Chema (footballer, born 1992)
{{short description|Spanish footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{family name hatnote|Rodríguez|Benito|lang=Spanish}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Chema
| image = Ruife-es.jpg
| image_size =
| caption =
| fullname = José Manuel Rodríguez Benito{{cite web|url=http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpActa1?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=57319|title=Acta del partido celebrado el 18 de mayo de 2019, en Valencia|trans-title=Minutes of the match held on 18 May 2019, in Valencia|publisher=Royal Spanish Football Federation|language=es|access-date=16 June 2019|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210304121000/http://actas.rfef.es/actas/RFEF_CmpActa1?cod_primaria=1000144&CodActa=57319|archive-date=4 March 2021}}
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1992|3|3|df=y}}{{cite news|url=https://en.as.com/resultados/ficha/deportista/chema/23027/|title=Chema|newspaper=Diario AS|access-date=8 September 2022}}
| birth_place = Caudete, Spain
| position = Defender
| currentclub = Eibar
| clubnumber = 5
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = EDM Caudete
| youthyears2 = 2003–2007 | youthclubs2 = Kelme
| youthyears3 = 2007–2010 | youthclubs3 = Elche
| years1 = 2010–2011 | clubs1 = Elche B | caps1 = 32 | goals1 = 5
| years2 = 2011–2012 | clubs2 = Atlético Madrid C | caps2 = 18 | goals2 = 2
| years3 = 2012–2013 | clubs3 = Atlético Madrid B | caps3 = 2 | goals3 = 0
| years4 = 2013–2014 | clubs4 = Alcorcón B | caps4 = 11 | goals4 = 2
| years5 = 2013–2016 | clubs5 = Alcorcón | caps5 = 65 | goals5 = 6
| years6 = 2016–2019 | clubs6 = Levante | caps6 = 77 | goals6 = 6
| years7 = 2019–2020 | clubs7 = Nottingham Forest | caps7 = 8 | goals7 = 0
| years8 = 2020–2022 | clubs8 = Getafe | caps8 = 15 | goals8 = 0
| years9 = 2022 | clubs9 = → Eibar (loan) | caps9 = 17 | goals9 = 1
| years10 = 2022– | clubs10 = Eibar | caps10 = 14 | goals10 = 0
| years11 = 2023–2024 | clubs11 = → Alcorcón (loan) | caps11 = 24 | goals11 = 1
| totalcaps = | totalgoals =
| nationalyears1 = | nationalteam1 = | nationalcaps1 = | nationalgoals1 =
| club-update = 1 April 2025
| nationalteam-update =
}}
José Manuel Rodríguez Benito (born 3 March 1992), known as Chema, is a Spanish professional footballer who plays for SD Eibar. Mainly a central defender, he can also play as a left-back.
Club career
=Early years=
A product of Elche CF's youth system, Chema was born in Caudete, Province of Albacete, and he made his senior debut in 2010 with the reserves. In the following seasons he competed in the Tercera División and Segunda División B, representing Atlético Madrid's C and B teams.{{cite web|url=http://www.caudetelacalle.es/entrevista-chema-rodriguez-benito|title=Entrevista – Chema Rodríguez Benito|trans-title=Interview – Chema Rodríguez Benito|publisher=Caudete La Calle|language=es|date=27 October 2011|access-date=13 March 2021}}{{cite news|url=http://hemeroteca.mundodeportivo.com/preview/2012/08/27/pagina-28/9994923/pdf.html#&mode=fullScreen|title=El 'B' pagó demasiado caro sus errores atrás|trans-title=B's paid dearly for their mistakes at the back|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|first=Juan|last=Heralta|language=es|date=27 August 2012|access-date=13 March 2021}}
=Alcorcón=
Chema signed with AD Alcorcón in January 2013, being initially assigned to the B side in the fourth division.{{cite web|url=https://www.adalcorcon.com/index.php/filiales/noticias/1753-futbol-base-partidos-2-3-de-febrero|title=Fútbol base: Partidos 2–3 de febrero|trans-title=Youth football: 2–3 February matches|publisher=AD Alcorcón|language=es|date=1 February 2013|access-date=18 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://archive.today/20131118150907/http://www.adalcorcon.com/index.php/filiales/noticias/1753-futbol-base-partidos-2-3-de-febrero|archive-date=18 November 2013}} He was promoted to the first team in August,{{cite web|url=http://www.todomercadoweb.es/mercado-futbolistico/oficial-alcorcon-dos-canteranos-con-el-primer-equipo-54098|title=OFICIAL: Alcorcón, dos canteranos con el primer equipo|trans-title=OFFICIAL: Alcorcón, two youth players with the first team|publisher=Todo Mercado Web|first=Beatriz|last=Rodríguez|language=es|date=15 August 2013|access-date=18 November 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130820171325/http://www.todomercadoweb.es/mercado-futbolistico/oficial-alcorcon-dos-canteranos-con-el-primer-equipo-54098|archive-date=20 August 2013}} making his competitive debut on 6 October by starting in a 0–0 away draw against SD Eibar in the Segunda División.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2013/10/06/futbol/2adivision/1381082234.html|title=Al cuadro armero le frena su falta de acierto ante la meta alfarera|trans-title=Side of armeros denied by lack of aim in front of alfarera goal|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=6 October 2013|access-date=18 November 2013}}
Chema scored his first professional goal on 30 March 2014, his team's only in the 3–1 away loss to Girona FC.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/2014/03/30/futbol/2adivision/1396204319.html|title=Montilivi sueña de nuevo con la salvación tras vencer al Alcorcón|trans-title=Montilivi dreams again of salvation after defeating Alcorcón|newspaper=Marca|language=es|date=30 March 2014|access-date=9 April 2015}} On 9 July, he was definitely promoted to the main squad.{{cite news|url=http://www.mundodeportivo.com/20140709/futbol/los-canteranos-chema-rodriguez-y-dani-ponce-tendran-ficha-del-primer-equipo_54410917759.html|title=Los canteranos Chema Rodríguez y Dani Ponce tendrán ficha del primer equipo|trans-title=Youth players Chema Rodríguez and Dani Ponce will have a first-team place|newspaper=Mundo Deportivo|language=es|date=9 July 2014|access-date=10 August 2014}}
=Levante=
On 5 August 2016, Chema signed a four-year deal with Levante UD, still in the second tier.{{cite web|url=http://www.levanteud.com/es/info/acuerdo-entre-el-levante-u-d-y-la-a-d-alcorcon-para-el-traspaso-de-chema-rodriguez-por-las-cuatro-proximas-temporadas|title=Acuerdo entre el Levante U.D. y la A.D. Alcorcón para el traspaso de Chema Rodríguez por las cuatro próximas temporadas|trans-title=Agreement between Levante U.D. and A.D. Alcorcón for the transfer of Chema Rodríguez for the four following seasons|publisher=Levante UD|language=es|date=5 August 2016|access-date=5 August 2016}} He contributed three goals in 33 appearances in his first season, helping the club to return to La Liga at the first attempt.{{cite web|url=https://caudetedigital.com/chema-rodriguez-baluarte-del-levante-ud-2017/|title=Chema Rodríguez, baluarte del Levante UD en 2017|trans-title=Chema Rodríguez, Levante UD stalwart in 2017|publisher=Caudete Digital|language=es|date=1 January 2018|access-date=2 May 2018}}
Chema's first match in the Spanish top flight took place on 21 August 2017, when he started a 1–0 home win over Villarreal CF.{{cite news|url=http://www.marca.com/eventos/marcador/futbol/2017_18/la-liga/jornada_1/lev_vil/|title=La Liga echaba de menos a Morales|trans-title=La Liga was missing Morales|newspaper=Marca|first=José Ignacio|last=Pérez|language=es|date=21 August 2017|access-date=27 August 2017}} He scored his first goal in the competition exactly one month later, helping the hosts defeat Real Sociedad 3–0 with a spectacular 44th-minute strike from just outside the box.{{cite news|url=https://elpais.com/deportes/2017/09/21/actualidad/1506003744_591274.html|title=Un gran Levante somete a la Real Sociedad: 3–0|trans-title=Great Levante submit Real Sociedad: 3–0|newspaper=El País|first=Salva|last=Folgado|language=es|date=21 September 2017|access-date=2 May 2018}}
=Nottingham Forest=
On 8 August 2019, Chema joined EFL Championship club Nottingham Forest on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2019/august/chema-checks-in/|title=Chema checks in|publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C.|date=8 August 2019|access-date=8 August 2019}} He made his official debut 19 days later, as a substitute in a 3–0 home win against Derby County in the second round of the EFL Cup.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/49403081|title=Nottingham Forest 3–0 Derby County|publisher=BBC Sport|date=27 August 2019|access-date=25 September 2019}}
=Getafe and Eibar=
Chema returned to Spain on 30 January 2020, after being sold to Getafe CF for an undisclosed fee.{{cite web|url=https://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/2020/january/nottingham-forest-defender-chema-rodriguez-joins-getafe/|title=Chema departs|publisher=Nottingham Forest F.C.|date=30 January 2020|access-date=30 January 2020}} On 11 January 2022, he was loaned to second division side Eibar for the remainder of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.sdeibar.com/noticia/chema-refuerzo-invernal-para-la-defensa-armera|title=Chema, refuerzo invernal para la defensa armera|trans-title=Chema, winter addition of the armera defence|publisher=SD Eibar|language=es|date=11 January 2022|access-date=11 January 2022}}
On 21 July 2022, Chema terminated his contract,{{cite web|url=https://getafecf.com/Noticia/tabid/137/Article/8384/Comunicado-Oficial-Chema.aspx|title=Comunicado oficial {{!}} Chema|trans-title=Official announcement {{!}} Chema|publisher=Getafe CF|language=es|date=21 July 2022|access-date=25 July 2022}} and returned to Eibar on a three-year deal just hours later.{{cite web|url=https://www.sdeibar.com/noticia/chema-rodriguez-nuevo-jugador-armero|title=Chema Rodríguez, nuevo jugador armero|trans-title=Chema Rodríguez, new armero player|publisher=SD Eibar|language=es|date=21 July 2022|access-date=3 August 2022}} On 12 August 2023, he returned to Alcorcón on a one-year loan.{{cite web|url=https://www.adalcorcon.com/noticia/chema-rodriguez-nuevo-refuerzo-para-la-defensa-alfarera|title=Chema Rodríguez, nuevo refuerzo para la defensa alfarera|trans-title=Chema Rodríguez, new addition for the alfarera defence|publisher=AD Alcorcón|language=es|date=12 August 2023|access-date=14 August 2023}}
Career statistics
{{updated|match played 23 May 2021}}
| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition | ||||||||||
| rowspan="2"|Club
!rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Total | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Atlético Madrid B
|2 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 2 | 0 | ||||
| rowspan="4"|Alcorcón
|9 | 1 | 3 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 12 | 1 | |||
| 2014–15
|Segunda División |23 | 0 | 1 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 24 | 0 | |||
| 2015–16
|Segunda División |33 | 5 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 33 | 5 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!65 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 69 | 6 | |
| rowspan="4"|Levante
|Segunda División |33 | 3 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 33 | 3 | |||
| 2017–18
|25 | 1 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 27 | 1 | |||
| 2018–19
|La Liga |19 | 2 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 21 | 2 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!77 | 6 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 81 | 6 | |
| Nottingham Forest
|2019–20{{Soccerway|jose-manuel-rodriguez-benito/248013}} |8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2"|— | 10 | 0 | ||
| rowspan="3"|Getafe
|La Liga |4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2020–21
|La Liga |10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | colspan="2" |— | colspan="2" |— | 12 | 0 | |||
| colspan="2"|Total
!14 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | |
| colspan="3"|Career total
!166 | 12 | 10 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 178 | 12 |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{BDFutbol}}
- {{Futbolme profile}}
{{SD Eibar squad}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Chema}}
Category:21st-century Spanish sportsmen
Category:Spanish men's footballers
Category:Footballers from the Province of Albacete
Category:Men's association football fullbacks
Category:Men's association football central defenders
Category:Segunda División players
Category:Segunda División B players
Category:Tercera División players
Category:Elche CF Ilicitano footballers
Category:Atlético Madrid C players
Category:Atlético Madrid B players
Category:AD Alcorcón B players
Category:AD Alcorcón footballers
Category:Levante UD footballers
Category:Getafe CF footballers
Category:English Football League players
Category:Nottingham Forest F.C. players
Category:Spanish expatriate men's footballers