| Luismi | |
| Fullname: | Luis Miguel Sánchez Benítez[1] |
| Birth Date: | 5 May 1992 |
| Birth Place: | Puerto Serrano, Spain |
| Height: | 1.80 m |
| Position: | Defensive midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Málaga |
| Clubnumber: | 19 |
| Youthclubs1: | Sevilla |
| Years1: | 2011–2012 |
| Caps1: | 27 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2012–2015 |
| Caps2: | 72 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2014–2016 |
| Caps3: | 1 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
| Years4: | 2016–2020 |
| Caps4: | 33 |
| Goals4: | 3 |
| Years5: | 2017 |
| Clubs5: | → Gimnàstic (loan) |
| Caps5: | 14 |
| Goals5: | 1 |
| Years6: | 2020 |
| Clubs6: | → Oviedo (loan) |
| Caps6: | 19 |
| Goals6: | 1 |
| Years7: | 2020–2021 |
| Caps7: | 11 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Years8: | 2021–2024 |
| Caps8: | 83 |
| Goals8: | 2 |
| Years9: | 2024– |
| Caps9: | 0 |
| Goals9: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 19 July 2024 |
Luis Miguel Sánchez Benítez (born 5 May 1992), known as Luismi, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Málaga CF.
Born in Puerto Serrano, Cádiz, Andalusia, Luismi graduated from Sevilla FC's youth setup, making his debut as a senior with the C side in Tercera División. In July 2012, he signed his first professional contract, also being promoted to the reserves in Segunda División B.[2]
On 11 November 2012, Luismi broke two bones in his skull in the dying minutes of a 1–0 home win over Real Jaén,[3] only returning to action on 31 March of the following year, against the same club.[4] On 1 February 2014, he was called up by manager Unai Emery for a La Liga match against Málaga CF as a replacement for Cardiff City-bound Cala,[5] also being selected to the game against UD Almería on 8 March[6] but remaining on the bench on both occasions.
Luismi penned a new two-year deal with the Andalusians on 3 July 2014,[7] being also an unused substitute in the 2014 UEFA Super Cup 2–0 loss to Real Madrid at Cardiff City Stadium on 12 August.[8] He made his first-team – and top division – debut on 23 August, replacing Vicente Iborra in the 80th minute of a 1–1 home draw against Valencia CF.[9]
On 30 July 2015, Luismi agreed to an extension, being definitely promoted to the main squad and being assigned the number 16.[10] The jersey, worn by Antonio Puerta when he died playing for Sevilla in 2007, was only to be given to products of the club's academy from that moment onwards;[11] halfway through the campaign, however, he was stripped of the number when it was controversially handed to Argentine Federico Fazio.[12]
After turning down an offer to play for the reserves in Segunda División, Luismi signed a two-year contract at Real Valladolid on 29 June 2016.[13] On 29 December, having been rarely used, he was loaned to Gimnàstic de Tarragona also of the second tier.[14] He scored in his second appearance for the latter on 14 January 2017, opening a 1–1 draw at UCAM Murcia CF.[15]
Luismi returned to the Estadio José Zorrilla ahead of 2017–18, being a regular starter in an eventual top-flight promotion.[16] On 15 January 2020, however, after failing to feature in any league matches over two seasons (due to injury),[17] he was loaned to Real Oviedo of division two until June.[18]
On 25 September 2020, Luismi agreed to a two-year contract with Elche CF, recently promoted to the top tier.[19] He only had two league starts during the campaign, as the club narrowly avoided relegation.
On 16 August 2021, Luismi returned to Oviedo as a free agent on a two-year deal.[20] An immediate starter, he lost his first-choice status midway through the 2023–24 campaign.
On 7 July 2024, Oviedo officially announced Luismi's departure.[21]
On 19 July 2024, Luismi signed a two-year contract with Málaga CF also in the second division.[22]
| Club | Season | League | National Cup | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Sevilla C | 2011–12 | Tercera División | 27 | 0 | — | 27 | 0 | ||
| Sevilla B | 2012–13 | Segunda División B | 15 | 0 | — | 15 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14 | Segunda División B | 27 | 0 | — | 27 | 0 | |||
| 2014–15 | Segunda División B | 30 | 0 | — | 30 | 0 | |||
| Total | 72 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 72 | 0 | |||
| Sevilla | 2013–14 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2014–15 | La Liga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2015–16 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |||
| Valladolid | 2016–17 | Segunda División | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 7 | 0 | |
| 2017–18 | Segunda División | 29 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 30 | 3 | ||
| 2018–19 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21 | La Liga | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Total | 33 | 3 | 7 | 0 | 40 | 3 | |||
| Gimnàstic (loan) | 2016–17 | Segunda División | 14 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | |
| Oviedo (loan) | 2019–20 | Segunda División | 19 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 1 | |
| Elche | 2020–21 | La Liga | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| Career total | 177 | 5 | 11 | 0 | 188 | 5 | |||