Benjamín Zarandona

Benjamín

Personal information
Full name	Benjamín Zarandona Esono
Date of birth	(1976-03-02) 2 March 1976
Place of birth	Valladolid, Spain
Height
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

This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Zarandona and the second or maternal family name is Esono.

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

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 official games.

Over the course of 12 seasons he amassed La Liga totals of 244 games and 18 goals, also representing in the competition Valladolid and Cádiz.

Club career

Valladolid

Born in Valladolid, Castile and León, Benjamín began his career with Real Valladolid, playing initially for the reserve team in Segunda División B. His first team debut took place on 2 April 1995 in a 0–3 away loss against Real Sociedad, and he would make a further nine La Liga appearances during that season.

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

Betis

In 1998 Benjamín joined Real Betis, playing in 28 games in his first year and making four appearances in the club's UEFA Cup run, netting twice. Additionally, he spent the 2000–01 campaign helping the Andalusians achieve promotion from Segunda División, alongside neighbours Sevilla FC.

After appearing in 26 league matches in 2004–05, as Betis achieved qualification honours to the UEFA Champions League and lifted the season's Copa del Rey, Benjamín went on loan to Cádiz CF for the 2005–06 campaign, and his role with Betis would gradually lose importance onwards: he was unregistered as a first-team player for over a year, and a mutual termination of his contract was agreed in the summer of 2007.

Later years

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

International career

In 1998, Benjamín helped the Spanish under-21s win the UEFA European Under-21 Championship. However, in 2004, he switched allegiances and, as his younger brother Iván who also played for Valladolid, opted to represent Equatorial Guinea.

Personal life

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

Honours

Club

Betis

• Copa del Rey: 2004–05

Country

Spain U21

• UEFA European Under-21 Championship: 1998

External links

• Benjamín Zarandona profile at BDFutbol
• Stats and bio at Cadistas1910 (Spanish)
• Benjamín Zarandona at National-Football-Teams.com
• Benjamín Zarandona – FIFA competition record