Alexandra Benado

Alexandra "Ale" Benado Vergara (born 11 May 1976) is a Chilean politician, LGBT rights activist and former football player and manager. She played as a midfielder and has been a member of the Chile women's national team. From 11 March 2022 to 10 March 2023, she served as Minister of Sports of Chile.[1][2]

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Benado and the second or maternal family name is Vergara.
Alexandra Benado
Minister of Sports
In office
11 March 2022 – 10 March 2023
PresidentGabriel Boric
Preceded byCecilia Pérez
Personal details
Born
Alexandra Benado Vergara

(1976-05-11) 11 May 1976
Stockholm, Sweden
Association football career
Height 1.57 m (5 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1993 Sportivo Milano de Colina
1994–???? Palestino
20??–2011 Provincial Osorno
International career
Chile
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Early life

Benado was born on 11 May 1976 in Stockholm to Chilean parents, a Jewish father and a non-Jewish mother.[3][2] She lived the following years in France, where she started playing football.[4] Her mother, Lucía Vergara, was a militant of the Revolutionary Left Movement. After Vergara's murder in Chile in 1983, Benado left Europe and moved to Cuba. She settled in Chile in early 1990s.[2]

Club career

Benado joined Sportivo Milano de Colina in 1993. She moved to CD Palestino the following year.[2] She retired from her playing career following an injury prior the 2003 South American Women's Football Championship. However, she came out of retirement in September 2009, after Spanish football manager Marta Tejedor, who was coaching the Chile women's national team, requested her to come back[4] and be a role model for Chile's next generation players, including Christiane Endler and Yanara Aedo. She was playing for Provincial Osorno until her definitive retirement in 2011.

International career

Benado represented Chile at the 2010 South American Women's Football Championship.

Personal life

Benado is openly lesbian.[5]

References
  1. Rojas, Jorge (11 March 2022). "Change of command: Alexandra Benado new Minister of Sport". Mi Radio. Retrieved 11 March 2022.
  2. "Quién es Alexandra Benado, la nueva ministra del Deporte de Gabriel Boric". La Tercera (in Spanish). 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  3. "¿Quién es Alexandra Benado?: La exfutbolista que llega al Ministerio de Deportes". Meganoticias (in Spanish). 21 January 2022. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  4. "Alexandra Benado (1976)". Mujeres Bacanas (in Spanish). 17 October 2017. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
  5. "Chile: dos lesbianas quieren ser reconocidas legalmente como madres". BBC (in Spanish). 13 December 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2022.
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