Athletic Bilbao Beñat was born in
Igorre,
Biscay. Coming through
Athletic Bilbao's prolific youth ranks at
Lezama, he played his first three years with both the third team,
CD Basconia, and
the reserve side. On 29 October 2006, he appeared in his first – and only –
La Liga game, which consisted of six minutes against
CA Osasuna in a 1–1 away draw after
replacing another youth product,
Francisco Yeste.
Betis in 2010 In
2008–09, Beñat played with
UB Conquense in the
Segunda División B, after which he was released by Athletic. In the summer he signed with
Real Betis, but spent his first season with the
reserves also in the third tier. Beñat made his debut for Betis' main squad on 29 August 2010, playing 20 minutes in the 4–1 home win against
Granada CF and being involved in the play that led to
Salva Sevilla's goal. Three days later he scored in his first start, a
2–1 home victory over
UD Salamanca in the
Copa del Rey. In the
league campaign he contributed 36 matches (30 starts, 2.521 minutes of action) as the
Andalusians returned to the top flight after three years, netting four times. On 2 May 2012, Beñat scored twice for his fifth and sixth goals of
the season, in a 2–1 defeat of
Sevilla FC in the
local derby. The winner came in the
90th minute. Beñat scored the game's only goal in a 1–0 home win over
Real Madrid on 24 November 2012, with a shot from outside the 18-yard box in the 17th minute. He finished
the campaign with 34 games, four goals and seven
assists, helping the club finish seventh and
qualify for the
UEFA Europa League.
Athletic return Beñat returned to Athletic Bilbao in June 2013, signing a five-year contract for a reported fee of
€8 million. On 16 September, he took the first touch at the new
San Mamés Stadium against
RC Celta de Vigo and scored the 3–2 winner; he was substituted to a standing ovation, and dedicated his performance to his grandparents. of
Barakaldo, prior to a friendly as part of their centenary event in October 2017 On 14 April 2016, Beñat was the only player to miss in a
penalty shootout against compatriots Sevilla in the
quarter-finals of the Europa League. Following the appointment of manager
José Ángel Ziganda for the
2017–18 season, he began featuring less regularly. In July 2020, Athletic confirmed that Beñat's contract would not be extended beyond that summer, although the departure was delayed beyond its usual June expiry after
the season was postponed due to the
COVID-19 pandemic in Spain. His contribution (along with long-serving colleague
Mikel San José, also leaving in similar circumstances) was acknowledged at the last home fixture on 16 July 2020 in an empty San Mamés– he was in the matchday squad but did not leave the bench, with his last appearance five months earlier; he had been involved in the side's
run to the Spanish Cup final, but the circumstances of the delay and the end of his spell at the club meant he would have no opportunity to take part in the
decisive match.
Macarthur Beñat moved abroad for the first time at the age of 33, joining Australian
A-League newcomers
Macarthur FC on 13 November 2020. On 30 December, he scored their first-ever goal in the competition, through a deflected
free kick in the 1–0 away defeat of
Western Sydney Wanderers FC. Both Beñat and his compatriot and former Athletic teammate
Markel Susaeta retired at the end of
the campaign, aged 34. ==International career==