Benjamín Zarandona

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Benjamín

| image =

| fullname = Benjamín Zarandona Esono

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1976|3|2|df=y}}

| birth_place = Valladolid, Spain

| height = {{height|m=1.84}}

| position = Midfielder

| currentclub =

| clubnumber =

| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Valladolid

| years1 = 1994–1996 | clubs1 = Valladolid B | caps1 = 30 | goals1 = 6

| years2 = 1995–1998 | clubs2 = Valladolid | caps2 = 86 | goals2 = 11

| years3 = 1998–2007 | clubs3 = Betis | caps3 = 170 | goals3 = 9

| years4 = 2005–2006 | clubs4 = → Cádiz (loan) | caps4 = 14 | goals4 = 0

| years5 = 2007 | clubs5 = Xerez | caps5 = 2 | goals5 = 0

| years6 = 2008–2010 | clubs6 = Palencia | caps6 = 13 | goals6 = 1

| years7 = 2011–2012 | clubs7 = Íscar | caps7 = 16 | goals7 = 0

| years8 = 2012 | clubs8 = Cuéllar Balompié | caps8 = 1 | goals8 = 0

| totalcaps = 332 | totalgoals = 27

| nationalyears1 = 1997–1998 | nationalteam1 = Spain U21 | nationalcaps1 = 3 | nationalgoals1 = 2

| nationalyears2 = 1997 | nationalteam2 = Spain U23 | nationalcaps2 = 3 | nationalgoals2 = 0

| nationalyears3 = 2006–2009 | nationalteam3 = Equatorial Guinea | nationalcaps3 = 10 | nationalgoals3 = 0

| club-update =

| nationalteam-update =

}}

Benjamín Zarandona Esono (born 2 March 1976), known simply as Benjamín, is a former professional 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 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,[https://as.com/futbol/primera/benjamin-el-valladolid-betis-va-a-ser-un-partido-divertido-de-goles-apuesto-por-un-2-2-n/ 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) 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,[http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1997/06/16/pagina-38/378104/pdf.html Vuelve el 'Europucela' ('Europucela' is back)]; Mundo Deportivo, 16 June 1997 (in Spanish) scoring home braces against CD Logroñés (2–1)[http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1997/03/24/pagina-28/372915/pdf.html Vuelve el sueño europeo (The European dream returns)]; Mundo Deportivo, 24 March 1997 (in Spanish) and Valencia CF (4–1).[http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/1997/04/07/pagina-27/373391/pdf.html Un paseo para el Valladolid (A walk in the park for Valladolid)]; Mundo Deportivo, 7 April 1997 (in Spanish)

=Betis=

Benjamín joined Real Betis in summer 1998, being at the time Valladolid's most expensive transfer ever at 10.7 million pesetas.[https://as.com/futbol/primera/benjamin-zarandona-tine-guinea-ecuatorial-de-blanquivioleta-n/ Benjamín Zarandona tiñe Guinea Ecuatorial de blanquivioleta (Benjamín Zarandona dyes Equatorial Guinea white and violet)]; Diario AS, 27 November 2022 (in Spanish) He played 28 games in his first year with four appearances in the team's UEFA Cup run, netting twice.[https://elpais.com/diario/1998/11/04/deportes/910134003_850215.html El Betis de Clemente se desembaraza del manso Willem (Clemente's Betis dispose of meek Willem)]; El País, 4 November 1998 (in Spanish)[https://elpais.com/diario/1998/11/25/deportes/911948411_850215.html Desastre del Betis en Bolonia (Betis disaster in Bologna)]; El País, 25 November 1998 (in Spanish) Additionally, he spent the 2000–01 campaign helping the Andalusians to achieve promotion from Segunda División, alongside neighbours Sevilla FC.[https://www.eldesmarque.com/sevilla/real-betis/72979-la-historia-de-los-doce La historia de 'los doce' (The story behind 'the twelve')]; El Desmarque, 4 June 2015 (in Spanish)

After 26 league matches in 2004–05, as Betis achieved qualification for the UEFA Champions League and lifted the Copa del Rey,[https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01aa-0ea7c2f1ec05-c09c10a9a459-1000--dani-delivers-for-betis/ Dani delivers for Betis]; UEFA, 11 June 2005 Benjamín went on loan to Cádiz CF for the 2005–06 season,[https://as.com/futbol/2005/08/17/mas_futbol/1124260059_850215.html 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) and his role at the former would gradually lose importance onwards: he was unregistered for over a year,[http://sevilla.eldesmarque.com/real-betis/20692--sp-1095865682 Benjamín: "Estoy muy triste. Esperaba haber encontrado algo" (Benjamín: "I am very sad. I hoped to have found something")]{{Dead link|date=June 2019|bot=InternetArchiveBot|fix-attempted=yes}}; El Desmarque, 1 September 2006 (in Spanish)[http://www.elmundo.es/elmundodeporte/2007/03/27/futbol/1175016672.html 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) and a mutual termination of his contract was later agreed.

=Later years=

Benjamín joined second-tier side Xerez CD for 2007–08,[http://archivo.marca.com/edicion/marca/futbol/2a_division/xerez/es/desarrollo/1037788.html 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) 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.[http://www.lazamarra.com/la-revista/entrevistas/entrevista-exclusiva-a-benjamin-zarandona-en-lazamarra-com/ Entrevista exclusiva a Benjamín Zarandona (Exclusive interview to Benjamín Zarandona)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117084254/http://www.lazamarra.com/la-revista/entrevistas/entrevista-exclusiva-a-benjamin-zarandona-en-lazamarra-com/|date=17 January 2013}}; La Zamarra, 17 December 2012 (in Spanish)

International career

In 1998, Benjamín helped Spain under-21s to win the UEFA European Championship.[https://www.uefa.com/under21/news/0257-0de654676739-a57178b02f16-1000--1998-under-21-euro-ivan-perez-applies-finishing-touch/ 1998: Iván Pérez applies finishing touch]; UEFA, 1 June 1998 However, he switched allegiance in 2004 and, as his younger brother Iván who also played for Valladolid, opted to represent Equatorial Guinea.[http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/africa/6702059.stm Equatorial Guinea import success]; BBC Sport, 29 May 2007[http://www.eldiadevalladolid.com/noticia/ZC4D07A7B-DB24-8BD1-9C5D05AE8182D204/20160326/plaza/donde/benjamin/jugaba/futbol/banco La plaza donde Benjamín jugaba al "fútbol banco" (The square where Benjamín played "bench football")]; El Día de Valladolid, 26 March 2016 (in Spanish)

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.[http://canales.elcorreodigital.com/especiales/eleccionesathletic/noticias/not270501a.html Voluntad de tradición (Will of tradition)]; El Correo, 27 May 2001 (in Spanish)