamines team); Huelva 24, 2 January 2013
On 3 September 2000, Benítez played his first match as a professional, starting in a 0–0 home draw against CD Badajoz.No merecen más (They don't deserve more); Mundo Deportivo, 4 September 2000 He scored his first goal on the 17th, netting in the 1–0 success over Córdoba CF also at the Estadio Colombino.El Recreativo gana el derbi andaluz y ya es quinto (Recreativo wins Andalusian derby and is already fifth); Mundo Deportivo, 18 September 2000
Benítez was an ever-present figure in the 2001–02 season, as his team returned to La Liga after a 23-year absence. He made his debut in the competition on 1 September 2002, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–3 home loss to Málaga CF.'Hat trick' del 'Kiki' Musampa en Huelva ('Hat trick' of 'Kiki' Musampa in Huelva); Mundo Deportivo, 2 September 2002
Benítez subsequently lost his space in Recre's starting XI, mainly due to injuries. On 13 July 2006, he signed with Hércules CF also in the second level,Ignacio Benítez se convierte en la undécima incorporación del Hércules (Ignacio Benítez becomes the last addition of Hércules); Marca, 13 July 2006 but after appearing rarely he was loaned to Segunda División B club Rayo Vallecano on 31 January 2007.Benítez: “Vengo con muchísima ilusión” (Benítez: "I come with a lot of hope") ; Rayo Herald, 31 January 2007
On 23 January 2008, Benítez moved to FC Cartagena from the third tier.Benítez: «No tengo ritmo pero sí muchas ganas» (Benítez: "I am not match fit but I am as eager as can be"); La Verdad, 23 January 2008 On 2 September of that year, he joined Tercera División side Ayamonte CF,Benítez, ex albinegro, acaba en el Ayamonte (Benítez, former albinegro player, ends up in Ayamonte); La Verdad, 2 September 2008 retiring with the latter at the end of the campaign.
References
External links