Rico Benatelli (born 17 March 1992) is a German professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for 3. Liga club Waldhof Mannheim.[1]

Rico Benatelli
Benatelli with Dynamo Dresden in 2017
Personal information
Date of birth (1992-03-17) 17 March 1992 (age 32)
Place of birth Herdecke, Germany
Height 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s) Attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team
Waldhof Mannheim
Number 11
Youth career
1999–2008 VfL Bochum
2008–2011 Borussia Dortmund
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Borussia Dortmund II 63 (13)
2013–2015 Erzgebirge Aue 52 (6)
2015–2017 Würzburger Kickers 65 (10)
2017–2019 Dynamo Dresden 45 (3)
2019–2022 FC St. Pauli 63 (3)
2019–2020FC St. Pauli II 4 (0)
2022–2024 Austria Klagenfurt 55 (1)
2024– Waldhof Mannheim 8 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 October 2024

Career

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Born in Herdecke and raised in Bochum, Benatelli went through the youth ranks of local heavyweights VfL Bochum. Still during his youth career he moved to Borussia Dortmund where he stayed for five years, playing two years senior football for the club's reserve team in the fourth and third tier.[2] [3]

In July 2015, after Erzgebirge Aue had been relegated from 2. Bundesliga, he joined newly promoted fellow 3. Liga side Würzburger Kickers on a free transfer, signing a two-year-contract until 2017.[4]

On 28 July 2022, Benatelli signed a two-year contract with Austria Klagenfurt in Austria.[5]

On 19 June 2024, Bentalli moved to Waldhof Mannheim in 3. Liga.[6]

Personal life

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He is the son of former professional footballer Frank Benatelli.[4] Rico is of Italian descent.[7]

Career statistics

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As of match played on 4 July 2019[8]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Cup Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Borussia Dortmund II 2011–12 Regionalliga 27 6 27 6
2012–13 3. Liga 36 7 36 7
Total 63 13 0 0 0 0 63 13
Erzgebirge Aue 2013–14 2. Bundesliga 23 3 0 0 0 0 23 3
2014–15 29 3 1 0 0 0 30 3
Total 52 6 1 0 0 0 53 6
Würzburger Kickers 2015–16 3. Liga 36 5 0 0 2[a] 1 38 6
2016–17 2. Bundesliga 29 5 2 0 0 0 31 5
Total 65 10 2 0 2 1 69 11
Dynamo Dresden 2017–18 2. Bundesliga 21 2 2 1 0 0 23 3
2018–19 24 1 1 0 0 0 25 1
Total 45 3 3 1 0 0 48 4
Career total 225 32 6 1 2 1 233 34
  1. ^ Appearances in Promotion/relegation play-offs

References

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  1. ^ Rico Benatelli at kicker (in German)
  2. ^ "Frank Benatelli: Bundesligascout und Landesligatrainer" [Frank Benatelli: Bundesliga scout and Landesliga coach] (in German). DFB. 23 October 2012. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016.
  3. ^ "Rico Benatelli: Bochum wollte mich im Sommer nicht haben" [Rico Benatelli: Bochum didn't want me in summer] (in German). freiepresse.de. 17 October 2013. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016.
  4. ^ a b "Kickers verpflichten Rico Benatelli vom FC Erzgebirge Aue" [Kickers sign Rico Benatelli from FC Erzgebirge Aue] (in German). Würzburger Kickers. 12 July 2015. Archived from the original on 16 May 2016.
  5. ^ "Vertrag bis 2024: Austria holt Benatelli" (in German). Austria Klagenfurt. 28 July 2022. Retrieved 29 July 2022.
  6. ^ "ERFAHRUNG FÜR DIE ZENTRALE – RICO BENATELLI WECHSELT ZUM SVW" [EXPERIENCE FOR THE HEADQUARTERS – RICO BENATELLI MOVES TO SVW] (in German). Waldhof Mannheim. 19 June 2024. Retrieved 5 July 2024.
  7. ^ "Rico Benatelli Personenprofil".
  8. ^ Rico Benatelli at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 February 2018.
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