Beñat San José
Spanish footballer and manager
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Beñat San José Gil (born 24 September 1979), is a Spanish football manager and former footballer who played as a left winger, who is currently in charge of Rayo Vallecano.
|
San José as manager of Universidad Católica in 2018 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Beñat San José Gil | ||
| Date of birth | 24 September 1979 | ||
| Place of birth | San Sebastián, Spain | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position | Winger | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Rayo Vallecano (manager) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| Real Sociedad | |||
| Antiguoko | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| Hernani | |||
| UPV | |||
| Tolosa | |||
| Basconia | |||
| –2002 | Berio | ||
| 2002– | Orihuela | ||
| Saint-Jean de Luz | |||
| Pasaia | |||
| Managerial career | |||
| Ekintza Ikastola | |||
| Antiguoko | |||
| 2008–2012 | Real Sociedad (youth) | ||
| 2012–2013 | Al-Ittihad U21 | ||
| 2013–2014 | Al-Ittihad | ||
| 2014–2015 | Al-Ettifaq | ||
| 2015–2016 | Deportes Antofagasta | ||
| 2016–2017 | Bolívar | ||
| 2018 | Universidad Católica | ||
| 2018–2019 | Al-Nasr | ||
| 2019–2021 | Eupen | ||
| 2021–2022 | Mazatlán | ||
| 2022–2023 | Bolívar | ||
| 2023-2024 | Atlas | ||
| 2025–2026 | Eibar | ||
| 2026– | Rayo Vallecano | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
He is the youngest manager in Gulf and Saudi history to have won a title, the 2013 Saudi Kings Cup at the age of 33 with Al-Ittihad.[1]
Playing career
Born in San Sebastián, Gipuzkoa, Basque Country, San José represented Real Sociedad and Antiguoko as a youth. As a senior, he represented Hernani, Universidad del País Vasco, Tolosa, Basconia, Berio, Orihuela,[2] Saint-Jean de Luz Foot and Pasaia, aside from more than a year representing the Spain national beach soccer team.[1]
Managerial career
San José started his coaching career with Ekintza Ikastola, and joined Real Sociedad's youth teams in 2008, from Antiguoko.[1] In August 2012, he moved abroad, being named manager of the under-21 team of Al-Ittihad.[3]
In February 2013, San José replaced compatriot Raúl Caneda at the helm of the first team,[4] and finished the campaign in seventh; at the Kings Cup he led the club to the eight cup title of their history, and at the age of 33, he became the youngest manager to lift a trophy in Saudi Arabia.[1] On 1 December, however, he was sacked.[5]
In July 2014, San José was named Al-Ettifaq manager in the place of Ioan Andone, but was sacked the following 17 February.[6] On 17 September 2015, he took over Deportes Antofagasta in Chile, replacing resigned José Cantillana.[7]
On 22 May 2016, San José switched teams and countries again, after being appointed manager of Bolívar.[8] On 20 December of the following year, he resigned,[9] and was announced as Universidad Católica manager the following day.[10]
On 10 December 2018, after lifting the year's Primera División trophy, San José left the UC,[11] and joined Al-Nasr five days later.[12] He was sacked the following 1 April, after a string of poor results.[13]
On 24 June 2019, San José returned to Europe after being named manager of Belgian club Eupen.[14] On 27 April 2021, he left the club after opting to not renew his contract.[15]
On 18 May 2021, San José was appointed as manager of Liga MX club Mazatlán.[16] He was dismissed the following 2 March, with the club in the 14th position.[17]
On 12 November 2022, San José agreed to return to Bolívar, replacing Antônio Carlos Zago.[18] He resigned on 19 November 2023 after being touted to return to Mexico,[19] five days later, Atlas announced him as manager for the 2024 Clausura.[20]
On 17 February 2025, San José returned to his home country after being named manager of Segunda División side Eibar, replacing the sacked Joseba Etxeberria.[21] On 18 June of the following year, he left after accepting an offer from another club,[22] and was announced at La Liga side Rayo Vallecano just hours later.[23]
Managerial statistics
- As of match played 31 May 2026
| Team | Nat | From | To | Record | Ref | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD | Win % | |||||
| Al-Ittihad |  |
23 February 2013 | 8 December 2013 | 24 | 10 | 4 | 10 | 45 | 42 | +3 | 41.67 | [24] |
| Al-Ettifaq | 1 May 2014 | 17 February 2015 | 25 | 13 | 5 | 7 | 42 | 24 | +18 | 52.00 | [25] | |
| Deportes Antofagasta |  |
17 September 2015 | 20 May 2016 | 24 | 6 | 8 | 10 | 32 | 32 | +0 | 25.00 | [26] |
| Bolívar |  |
21 May 2016 | 20 December 2017 | 75 | 46 | 13 | 16 | 148 | 72 | +76 | 61.33 | [27] |
| Universidad Católica | |
21 December 2017 | 10 December 2018 | 32 | 18 | 10 | 4 | 41 | 28 | +13 | 56.25 | [28] |
| Al-Nasr |  |
15 December 2018 | 30 March 2019 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 18 | −7 | 0.00 | [29] |
| Eupen |  |
24 June 2019 | 29 April 2021 | 69 | 21 | 20 | 28 | 89 | 113 | −24 | 30.43 | [30] |
| Mazatlán |  |
18 May 2021 | 2 March 2022 | 25 | 7 | 6 | 12 | 27 | 39 | −12 | 28.00 | [31] |
| Bolívar | |
12 November 2022 | 19 November 2023 | 49 | 28 | 6 | 15 | 110 | 57 | +53 | 57.14 | [27] |
| Atlas | |
1 January 2024 | 9 December 2024 | 39 | 10 | 12 | 17 | 43 | 62 | −19 | 25.64 | [32] |
| Eibar |  |
17 February 2025 | 18 June 2026 | 60 | 27 | 17 | 16 | 79 | 55 | +24 | 45.00 | [33] |
| Total | 432 | 189 | 101 | 142 | 667 | 542 | +125 | 43.75 | — | |||
Honours
Manager
Al-Ittihad
Bolívar
Universidad Católica