Full name Benigno Lema Mejuto 1984–1988 Celta Years Team Height 1.82 m | 1972–1984 Celta Role Footballer Place of birth Vigo, Spain Name Nino Lema | |
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Date of birth (1964-09-12) 12 September 1964 (age 51) | ||
Benigno 'Nino' Lema Mejuto (born 12 September 1964) is a Spanish retired footballer who played as a right back, and a coach.
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Playing career
Born in Vigo, Pontevedra, Lema played since the age of seven with local giants Celta de Vigo. He made his La Liga debut on 31 August 1985 in a 1–1 away draw against Real Sociedad, and finished his debut season with 27 games and one goal as the Galicians suffered relegation with only 14 points; during his contract, he also played in the lower leagues with Arosa SC and CD Alcoyano, on loan.
Lema left Celta in June 1987 after winning promotion, and played in both the top and second divisions for the remainder of his career, representing RCD Mallorca, CD Tenerife, RCD Español and Rayo Vallecano. Both major levels of Spanish football combined he appeared in 279 matches over the course of 11 seasons, and achieved five promotions to the top level.
Managing career
After retiring as a player, Lema settled in Alicante and worked with amateur teams in the Valencian Community, his first appointment being with Torrellano CF. During his beginnings, he also worked as a radio commentator in local matches.
In 2007–08, Lema signed for what would be his main club in the following years, CD Dénia, leading it through its first season ever in the third level and helping to a 12th-place finish. Subsequently he moved to the professionals with Alicante CF (division two), but would only be in charge of the team for five games as one of four managers during the 2008–09 campaign, which ended in relegation.
Returned to Dénia in the 2009 summer, Lema led the side to the fifth position in the first year in his second spell, just five points shy of the promotion playoffs. At the end of the 2011–12 season he decided to leave after the team's relegation, even though the permanence was achieved on the pitch.
On 24 October 2012, Lema was appointed at Orihuela CF after the sacking of Sergio Inclán.