Benjamín Zarandona

Benjamín Zarandona Esono (born 2 March 1976), known simply as Benjamín, is a former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Zarandona and the second or maternal family name is Esono.
Benjamín
Personal information
Full name Benjamín Zarandona Esono
Date of birth (1976-03-02) 2 March 1976
Place of birth Valladolid, Spain
Height 1.84 m (6 ft 1⁄2 in)
Position(s) Midfielder
Youth career
Valladolid
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1994–1996 Valladolid B 30 (6)
1995–1998 Valladolid 86 (11)
1998–2007 Betis 170 (9)
2005–2006 → Cádiz (loan) 14 (0)
2007 Xerez 2 (0)
2008–2010 Palencia 13 (1)
2011–2012 Íscar 16 (0)
2012 Cuéllar Balompié 1 (0)
Total 332 (27)
International career
1997–1998 Spain U21 3 (2)
1997 Spain U23 3 (0)
2006–2009 Equatorial Guinea 10 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

He spent most of his professional career in Spain, notably with Betis where he remained nine years, winning one Copa del Rey and appearing in 194 competitive games. Over 12 seasons, he amassed La Liga totals of 244 matches and 18 goals, also representing in the competition Valladolid and Cádiz.

Born in Spain, Benjamín was a member of the Equatorial Guinea national team.

Club career

Valladolid

Born in Valladolid, Castile and León, Benjamín began his career with Real Valladolid,[1] playing initially for their reserves in the Segunda División B. His first-team debut took place on 2 April 1995 in a 3–0 away loss to Real Sociedad, and he made a further nine La Liga appearances during that season.

The highlight of Benjamín's career at the Estadio José Zorrilla was helping the club to qualify for the 1997–98 UEFA Cup as seventh in the league,[2] scoring home braces against CD Logroñés (2–1)[3] and Valencia CF (4–1).[4]

Betis

Benjamín joined Real Betis in summer 1998, being at the time Valladolid's most expensive transfer ever at 10.7 million pesetas.[5] He played 28 games in his first year with four appearances in the team's UEFA Cup run, netting twice.[6][7] Additionally, he spent the 2000–01 campaign helping the Andalusians to achieve promotion from Segunda División, alongside neighbours Sevilla FC.[8]

After 26 league matches in 2004–05, as Betis achieved qualification for the UEFA Champions League and lifted the Copa del Rey,[9] Benjamín went on loan to Cádiz CF for the 2005–06 season,[10] and his role at the former would gradually lose importance onwards: he was unregistered for over a year,[11][12] and a mutual termination of his contract was later agreed.

Later years

Benjamín joined second-tier side Xerez CD for 2007–08,[13] but lasted only a few months, being released. In September 2008, he signed with CF Palencia from Tercera División, continuing to compete in amateur football until his retirement in June 2013.[14]

International career

In 1998, Benjamín helped Spain under-21s to win the UEFA European Championship.[15] However, he switched allegiance in 2004 and, as his younger brother Iván who also played for Valladolid, opted to represent Equatorial Guinea.[16][17]

Personal life

Benjamín's father was Basque, and his mother was from Equatorial Guinea. Despite his Basque parentage, he was never approached by Athletic Bilbao nor did he play for Euskadi.[18]

Honours

Betis

Spain U21

References
  1. Benjamín: “El Valladolid-Betis va a ser un partido divertido, de goles, apuesto por un 2–2″ (Benjamín: "Valladolid-Betis is going to be a fun match, with goals, my bet is 2–2"); Diario AS, 8 October 2022 (in Spanish)
  2. Vuelve el 'Europucela' ('Europucela' is back); Mundo Deportivo, 16 June 1997 (in Spanish)
  3. Vuelve el sueño europeo (The European dream returns); Mundo Deportivo, 24 March 1997 (in Spanish)
  4. Un paseo para el Valladolid (A walk in the park for Valladolid); Mundo Deportivo, 7 April 1997 (in Spanish)
  5. Benjamín Zarandona tiñe Guinea Ecuatorial de blanquivioleta (Benjamín Zarandona dyes Equatorial Guinea white and violet); Diario AS, 27 November 2022 (in Spanish)
  6. El Betis de Clemente se desembaraza del manso Willem (Clemente's Betis dispose of meek Willem); El País, 4 November 1998 (in Spanish)
  7. Desastre del Betis en Bolonia (Betis disaster in Bologna); El País, 25 November 1998 (in Spanish)
  8. La historia de 'los doce' (The story behind 'the twelve'); El Desmarque, 4 June 2015 (in Spanish)
  9. Dani delivers for Betis; UEFA, 11 June 2005
  10. Benjamín: "Por lo menos sé que en el Cádiz tendré ficha" (Benjamín: "At least i know i'll be registered at Cádiz"); Diario AS, 17 August 2005 (in Spanish)
  11. Benjamín: "Estoy muy triste. Esperaba haber encontrado algo" (Benjamín: "I am very sad. I hoped to have found something"); El Desmarque, 1 September 2006 (in Spanish)
  12. Benjamín se recupera en Sevilla de un golpe de calor sufrido en Guinea (Benjamín recovers from heat stroke suffered in Guinea in Seville); El Mundo, 27 March 2007 (in Spanish)
  13. Benjamín deja el paro y tendrá ficha con el Xerez (Benjamín leaves unemployment line and will be registered by Xerez); Marca, 20 September 2007 (in Spanish)
  14. Entrevista exclusiva a Benjamín Zarandona (Exclusive interview to Benjamín Zarandona) Archived 17 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine; La Zamarra, 17 December 2012 (in Spanish)
  15. 1998: Iván Pérez applies finishing touch; UEFA, 1 June 1998
  16. Equatorial Guinea import success; BBC Sport, 29 May 2007
  17. La plaza donde Benjamín jugaba al "fútbol banco" (The square where Benjamín played "bench football"); El Día de Valladolid, 26 March 2016 (in Spanish)
  18. Voluntad de tradición (Will of tradition); El Correo, 27 May 2001 (in Spanish)
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