 Benítez withPalestino in 2011 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | (1953-02-05)5 February 1953 (age 72) | ||
| Place of birth | Paraguarí, Paraguay | ||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1974–1975 | Olimpia Asunción | ||
| 1975–1980 | Granada CF | 135 | (11) |
| 1980–1985 | Olimpia Asunción | ||
| 1985–1987 | Atlético Nacional | ||
| 1987–1989 | Olimpia Asunción | ||
| International career | |||
| 1975–1985 | Paraguay | 42 | (2) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 1994 | Olimpia Asunción | ||
| 1995–1998 | Colo-Colo | ||
| 1999–2000 | Racing Santander | ||
| 2001 | Racing Santander | ||
| 2003 | Rayo Vallecano | ||
| 2004–2005 | Olimpia Asunción | ||
| 2008 | Cobreloa | ||
| 2010–2011 | Palestino | ||
| 2013 | Colo-Colo | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Gustavo Benítez (born 5 February 1953) is a retiredParaguayanfootball defender andcoach.
As a player, Benítez won several national championships withOlimpia Asunción, where he was a key part of the defence.
He also made 42 appearances for theParaguay national football team, and competed at the1987 Copa América in Argentina.[2]
After retiring from football as a player he became a coach. At Chilean clubColo-Colo, he won three Chilean league championships (1996, 1997, 1998) and one Copa Chile (1996).
In January 1999, Benítez replaced the sackedNando Yosu at the helm of SpanishLa Liga clubRacing de Santander, and saved the team from relegation. He resigned at the end of the following season, after a second consecutive 15th-place finish caused some dissent from the fans;[3] his Russian strikerVladimir Beschastnykh told his country'sSport Express in January 2000 that he wanted theCantabrians to lose so that Benítez could be dismissed.[4]
Benítez returned to theEstadio El Sardinero in March 2001 after the dismissal ofGregorio Manzano, for what remained of the season plus two more.[5] However, he lost his job on 5 October after a poor start to theSegunda División campaign following relegation, and was replaced byQuique Setién.[6]
In February 2003, Benítez was back in Spain's top flight, taking over aRayo Vallecano team placed in 18th.[7] After winning twice in ten games, putting the team into their eventual last position, he was dismissed on 14 April andAntonio Iriondo appointed.[8]
On 1 April 2010 CD Palestino officials hired the former Cobreloa and Colo-Colo coach to replace Jorge Aravena who quit about two weeks ago.[9]
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