Goyo Benito facts for kids
Benito in 1973
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| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gregorio Benito Rubio | ||
| Date of birth | 21 October 1946 | ||
| Place of birth | Puente del Arzobispo, Spain | ||
| Date of death | 2 April 2020 (aged 73) | ||
| Place of death | Madrid, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Centre back | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Salesianos Atocha | |||
| 1963–1966 | Real Madrid | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1966–1982 | Real Madrid | 317 | (2) |
| 1966–1968 | → Rayo Vallecano (loan) | 43 | (0) |
| Total | 360 | (2) | |
| International career | |||
| 1969–1970 | Spain U23 | 2 | (0) |
| 1966–1970 | Spain amateur | 13 | (0) |
| 1971–1978 | Spain | 22 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Gregorio "Goyo" Benito Rubio (born October 21, 1946 – died April 2, 2020) was a Spanish football player. He was known as a strong central defender. Goyo spent almost all of his 16-year career playing for the famous club Real Madrid.
Contents
Goyo's Football Journey
Goyo Benito was born in a town called El Puente del Arzobispo in Spain. When he was younger, he was very good at sports. He even won a national school championship in javelin throw (a sport where you throw a spear).
In 1963, when Goyo was almost 17, he joined Real Madrid. This is one of the biggest football clubs in Spain. Before playing for Real Madrid's main team, he spent two years on loan. He played for a nearby team called Rayo Vallecano. This team was in the Segunda División, which is the second-highest football league in Spain.
Playing for Real Madrid
After his loan, Goyo returned to Real Madrid. He stayed with them for 14 seasons. During this time, he helped his team win many important titles. He won six La Liga titles, which is the top Spanish football league. He also won five Spanish Cups.
Goyo Benito retired from football in 1982. He was 35 years old. He played a total of 420 games for Real Madrid. He was one of only two players to receive a special award called the Laureada. This award was given by the club's president, Santiago Bernabéu. The other player to receive it was Pirri.
International Matches
Goyo Benito also played for the Spanish national team. He played 22 matches for his country over about seven years. His first game was on May 9, 1971. Spain won that game 2–0 against Cyprus.
Goyo was also part of the Spanish team at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico. He played in all the matches for his team. They reached the quarter-finals of the tournament.
Later Life and Passing
In his later years, Goyo Benito lived in a nursing home in Madrid. He was suffering from Alzheimer's disease. On April 2, 2020, Goyo passed away at the age of 73. He died from COVID-19. His nursing home was one of many places affected by the pandemic in Spain.
Awards and Trophies
Real Madrid
- La Liga: 1971–72, 1974–75, 1975–76, 1977–78, 1978–79, 1979–80
- Copa del Rey: 1969–70, 1973–74, 1974–75, 1979–80, 1981–82
- European Cup runner-up: 1980–81
- European Cup Winners' Cup runner-up: 1970–71
See also
In Spanish: Goyo Benito para niños
