The life of Christian ‘Chucho’ Benitez | CNN

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The life of Christian ‘Chucho’ Benitez

Updated 7:59 AM EDT, Tue July 30, 2013
Link Copied!
Christian 'Chucho' Benitez passed away Sunday after suffering heart failure. The 27-year-old, who was playing in Qatar, was admitted to hospital with severe stomach pains. Benitez died just hours after making his debut for new club, El Jaish.
Gone but not forgotten —
Christian 'Chucho' Benitez passed away Sunday after suffering heart failure. The 27-year-old, who was playing in Qatar, was admitted to hospital with severe stomach pains. Benitez died just hours after making his debut for new club, El Jaish.
Getty Images
Benitez spent a year on loan in the English Premier League with Birmingham City in 2009-2010. He made 36 appearances for City, scoring four goals and came up against Ecuador teammate Antonio Valencia, who plays for Manchester United.
Benitez the Blue —
Benitez spent a year on loan in the English Premier League with Birmingham City in 2009-2010. He made 36 appearances for City, scoring four goals and came up against Ecuador teammate Antonio Valencia, who plays for Manchester United.
Adrian Dennis/Getty Images
Benitez scored 24 goals in 58 international appearances for Ecuador, following in the footsteps of his father Ermen Benitez, who also represented the national team. Last season, he helped Mexican side Club America win the Clausura title.
National hero —
Benitez scored 24 goals in 58 international appearances for Ecuador, following in the footsteps of his father Ermen Benitez, who also represented the national team. Last season, he helped Mexican side Club America win the Clausura title.
Getty Images
Marc-Vivien Foe died at the age of 28 after collapsing during a Confederations Cup semifinal while playing for Cameroon. Foe, who played for Manchester City and Lyon amongst others, was treated on the pitch but died after resuscitation attempts failed.
Foe remembered —
Marc-Vivien Foe died at the age of 28 after collapsing during a Confederations Cup semifinal while playing for Cameroon. Foe, who played for Manchester City and Lyon amongst others, was treated on the pitch but died after resuscitation attempts failed.
Issouf Sanogo/AFP/Getty Images/File
Antonio Puerta died after suffering a heart attack at the age of 22 while playing for Spanish club side Sevilla.  The defender collapsed 35 minutes into the first game of the 2007-2008 season and was rushed to hospital where he passed away.
Puerta's passing —
Antonio Puerta died after suffering a heart attack at the age of 22 while playing for Spanish club side Sevilla. The defender collapsed 35 minutes into the first game of the 2007-2008 season and was rushed to hospital where he passed away.
Jose Luis Roca/AFP//Getty Images
Former Espanyol captain Daniel Jarque died after suffering a cardiac arrest following a training session in Italy in 2009. Club doctors and paramedics tried to revive Jarque but without success. He was 26.
Jarque tragedy —
Former Espanyol captain Daniel Jarque died after suffering a cardiac arrest following a training session in Italy in 2009. Club doctors and paramedics tried to revive Jarque but without success. He was 26.
Josep Lago/AFP/Getty Images

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