| Álvaro Benito | |
| Fullname: | Álvaro Benito Villar |
| Birth Date: | 10 December 1976 |
| Birth Place: | Salamanca, Spain |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Youthclubs1: | Ávila |
| Youthyears2: | 1991–1994 |
| Youthclubs2: | Real Madrid |
| Years1: | 1994–1995 |
| Caps1: | 20 |
| Goals1: | 1 |
| Years2: | 1995–1997 |
| Caps2: | 12 |
| Goals2: | 2 |
| Years3: | 1995–2002 |
| Caps3: | 21 |
| Goals3: | 2 |
| Years4: | 1997–1998 |
| Clubs4: | → Tenerife (loan) |
| Caps4: | 2 |
| Goals4: | 1 |
| Years5: | 2001–2002 |
| Caps5: | 11 |
| Goals5: | 1 |
| Years6: | 2002–2003 |
| Caps6: | 6 |
| Goals6: | 0 |
| Totalcaps: | 72 |
| Totalgoals: | 7 |
| Nationalyears1: | 1992–1993 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 13 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Nationalyears2: | 1993–1995 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 5 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 1 |
| Nationalyears3: | 1996 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 0 |
| Manageryears1: | 2015–2019 |
| Managerclubs1: | Real Madrid (youth) |
Álvaro Benito Villar (born 10 December 1976) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a left midfielder, currently vocalist/guitarist of Rock band Pignoise.
Born in Salamanca, Castile and León, Benito emerged through Real Madrid's youth ranks, making his senior debut not yet aged 18 with the C team. He progressed to the reserves the following year.
Benito was relatively used by the main squad in the 1995–96 season,[1] and contributed seven matches the following campaign as they were crowned La Liga champions.[2] In November 1996, he suffered a severe knee injury from which he would never fully recover, undergoing three operations in only four months in 1998 in Pittsburgh, United States; he was involved in a car accident afterwards, which further curtailed his recovering process.[3]
After one unassuming loan with CD Tenerife and another spell with Castilla, Benito was released by Real Madrid in summer 2002, joining city neighbours Getafe CF of Segunda División.[4] He appeared rarely for his new club, again due to injury.[5]
After retiring, Benito was in charge of several of Real's youth sides, starting with the Alevín B in 2015.[6] [7] [8] He was dismissed in late February 2019, following criticism of the first team after a 0–3 home defeat against FC Barcelona in the semi-finals of the Copa del Rey on a radio show.[9]
Benito won his only cap for the Spain under-21 side on 12 November 1996, coming on as a late substitute for FC Barcelona's Roger García in a 1–1 home draw against Slovakia for the 1998 UEFA European Championship qualifiers, but being stretchered off shortly after with a serious injury that all but ended his career.[10] [3]
During his rehabilitation period, Benito started playing guitar and writing songs, going on to put together a band, Pignoise. The group, which also featured another former footballer, Héctor Polo (Real Zaragoza, Rayo Vallecano), eventually used many of the songs he composed prior to its creation.[11]
Real Madrid
Spain U16