José de la Cruz (footballer)

Benítez
Personal information
Full name	José de La Cruz Benítez Santa Cruz
Date of birth	3 May 1952 (age 72)
Place of birth	Asunción, Paraguay
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
1966–1971	Club Olimpia
Senior career*
Years	Team
1971–1977	Club Olimpia
1977–1983	Internacional
1978	→ Palmeiras (loan)
International career
1972–1977	Paraguay
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals

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.^[1]

He made 94 appearances in the Campeonato Brasileiro for Internacional and Palmeiras.^[2]

Benítez made an appearance for the Paraguay national football team in a 1978 FIFA World Cup qualifying match against Brazil.^[3]

Titles

Under-20 South American Champion: 1971 (with the Paraguay national football team)
Paraguayan League: 1971, 1975 (with Olimpia)
Campeonato Gaúcho: 1978, 1981, 1982, 1983 (with Internacional de Porto Alegre)
Campeonato Brasileiro: 1979 (with Internacional de Porto Alegre)

References

^ Simas, Vinicius (5 June 2007). "Benitez, goleiro campeão pelo Inter, vira "cartola" do Zequinha" (in Portuguese). Pelé.net.
^ "Futpedia: Benítez (José de la Cruz Benítez)" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. Archived from the original on 20 December 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2010.
^ Arruda, Marcelo Leme de (20 July 2000). "Brazil – International Results, 1977/78". RSSSF.

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[1] Simas, Vinicius (5 June 2007). "Benitez, goleiro campeão pelo Inter, vira "cartola" do Zequinha" (in Portuguese). Pelé.net.

[2] "Futpedia: Benítez (José de la Cruz Benítez)" (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. Archived from the original on 20 December 2009. Retrieved 3 February 2010.

[3] Arruda, Marcelo Leme de (20 July 2000). "Brazil – International Results, 1977/78". RSSSF.

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