Michel Benítez - Sacramento Republic FC

Position	Defender
Age	29

Hometown: Culiacán, Sinaloa, Mexico
Nationality: Mexico
Previous Club: Club Atlético la Paz (Liga de Expansión MX)
Joined Republic FC: December 20, 2024 (Free Agent)

Career Bio

In his first season with Sacramento, Michel led the team with 40 appearances and 3,219 minutes across all competitions. He added three goals and three assists, and scored both of his attempts in the USL Cup Quarterfinal and Semifinal penalty shootouts. Also earned one Team of the Week selection.

Benítez began his career with Aguilas de la UAS, a youth club in his hometown of Sinaloa, Mexico, before joining the youth academy for Liga MX side C.D. Guadalajara in 2013. He continued to rise through the ranks of the Chivas system, scoring 10 goals in 61 appearances for the U-19 side before signing a contract with the first team in 2017. He would go on to make 24 appearances for the club, recording three goals and two assists across all competitions, winning the Liga MX championship and Copa MX tournament in 2017 before capturing the 2018 Concacaf Champions League title.

He then spent the next five years on various loan stints to Acenso MX sides Zacatepec and Celaya and Liga de Expansión MX club Tapatío. Across all clubs and competitions, he netted 10 goals and four assists in 87 appearances. In 2023, he signed with Club Atlético La Paz as a free agent and would score 13 goals in 53 Liga de Expansión MX appearances.