David Bentley
Template:Short description {{#invoke:Other people|otherPeople}} Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography
David Michael Bentley (born 27 August 1984) is an English former professional footballer who played primarily as a winger, but also played as a central midfielder or as a second striker.
Bentley started his career with Arsenal in the Premier League, and despite being earmarked as one for the future, saw his playing opportunities limited by a strong senior squad. He spent two seasons on loan with Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers, and sealed a permanent transfer to Rovers in January 2006. Bentley produced strong performances for his new club, and soon featured regularly for the England under-21 team. He made his senior international debut against Israel in September 2007. In July 2008, Bentley joined Tottenham Hotspur. He spent time on loan with Birmingham City, West Ham United, FC Rostov and a brief return to Blackburn before being released by Tottenham in 2013. After not playing for more than a year, Bentley retired from football in 2014, citing his loss of passion for the sport.
Club careerEdit
ArsenalEdit
Born in Peterborough, Cambridgeshire,<ref name=Hugman1011/> Bentley grew up supporting Manchester United.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Bentley started his youth career at Wormley Youth Football Club in Wormley, Hertfordshire, before moving to Arsenal aged 13 as a striker, occasionally playing in the hole.<ref name=prem>"Player Profile" Template:Webarchive. Premier League. Retrieved 9 June 2007.</ref> He was used primarily in midfield, usually as a wide midfielder.<ref name=prem/> As a 16-year-old he trained with the Arsenal senior squad,<ref>Bernstein, Joe (1 April 2004) "Bentley ready for road test" Template:Webarchive. The Football Association. Retrieved 27 May 2007.</ref> before signing his first professional contract in September 2001.<ref name=Hugman1011/> By January 2003, he was handed his first-team debut, coming on as a substitute for Kolo Touré in the 77th minute of a 2–0 FA Cup third round win over Oxford United.<ref name=espn>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Bentley's first and only goal for Arsenal was a chip shot from the edge of the penalty area over goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer, in a 4–1 FA Cup win over Middlesbrough on 24 January 2004.<ref name=espn/><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He played once in the league for Arsenal, starting a 1–1 draw against Portsmouth on 4 May 2004, in which he was substituted after 61 minutes for Nwankwo Kanu.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Bentley spent the whole of the next league season on loan to Norwich City, playing 26 league matches and scoring two goals, against Newcastle and Southampton.<ref name=stats>"David Bentley history" Template:Webarchive. ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 27 May 2007.</ref> His season at Carrow Road was interrupted by a knee injury sustained in January.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He returned to the team in April 2005, coming off the bench against Manchester United and playing a key role in Norwich's 2–0 win.<ref>Lacey, David "Ferguson struck dumb by Tweety Pies with talons" Template:Webarchive. The Guardian. London. 11 April 2005. Retrieved 27 May 2007.</ref> Despite a late run of form, the Canaries were relegated from the Premier League on the last day of the season after a 6–0 defeat away to Fulham.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Bentley returned to Arsenal in the summer of 2005, but submitted a transfer request, citing his desire for first team football.<ref name=espn/> In subsequent interviews, he also revealed that he was having "personal problems" at that point in his career and had lost his enjoyment for football—problems which he overcame later in his Blackburn Rovers career.<ref name=eng>"Bentley thanks Rovers for England call-up". ESPN Soccernet. 26 May 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2007.</ref> He admitted to gambling addiction in the early stages of his career, reaching a peak of placing 100 bets a day. He got over his problems in 2005.<ref name=gambling>"Bentley admits he was placing 100 bets a day" Template:Webarchive. The Guardian. London. 10 April 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2008.</ref>
Desiring a permanent move, Bentley was linked with a number of clubs including Wolverhampton Wanderers,Template:Citation needed before returning on a further season's loan, to Blackburn Rovers on 31 August 2005.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Blackburn RoversEdit
In January 2006, Blackburn signed Bentley on a permanent basis from Arsenal.<ref name=globe>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> In his first match after permanently signing for Blackburn, he scored his first senior hat-trick in a 4–3 victory against Manchester United.<ref name=globe/> Bentley went on to feature regularly for Blackburn in the 2005–06 season, and helped the club finish sixth in league standings and qualify for the 2006–07 UEFA Cup.<ref name=stats/><ref>P"remiership Table – 2005/06" Template:Webarchive. ESPN Soccernet. Retrieved 27 May 2007.</ref>
The 2006–07 season saw Bentley become more of a regular goalscorer for Rovers, including some stunning strikes in the Premier League.<ref>"Blackburn 2–1 Wigan" Template:Webarchive. ESPN Soccernet. 1 October 2006. Retrieved 27 May 2007.</ref><ref>"Reading v Blackburn Rovers, 1–2 Sat 16 Dec 2006" Template:Webarchive. Premier League. 16 December 2006. Retrieved 27 May 2007.</ref> In Europe, a 25-yard volley against Salzburg in the UEFA Cup helped secure Rovers' passage into the group stage,<ref>Parkes, Ian (29 September 2006) "Rovers in top gear thanks to Bentley's Rolls-Royce performance" Template:Webarchive. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 May 2007.</ref> where he also scored a last minute winner against Wisła Kraków.<ref>Gaunt, Ken (20 October 2006). "Racism claims mar Blackburn's hard-won victory" Template:Webarchive. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 27 May 2007.</ref> Bentley's club performances attracted much transfer speculation.Template:Citation needed However, on 27 February 2007, despite being linked to a move to Manchester United, he agreed to a new contract that would keep him with Blackburn until 2011.<ref>"Bentley pledges long-term future to Rovers"Template:Dead link. Blackburn Rovers F.C. 27 February 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2007.</ref><ref name=bbc>"Bentley signs new Blackburn deal" Template:Webarchive. BBC Sport. 27 February 2007. Retrieved 27 May 2007.</ref> Commenting on the new deal, Rovers manager Mark Hughes described Bentley as "a great talent with a big future" while chairman John Williams added that he "is widely regarded as one of the best young footballers in the country."<ref name=bbc/> Bentley ended the season with seven goals and 13 assists for Blackburn, the latter statistic also highlighting his creative importance to the team.<ref name=stats/> He was later voted by Rovers fans as the club's Player of the Year.<ref name=POTY>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Bentley recorded similar statistics in the following season, scoring eight goals and providing 13 assists.<ref name=stats/> Blackburn finished seventh in the Premier League, but did not qualify for European competition.Template:Citation needed Bentley's consistent performances for his club, however, ensured that he played in a series of post-season friendlies for England.Template:Citation needed But that was to be the Englishman's final season with the Lancashire club.Template:Citation needed Not long after the departure of manager Mark Hughes to Manchester City, Bentley reiterated his desire to leave. Blackburn placed a valuation of the player at around £18 million.Template:Citation needed
Tottenham HotspurEdit
On 31 July 2008, Tottenham Hotspur announced their signing of Bentley, on a six-year contract, for a £15 million fee, with an additional £2 million conditional on future performance.<ref name=17m>"Tottenham complete Bentley switch" Template:Webarchive. BBC Sport. 30 July 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2013.</ref> Reports suggested that £7 million of this fee was payable to Bentley's former employers, Arsenal.<ref name=17m/><ref>Norrish, Mike, "Arsenal net £7m David Bentley windfall" Template:Webarchive. The Daily Telegraph. London. 31 July 2008. Retrieved 2 January 2013.</ref> Bentley made his competitive debut on 16 August 2008 away at Middlesbrough where Spurs lost 2–1.<ref>Lyon, Sam, "Middlesbrough 2–1 Tottenham" Template:Webarchive. BBC Sport. 16 August 2008. Retrieved 25 August 2008.</ref> He scored his first competitive goal for Spurs in the 2008–09 UEFA Cup first round tie against Wisła Kraków on 18 September 2008. He then scored his first league goal for Tottenham against his old club Arsenal with a 43-yard dipping volley in a 4–4 draw on 29 October 2008.<ref>McNulty, Phil (29 October 2008) "Arsenal 4–4 Tottenham" Template:Webarchive. BBC Sport. Retrieved 30 October 2008</ref> This led the British mathematician Tony Mann to ask Marcus du Sautoy to name a symmetry group in honour of David Bentley; the group is labelled Set [C[1], C[2], C[3], C[4]]=[40, 13, 4, 4], with the final two digits corresponding to the result of the match.<ref>"Football fans take their rivalries into mathematical hyperspace" Template:Webarchive. The Guardian. London. Retrieved 28 March 2012.</ref> Bentley's form would suffer at Tottenham, however, and after falling down the pecking order for both club and country, it was reported on 17 June 2009 that he was in talks to move to Aston Villa.<ref>Bailey, Richard (16 June 2009) "Bentley in talks with Villa" Template:Webarchive. Sky Sports. Retrieved 17 June 2009.</ref> Subsequently, it was revealed by Bentley and Aston Villa that this was untrue.<ref>"Aston Villa not drawn by David Bentley paper talk" Template:Webarchive. Birmingham Mail. 16 June 2009. Retrieved 6 July 2009.</ref>
The form of Aaron Lennon meant that Bentley was mostly used as a substitute for the start 2009–10 season, although he did score a free kick in Tottenham's 9–1 victory over Wigan Athletic, with the ball then going in off the back of Wigan goalkeeper Chris Kirkland.<ref>" Tottenham Hotspur 9 Wigan Athletic 1" Template:Webarchive. Premier League. 22 November 2009. Retrieved 28 November 2009.</ref>
Loan spellsEdit
On 12 January 2011, Bentley joined Birmingham City on loan for the remainder of the season.<ref>"Blues bag Bentley" Template:Webarchive. Birmingham City F.C. 12 January 2011. Retrieved 12 January 2011.</ref> He went straight into the starting eleven for the Second City derby against Aston Villa and was named man of the match.<ref>Ball, Elliot (16 January 2011) "Bentley boosted by Blues bow" Template:Webarchive. Sky Sports. Retrieved 17 January 2011.</ref> Bentley scored his first goal for Birmingham in a 3–2 win against Coventry City in the fourth round of the 2010–11 FA Cup.Template:Citation needed Bentley was cup-tied for Birmingham's victory in the 2011 League Cup Final.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Described in the Birmingham Mail's season review as having "flattered to deceive", he failed to establish himself in the first team, and returned to Tottenham at the end of the season.<ref>Tattum, Colin, "Colin Tattum reviews Birmingham City's season and asks: How did it go so wrong?" Template:Webarchive. Birmingham Mail. 26 May 2011. Retrieved 26 May 2011.</ref>
On 31 August 2011, Bentley signed a season-long loan deal with Championship club West Ham United.<ref>"Bentley signs" Template:Webarchive. West Ham United F.C. 31 August 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2011.</ref> He made his debut on 10 September 2011 in a 4–3 home win against Portsmouth coming on in the 63rd minute for Julien Faubert.<ref>West Ham 4–3 Portsmouth. BBC Sport. 11 September 2011. Retrieved 27 October 2011.</ref> In October 2011, he was ruled out for six months following a knee operation and returned to Tottenham for treatment, after playing five matches for West Ham.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> In February 2012, Bentley was named in Tottenham's 25-man squad for the second half of the 2011–12 season despite his injury.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Despite featuring prominently in Tottenham's pre-season under new manager André Villas-Boas, on 7 September 2012, Bentley went out on loan to Russian club FC Rostov.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> Bentley became the first Englishman to play in the Russian Premier League<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> when he made his debut for the club on 15 September, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 victory over Dynamo Moscow.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He went on to start all four subsequent league matches for Rostov before picking up an ankle injury in the 0–0 draw with Lokomotiv Moscow on 21 October.Template:Citation needed Bentley made seven appearances for Rostov without scoring.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Loan return to Blackburn RoversEdit
In January 2013, Bentley's former manager at Tottenham, Harry Redknapp, attempted to sign him on loan for Queens Park Rangers as a potential supplier of crosses for Peter Crouch.Template:Citation needed However, the move did not take place because Crouch did not sign for QPR and Bentley's weekly wage of £50,000 was deemed too high.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> On 15 February, Bentley returned to former club Blackburn Rovers on a 93-day loan.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> He made his second Blackburn début the next day, coming on as substitute in a fifth round FA Cup away win at Arsenal.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
On 7 June 2013, the Premier League confirmed that he had been released by Tottenham Hotspur.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> On 3 August 2013, Levski Sofia manager Slaviša Jokanović expressed interest in signing Bentley and his former Tottenham teammate Cristian Ceballos.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
RetirementEdit
On 13 June 2014, Bentley announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 29, having been without a club for over a year. He stated in an interview that he had fallen out of love with football, calling the modern game "robotic" due to the influence of social media and money, as well as "predictable and a bit too calculated". He said that he wished to spend time with his three children.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> By October 2014, Bentley was a co-owner of a restaurant in Marbella, Spain, where he and his family had moved to.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Bentley has also invested in beach clubs and a restaurant in Woodford Green, London with Raheem Sterling and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.<ref name=Marbella>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
In 2015, as part of a job-swap documentary for Irish television,<ref>Wilson Hartnell, "AIB 'The Toughest Trade'" Template:Webarchive. wilsonhartnell.ie. 18 February 2015. Retrieved 12 March 2015.</ref> Bentley trained for and played in a Gaelic football match for Crossmaglen Rangers; in return, Aaron Kernan was to train with Sunderland.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
International careerEdit
Bentley played for the England under-15 and under-16 teams, captained the England under-18 team and played for the England under-21 team.<ref name=espn/><ref name=globe/> He recorded eight caps and four goals with the under-21 team,<ref>"England U21s Team" Template:Webarchive. The Football Association. Retrieved 27 May 2007.</ref> He was the first Englishman to score at the new Wembley Stadium in a match against the Italy under-21 team on 24 March 2007.<ref>Mawhinney, Stuart (24 March 2007) "Thriller at Wembley". The Football Association. Retrieved 27 May 2007.</ref>
In May 2007, following an impressive 2006–07 season for Blackburn, Bentley was called up for the England B international at Turf Moor for a match against Albania. After naming him as a starter, England manager Steve McClaren said Bentley had the potential to become England's "new David Beckham".<ref>Neild, Andy (25 May 2007) "McClaren: Bentley can be our Beckham" Template:Webarchive. Lancashire Telegraph (Blackburn). Retrieved 27 May 2007.</ref> In that match, Bentley provided the cross for Stewart Downing's first goal and was involved in the buildup to Downing's second in the 3–1 victory for England.<ref name=duty>"Bentley stars on England duty" Template:Webarchive. Blackburn Rovers F.C. Retrieved 28 May 2007.</ref> He received the man of the match award for his performance.<ref name=duty/> The next day, he was named in McClaren's 26-man full England squad for the friendly match against Brazil and the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifier against Estonia.<ref name=eng/>
In June 2007, Bentley was called up to the England under-21 squad for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in the Netherlands. However, he pulled out of the squad citing fatigue, and England under-21 manager Stuart Pearce questioned the midfielder's commitment to the national squad.<ref>"Bentley responds to U21 criticism" Template:Webarchive. BBC Sport. 9 June 2007. Retrieved 14 June 2007.</ref> This withdrawal led to Bentley being excluded from the senior England squad for the friendly against Germany,<ref>"Bentley defends England pull-out" Template:Webarchive. BBC Sport. 17 August 2007. Retrieved 17 August 2007.</ref> but he was selected for the UEFA Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia. He made his senior debut when he came on as a substitute for Shaun Wright-Phillips against Israel, but was jeered by some of the fans due to his previous refusal to play for the under-21 team.<ref>"England debutant Bentley shrugs off boos" Template:Webarchive. ESPN Soccernet. 10 September 2007. Retrieved 12 September 2007.</ref> Bentley has since revealed that he was instructed by Blackburn to make himself unavailable due to having just completed a full season with Domestic, European and International appearances, as well as a July start to the 2007-08 season for the UEFA Intertoto Cup.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Bentley started for England for the first time in the friendly against Switzerland on 6 February 2008.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>
Style of playEdit
Most often Bentley played as a right winger, but he could also play as a central midfielder or a second striker. When at Arsenal, Bentley was stated to play in the second striker role.<ref name=espn/>
Career statisticsEdit
ClubEdit
| Club | Season | League | National cupTemplate:Efn | League cupTemplate:Efn | Europe | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Arsenal | 2002–03<ref name=sb0203>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2003–04<ref name=sb0304>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1Template:Efn | 0 | 8 | 1 | ||
| 2005–06<ref name=sb0506/> | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | |||
| Norwich City (loan) | 2004–05<ref name=sb0405>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 26 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 28 | 2 | ||
| Blackburn Rovers | 2005–06<ref name=sb0506>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 29 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 1 | — | 35 | 5 | ||
| 2006–07<ref name=sb0607>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 36 | 4 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8Template:Efn | 3 | 51 | 7 | ||
| 2007–08<ref name=sb0708>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 37 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 6Template:Efn | 1 | 47 | 9 | ||
| Total | 102 | 13 | 8 | 2 | 9 | 2 | 14 | 4 | 133 | 21 | |||
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2008–09<ref name=sb0809>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 25 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5Template:Efn | 1 | 35 | 2 | |
| 2009–10<ref name=sb0910>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 15 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 4 | 1 | — | 24 | 3 | |||
| 2010–11<ref name=sb1011>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | ||
| 2011–12<ref name=sb1112>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2012–13<ref name=sb1213>Template:Soccerbase season</ref> | Premier League | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 42 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 8 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 62 | 5 | |||
| Birmingham City (loan) | 2010–11<ref name=sb1011/> | Premier League | 13 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 15 | 1 | |||
| West Ham United (loan) | 2011–12<ref name=sb1112/> | Championship | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||||
| FC Rostov (loan) | 2012–13<ref name=Soccerway>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation | CitationClass=web
}}</ref> |
Russian Premier League | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||
| Blackburn Rovers (loan) | 2012–13<ref name=sb1213/> | Championship | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 201 | 17 | 24 | 5 | 22 | 3 | 20 | 5 | 267 | 30 | |||
InternationalEdit
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England<ref>Template:NFT player</ref> | 2007 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 | 5 | 0 | |
| Total | 7 | 0 | |
HonoursEdit
Tottenham Hotspur
- Football League Cup runner-up: 2008–09<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
Individual
- Blackburn Rovers Player of the Year: 2006–07<ref name=POTY/>
ReferencesEdit
External linksEdit
- David Bentley profile at the Football Association website
- Template:Soccerbase