Chema (footballer, born 1992)

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.

Chema
Personal information
Full name José Manuel Rodríguez Benito[1]
Date of birth (1992-03-03) 3 March 1992 (age 32)[2]
Place of birth Caudete, Spain
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Position(s) Defender
Team information
Current team
Eibar
Number 5
Youth career
EDM Caudete
2003–2007 Kelme
2007–2010 Elche
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2011 Elche B 32 (5)
2011–2012 Atlético Madrid C 18 (2)
2012–2013 Atlético Madrid B 2 (0)
2013–2014 Alcorcón B 11 (2)
2013–2016 Alcorcón 65 (6)
2016–2019 Levante 77 (6)
2019–2020 Nottingham Forest 8 (0)
2020–2022 Getafe 15 (0)
2022Eibar (loan) 17 (1)
2022– Eibar 10 (0)
2023–2024Alcorcón (loan) 24 (1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21 November 2024

Club career

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Early years

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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 Tercera División and Segunda División B, representing Atlético Madrid's C and B teams.[3][4]

Alcorcón

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Chema signed with AD Alcorcón in January 2013, being initially assigned to the B side in the fourth division.[5] He was promoted to the first team in August,[6] making his competitive debut on 6 October by starting in a 0–0 away draw against SD Eibar in the Segunda División.[7]

Chema scored his first professional goal on 30 March 2014, his team's only in the 3–1 away loss to Girona FC.[8] On 9 July, he was definitely promoted to the main squad.[9]

Levante

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On 5 August 2016, Chema signed a four-year deal with Levante UD, still in the second tier.[10] He contributed three goals in 33 appearances in his first season, helping the club to return to La Liga at the first attempt.[11]

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.[12] 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.[13]

Nottingham Forest

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On 8 August 2019, Chema joined EFL Championship club Nottingham Forest on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee.[14] 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.[15]

Getafe and Eibar

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Chema returned to Spain on 30 January 2020, after being sold to Getafe CF for an undisclosed fee.[16] On 11 January 2022, he was loaned to second division side Eibar for the remainder of the season.[17]

On 21 July 2022, Chema terminated his contract,[18] and returned to Eibar on a three-year deal just hours later.[19] On 12 August 2023, after being rarely used during the campaign, he returned to Alcorcón on a one-year loan deal.[20]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of match played 23 May 2021
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National Cup League Cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Atlético Madrid B 2012–13[21] Segunda División B 2 0 2 0
Alcorcón 2013–14[21] Segunda División 9 1 3 0 12 1
2014–15[21] Segunda División 23 0 1 0 24 0
2015–16[21] Segunda División 33 5 0 0 33 5
Total 65 6 4 0 0 0 0 0 69 6
Levante 2016–17[21] Segunda División 33 3 0 0 33 3
2017–18[21] La Liga 25 1 2 0 27 1
2018–19[21] La Liga 19 2 2 0 21 2
Total 77 6 4 0 0 0 0 0 81 6
Nottingham Forest 2019–20[22] Championship 8 0 0 0 2 0 10 0
Getafe 2019–20[21] La Liga 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0
2020–21[21] La Liga 10 0 2 0 12 0
Total 14 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 16 0
Career total 166 12 10 0 2 0 0 0 178 12

References

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  1. ^ "Acta del partido celebrado el 18 de mayo de 2019, en Valencia" [Minutes of the match held on 18 May 2019, in Valencia] (in Spanish). Royal Spanish Football Federation. 18 May 2019. Archived from the original on 4 March 2021. Retrieved 16 June 2019.
  2. ^ a b "Chema". Diario AS. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  3. ^ "Entrevista – Chema Rodríguez Benito" [Interview – Chema Rodríguez Benito] (in Spanish). Caudete La Calle. 27 October 2011. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  4. ^ Heralta, Juan (27 August 2012). "El 'B' pagó demasiado caro sus errores atrás" [B's paid dearly for their mistakes at the back]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  5. ^ "Fútbol base: Partidos 2–3 de febrero" [Youth football: 2–3 February matches] (in Spanish). AD Alcorcón. 1 February 2013. Archived from the original on 18 November 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  6. ^ Rodríguez, Beatriz (15 August 2013). "OFICIAL: Alcorcón, dos canteranos con el primer equipo" [OFFICIAL: Alcorcón, two youth players with the first team] (in Spanish). Todo Mercado Web. Archived from the original on 20 August 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  7. ^ "Al cuadro armero le frena su falta de acierto ante la meta alfarera" [Side of armeros denied by lack of aim in front of alfarera goal]. Marca (in Spanish). 6 October 2013. Retrieved 18 November 2013.
  8. ^ "Montilivi sueña de nuevo con la salvación tras vencer al Alcorcón" [Montilivi dreams again of salvation after defeating Alcorcón]. Marca (in Spanish). 30 March 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Los canteranos Chema Rodríguez y Dani Ponce tendrán ficha del primer equipo" [Youth players Chema Rodríguez and Dani Ponce will have a first-team place]. Mundo Deportivo (in Spanish). 9 July 2014. Retrieved 10 August 2014.
  10. ^ "Acuerdo entre el Levante U.D. y la A.D. Alcorcón para el traspaso de Chema Rodríguez por las cuatro próximas temporadas" [Agreement between Levante U.D. and A.D. Alcorcón for the transfer of Chema Rodríguez for the four following seasons] (in Spanish). Levante UD. 5 August 2016. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  11. ^ "Chema Rodríguez, baluarte del Levante UD en 2017" [Chema Rodríguez, Levante UD stalwart in 2017] (in Spanish). Caudete Digital. 1 January 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  12. ^ Pérez, José Ignacio (21 August 2017). "La Liga echaba de menos a Morales" [La Liga was missing Morales]. Marca (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 August 2017.
  13. ^ Folgado, Salva (21 September 2017). "Un gran Levante somete a la Real Sociedad: 3–0" [Great Levante submit Real Sociedad: 3–0]. El País (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 May 2018.
  14. ^ "Chema checks in". Nottingham Forest F.C. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 8 August 2019.
  15. ^ "Nottingham Forest 3–0 Derby County". BBC Sport. 27 August 2019. Retrieved 25 September 2019.
  16. ^ "Chema departs". Nottingham Forest F.C. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  17. ^ "Chema, refuerzo invernal para la defensa armera" [Chema, winter addition of the armera defence] (in Spanish). SD Eibar. 11 January 2022. Retrieved 11 January 2022.
  18. ^ "Comunicado oficial | Chema" [Official announcement | Chema] (in Spanish). Getafe CF. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  19. ^ "Chema Rodríguez, nuevo jugador armero" [Chema Rodríguez, new armero player] (in Spanish). SD Eibar. 21 July 2022. Retrieved 3 August 2022.
  20. ^ "Chema Rodríguez, nuevo refuerzo para la defensa alfarera" [Chema Rodríguez, new addition for the alfarera defense] (in Spanish). AD Alcorcón. 12 August 2023. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  21. ^ a b c d e f g h i Chema at BDFutbol
  22. ^ Chema at Soccerway
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