Julio César Benítez
Encyclopedia
Julio César Benítez Amodeo (October 1, 1940 – April 6, 1968) was an Uruguay
an football
er, known for his time in FC Barcelona
from 1961 until his surprising death in 1968.
Benítez was a defender
, appreciated for his physical strength, technique with the ball and powerful shot. His rivalry with Francisco Gento
, Real Madrid
player, helped him earn Barcelona's fans appreciation.
Benítez started his football career at the age of 16, in Racing Club de Montevideo
, then playing in the Uruguayan first division
. In 1959 he played for Real Valladolid
, and a year later he moved to Real Zaragoza
. In his time with these teams he established himself as a great player. Benítez moved to FC Barcelona
in August 1961. In Barcelona he played in several positions in midfield
and even in attack
, but he became fixated as a fullback after a short while. With Barcelona he won Copa del Generalísimo in 1963 and Inter Cities Fairs Cup
in 1966.
He died on April 6, 1968 in Barcelona, three days before a critical game in the Camp Nou
against Real Madrid. The cause of his death was eating a spoiled seafood
, which resulted in gastroenteritis
and ultimately his death. His death attracted huge attention to Spanish football in general and Barcelona in particular. 150,000 fans of FC Barcelona were present at his funeral in the Camp Nou, two days before the game. Benítez was buried in a cemetery near Camp Nou in April 8. The Royal Spanish Football Federation decided not to cancel the game, but just put if off by two days. Benítez's last words were "Come on friends, let's win Madrid 2-0!", however, his teammate could not cope psychologically with his death and devote him a win in the game, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Nevertheless, on July 11, 1968 Barcelona beat Real Madrid in the cup final, and the win was dedicated in memory of Benítez. The cup title was included in the list of titles won by Benítez, as a dedication to his contribution to the team.
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an 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...
er, known for his time in FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
from 1961 until his surprising death in 1968.
Benítez was a defender
Defender (association football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
, appreciated for his physical strength, technique with the ball and powerful shot. His rivalry with Francisco Gento
Francisco Gento
Francisco "Paco" Gento López is a former Spanish football player.-Biography:He débuted in the Primera División with Racing Santander in the 1952–53 season...
, Real Madrid
Real Madrid
Real Madrid Club de Fútbol , commonly known as Real Madrid, is a professional football club based in Madrid, Spain. The club have won a record 31 La Liga titles, the Primera División of the Liga de Fútbol Profesional , 18 Copas del Rey, 8 Spanish Super Cups, 1 Copa Eva Duarte and 1 Copa de la...
player, helped him earn Barcelona's fans appreciation.
Benítez started his football career at the age of 16, in Racing Club de Montevideo
Racing Club de Montevideo
Racing Club de Montevideo is a football club from Montevideo in Uruguay. It currently play in the Uruguayan 1st Division.Racing Club is known as "La Escuelita" due to the excellent players that resulted from the team, it was like a player machine...
, then playing in the Uruguayan first division
Primera División Uruguaya
The Liga Profesional de Primera División , also known as the Primera División Uruguaya or Primera División de Uruguay , is a professional football league in Uruguay at the top of the country's football league system. It is organized by the Uruguayan Football Association and is contested by 16 teams...
. In 1959 he played for Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid
Real Valladolid Club de Fútbol, S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Valladolid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León, from where the nickname Pucela is derived....
, and a year later he moved to Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza
Real Zaragoza, S.A.D. is a Spanish association football team from Zaragoza in Spain. Founded on 18 March 1932, Real Zaragoza have spent the majority of their 78 year history in the Spanish top-flight. Real Zaragoza are Spain's 9th highest ranked team in overall league points...
. In his time with these teams he established himself as a great player. Benítez moved to FC Barcelona
FC Barcelona
Futbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....
in August 1961. In Barcelona he played in several positions in midfield
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
and even in attack
Striker
Forwards, also known as strikers, are the players on a team in association football who play nearest to the opposing team's goal, and are therefore principally responsible for scoring goals...
, but he became fixated as a fullback after a short while. With Barcelona he won Copa del Generalísimo in 1963 and Inter Cities Fairs Cup
Inter-Cities Fairs Cup 1965-66
The eighth Inter-Cities Fairs Cup was played over the 1965-'66 season. The competition was won by FC Barcelona over two legs in an all-Spanish final against Real Zaragoza...
in 1966.
He died on April 6, 1968 in Barcelona, three days before a critical game in the Camp Nou
Camp Nou
Camp Nou , sometimes called "the Nou Camp" in English, is a football stadium in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. The stadium, located in the west of the city, has been the home of FC Barcelona since its construction in 1957....
against Real Madrid. The cause of his death was eating a spoiled seafood
Seafood
Seafood is any form of marine life regarded as food by humans. Seafoods include fish, molluscs , crustaceans , echinoderms . Edible sea plants, such as some seaweeds and microalgae, are also seafood, and are widely eaten around the world, especially in Asia...
, which resulted in gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis
Gastroenteritis is marked by severe inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract involving both the stomach and small intestine resulting in acute diarrhea and vomiting. It can be transferred by contact with contaminated food and water...
and ultimately his death. His death attracted huge attention to Spanish football in general and Barcelona in particular. 150,000 fans of FC Barcelona were present at his funeral in the Camp Nou, two days before the game. Benítez was buried in a cemetery near Camp Nou in April 8. The Royal Spanish Football Federation decided not to cancel the game, but just put if off by two days. Benítez's last words were "Come on friends, let's win Madrid 2-0!", however, his teammate could not cope psychologically with his death and devote him a win in the game, and the game ended in a 1-1 draw. Nevertheless, on July 11, 1968 Barcelona beat Real Madrid in the cup final, and the win was dedicated in memory of Benítez. The cup title was included in the list of titles won by Benítez, as a dedication to his contribution to the team.
External links
- "Forty years since the passing of Benítez", at the official website of FC BarcelonaFC BarcelonaFutbol Club Barcelona , also known as Barcelona and familiarly as Barça, is a professional football club, based in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain....