{{short description|Scottish footballer (born 1991)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2016}} {{Use British English|date=December 2016}} {{Infobox football biography | image = File:Kyle Benedictus Dunfermline August 2025.jpg | image_size = | caption = Benedictus playing for Dunfermline Athletic in August 2025. | name = Kyle Benedictus | fullname = Kyle Benedictus | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=y|1991|12|7}} | birth_place = Dundee, Scotland | height = {{height|ft=5|in=11}} | currentclub = Dunfermline Athletic | clubnumber = 4 | position = Defender | youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Lincraig B.C. | years1 = 2008–2015 | clubs1 = Dundee | caps1 = 84 | goals1 = 2 | years2 = 2011 | clubs2 = → Montrose (loan) | caps2 = 5 | goals2 = 0 | years3 = 2014–2015 | clubs3 = → Alloa Athletic (loan) | caps3 = 26 | goals3 = 0 | years4 = 2015–2022 | clubs4 = Raith Rovers | caps4 = 180 | goals4 = 8 | years5 = 2022– | clubs5 = Dunfermline Athletic | caps5 = 96 | goals5 = 8 | club-update = 4 May 2026 }}
'''Kyle Benedictus''' (born 7 December 1991) is a Scottish footballer who plays as a centre back and captains {{Scottish football updater|DunfermA}} side Dunfermline Athletic.
He started his career with Douglas Lads, then moving to Lincraig Boys Club from where he joined Dundee, and had loan spells at Montrose in 2011 and Alloa Athletic in the 2014–15 season. He would then have a lengthy stint with Raith Rovers, during which he would captain the side.
==Career== Dundee-born Benedictus made his début for Dundee on 1 November 2008 against Airdrie United at Dens Park, playing the full match.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=568748|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120912100145/http://www.soccerbase.com/results3.sd?gameid=568748|url-status=dead|archive-date=12 September 2012|title=Dundee 1–1 Airdrie Utd|publisher=Soccerbase|access-date=2008-11-20}}</ref> He later signed a contract extension after breaking into the first team.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedees.co.uk/news_detail.asp?ID=2530|title=Kyle signs new deal|publisher=thedees.co.uk|access-date=20 November 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227214014/http://www.thedees.co.uk/news_detail.asp?ID=2530|archive-date=27 December 2008|url-status=usurped}}</ref>
On 28 January 2011 he joined Montrose on loan for a month.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/news/article/montrose-bring-in-first-division-defender/|title=Montrose bring in First Division defender|publisher=Scottish Football League|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110204012308/http://www.scottishfootballleague.com/news/article/montrose-bring-in-first-division-defender|archive-date=4 February 2011|df=dmy-all}}</ref>
On 1 September 2014, Benedictus signed for Scottish Championship club Alloa Athletic on a season-long loan deal.<ref>{{cite web|title=BENEDICTUS OUT ON LOAN|url=http://www.dundeefc.co.uk/news/benedictus-out-on-loan|publisher=Dundee F.C.|date=1 September 2014|access-date=1 September 2014}}</ref> At the end of the season Alloa finished second bottom of the 2014–15 Scottish Championship meaning they faced play-offs to avoid relegation. Having not scored all season Benedictus scored twice in the play-offs and Alloa survived.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/brechin-0-2-alloa-survival-hope-wasps-1505639 |title=Brechin 0 - 2 Alloa: Survival hope for Wasps |publisher=Scotsman |date=6 May 2015 |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/forfar-3-1-alloa-loons-have-play-advantage-1505006 |title=Forfar 3 - 1 Alloa: Loons have play-off advantage |publisher=Scotsman |date=13 May 2015 |access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.scotsman.com/sport/football/alloa-3-0-forfar-10-man-wasps-seal-comeback-win-1504684 |title=Alloa 3 - 0 Forfar: 10-man Wasps seal comeback win |publisher=Scotsman |date=18 May 2015|access-date=28 January 2022}}</ref>
On 10 June 2015, it was confirmed that Benedictus had signed for Raith Rovers.<ref>{{cite web|title=McKinnon Ties Up Benedictus|url=http://www.raithrovers.net/19738/mckinnon-ties-up-benedictus.htm|publisher=Raith Rovers F.C.|date=10 June 2015|access-date=10 June 2015}}</ref> During his lengthy 7-year stint in Kirkcaldy, Benedictus would quickly be named the club captain in his first season,<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-10-18 |title=Kyle Benedictus rising to challenge of captain's armband at Raith Rovers, insists Gary Locke |url=https://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2016/10/18/kyle-benedictus-rising-challenge-captains-armband-raith-rovers-insists-gary-locke/ |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=Deadline News |language=en-GB}}</ref> experience a shock relegation to the Scottish League One in 2017,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Raith Rovers 3 – 3 Brechin City {{!}} Raith Rovers FC |url=https://www.raithrovers.net/29854/raith-rovers-3-3-brechin-city.htm |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=www.raithrovers.net}}</ref> see a return to the Championship after winning the League One title in 2020,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Raith Rovers crowned League One champions |url=https://www.fifetoday.co.uk/sport/football/international/raith-rovers-crowned-league-one-champions-2539758 |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=www.fifetoday.co.uk |language=en}}</ref> lead a strong push to the Premiership play-offs the following season,<ref>{{Cite news |title=Raith beat Dunfermline to reach semis |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56955748 |access-date=2022-06-06}}</ref> and winning two Scottish Challenge Cup titles.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Inverness CT & Raith Rovers share cup |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/56945120 |access-date=2022-06-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |title=Raith beat Queens to claim SPFL Trust Trophy |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/60902630 |access-date=2022-06-06}}</ref>
On 6 June 2022, Benedictus would sign a two-year deal with Raith's Fife rivals and Scottish League One side Dunfermline Athletic.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Kyle Benedictus signs for Dunfermline {{!}} Dunfermline Athletic Football Club |url=https://dafc.co.uk/story.php?t=Kyle_Benedictus_signs_for_Dunfermline&ID=13798 |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=dafc.co.uk}}</ref> Benedictus scored his first goal for the ''Pars'' from the penalty spot in September, against league rivals Falkirk.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Dunfermline Athletic v Falkirk |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/62859958 |access-date=2022-09-17}}</ref> On 15 April 2023, after an exemplary season as club captain, Benedictus led Dunfermline to the Scottish League One title which was confirmed after a 5-0 rout of Queen of the South.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Dunfermline crowned League 1 champions after rout |language=en-GB |work=BBC Sport |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65217969 |access-date=2023-04-15}}</ref>
==Career statistics== {{updated|match played 23 September 2025}}
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center" |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National Cup !colspan="2"|League Cup !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals !Apps!!Goals !Apps!!Goals !Apps!!Goals !Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="8"|Dundee |2008–09<ref name="KB08">{{soccerbase season|50145|2008|accessdate=6 November 2017}}</ref> |rowspan="4"|First Division |11||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||12||0 |- |2009–10<ref name="KB09">{{soccerbase season|50145|2009|accessdate=6 November 2017}}</ref> |5||0||0||0||2||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC">Appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup</ref>||0||8||0 |- |2010–11<ref name="KB10">{{soccerbase season|50145|2010|accessdate=6 November 2017}}</ref> |10||0||1||0||0||0||0||0||11||0 |- |2011–12<ref name="KB11">{{soccerbase season|50145|2011|accessdate=6 November 2017}}</ref> |14||0||0||0||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||0||15||0 |- |2012–13<ref name="KB12">{{soccerbase season|50145|2012|accessdate=6 November 2017}}</ref> |Premier League |27||1||1||0||1||0||colspan="2"|—||29||1 |- |2013–14<ref name="KB13">{{soccerbase season|50145|2013|accessdate=6 November 2017}}</ref> |Championship |17||1||0||0||0||0||1<ref group=lower-alpha name="SCC"/>||0||18||1 |- |2014–15<ref name="KB14">{{soccerbase season|50145|2014|accessdate=6 November 2017}}</ref> |Premiership |0||0||0||0||1||0||0||0||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Dundee total !84!!2!!3!!0!!4!!0!!3!!0!!94!!2 |- |Montrose (loan) |2010–11<ref name="KB10"/> |Third Division |5||0||0||0||0||0||0||0||5||0 |- |Alloa Athletic (loan) |2014–15<ref name="KB14"/> |Championship |26||0||2||0||colspan="2"|—||6<ref group=lower-alpha>Two appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup; four appearances and two goals in the Championship play-offs</ref>||2||34||2 |- | rowspan="8" |Raith Rovers |2015–16<ref name="KB15">{{soccerbase season|50145|2015|accessdate=6 November 2017}}</ref> |rowspan="2"|Championship |30||3||2||0||3||2||3<ref group=lower-alpha>One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two in the Premiership play-offs</ref>||0||38||5 |- |2016–17<ref name="KB16">{{soccerbase season|50145|2016|accessdate=6 November 2017}}</ref> |30||0||2||0||4||1||3<ref group=lower-alpha>One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and two in the Championship play-offs</ref>||0||39||1 |- |2017–18<ref name="KB17">{{soccerbase season|50145|2017|accessdate=6 November 2017}}</ref> | rowspan="3" |League One |14||0||0||0||4||0||3<ref group=lower-alpha>Two appearances in the Scottish Challenge Cup and one in the Championship play-offs</ref>||0||21||0 |- |2018–19<ref name="KB18">{{soccerbase season|50145|2018|accessdate=13 March 2021}}</ref> |25||0||3||0||4||0||5<ref group=lower-alpha>One appearance in the Scottish Challenge Cup and one in the Championship play-offs</ref>||0||37||0 |- |2019–20<ref name="KB19">{{soccerbase season|50145|2019|accessdate=13 March 2021}}</ref> |27||0||2||0||3||0||4<ref name="SCC" group="lower-alpha" />||1||36||1 |- |2020–21<ref name="KB20">{{soccerbase season|50145|2020|accessdate=13 March 2021}}</ref> | rowspan="2" |Championship |25||3||0||0||3||0||4{{Efn|Appearances in the Premiership play-offs|name=21po}}||0||34||3 |- |2021–22<ref>{{Soccerbase season|id=50145|season=2021|access-date=1 December 2021}}</ref> |29||2||2||0||6||0||4<ref name="SCC" group="lower-alpha" />||0||41||2 |- ! colspan="2" |Raith Rovers total !180!!8!!11!!0!!27!!3!!26!!1!!246!!12 |- | rowspan="5" |Dunfermline Athletic |2022–23<ref name="sb2223">{{Soccerbase season|id=50145|season=2022|accessdate=6 June 2022}}</ref> |League One |35||5||2||1||4||0||2<ref name="SCC" group="lower-alpha" />||1||43||7 |- |2023–24<ref name="sb2324">{{Soccerbase season|id=50145|season=2023|accessdate=18 July 2023}}</ref> | rowspan="3" |Championship |14||1||0||0||4||0||0||0||18||1 |- |2024–25<ref name="sb2425">{{Soccerbase season|id=50145|season=2024|accessdate=20 July 2024}}</ref> |28||2||3||0||4||0||2<ref name="SCC" group="lower-alpha" />||0||37||2 |- |2025–26<ref name="25/26">{{soccerbase season|50145|2025|accessdate=12 July 2025}}</ref> |7 |0 |0 |0 |4 |0 |0 |0 |11 |0 |- ! colspan="2" |Dunfermline Athletic total !84!!8!!5!!1!!16!!0!!4!!1!!109!!10 |- ! colspan="3" |Career total !379!!18!!21!!1!!47!!3!!39!!4!!388!!25 |}
{{reflist|group=lower-alpha}}
==Honours==
=== Clubs === '''Dundee''' * Scottish Championship: 2013–14 * Scottish Challenge Cup: 2009–10<ref>{{cite web |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/scot_cups/8369525.stm |title=Dundee 3-2 Inverness CT |publisher=BBC |date=22 November 2009 |access-date=31 March 2021}}</ref> '''Raith Rovers''' * Scottish League One: 2019–20 * Scottish Challenge Cup (2): 2019–20, 2021–22 '''Dunfermline Athletic'''
* Scottish League One: 2022–23
=== Individual === *'''November 2008''' – Young Player of the Month<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thedees.co.uk/news_detail.asp?ID=2546|title=Kyle Is Phenomenal|publisher=thedees.co.uk|date=5 December 2008|access-date=5 December 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081227214627/http://www.thedees.co.uk/news_detail.asp?ID=2546|archive-date=27 December 2008|url-status=usurped}}</ref> *PFA Scotland Team of the Year (Scottish League One): 2022–23<ref name=PFAScotland>{{Cite tweet |user= PFAScotland|number= 1655510005037056002|title=Your PFA Scotland League 1 Team of the Year - as voted for by the players}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{Soccerbase}}
{{Dunfermline Athletic F.C. squad}} {{2022–23 PFA Scotland Scottish League One Team of the Year}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Benedictus, Kyle}} Category:Living people Category:1991 births Category:Footballers from Dundee Category:Scottish men's footballers Category:Men's association football defenders Category:Scottish Football League players Category:Dundee F.C. players Category:Montrose F.C. players Category:Alloa Athletic F.C. players Category:Raith Rovers F.C. players Category:Scottish Premier League players Category:Scottish Professional Football League players Category:Dunfermline Athletic F.C. players Category:21st-century Scottish sportsmen