Jair Benítez

Jair Benítez
Personal information
Full name	Jair Benítez
Place of birth	Jamundí, Colombia
Height	5 ft 7 in (1.70 m)
Position(s)	Defender
Team information
Current team	FC Dallas; (on loan from Deportivo Cali)
Number	5
Senior career*
Years	Team
1999	Envigado
2000	Independiente Santa Fe
2001	Envigado
2001–2003	Independiente Medellín
2003	Deportivo Pereira
2003–2004	Colón de Santa Fe
2004–2005	Independiente Medellín
2006–	Deportivo Cali
2009	→ Independiente Medellín (loan)
2009–	→ FC Dallas (loan)
International career‡
2005–2007	Kolumbien
	*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16 October 2012; ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 1 November 2011

Jair Benítez (born 11 January 1979 in Jamundí) is a Colombian footballer who currently plays for FC Dallas in Major League Soccer, on loan from Deportivo Cali.

Career

Benítez has spent the majority of his career playing professionally in Colombia, having played 344 games and scoring 19 goals in Colombia's Fútbol Profesional Colombiano. He won a Fútbol Profesional Colombiano title with Independiente Medellín in 2002, and appeared in 17 regular season and Copa Libertadores games for Independiente Medellín in 2009, before signing with FC Dallas of Major League Soccer on 22 July.^[1]

Since joining Dallas Benítez has been a key contributor, helping the club to reach the 2010 MLS Cup final.

Benítez is a full international with the Colombia national football team, and was part of the Colombian squads at the 2005 CONCACAF Gold Cup and the 2007 Copa América.