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David BentleyEnglish footballer, midfielder.
Date of Birth: 27.08.1984
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
David Bentley Biography
David Bentley is an English footballer who primarily played as a midfielder. He received a personal offer to train with the first team from Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger when he was just 16 years old. Bentley began his career at Arsenal as a forward but eventually transitioned into playing as a winger. He made his debut in January 2003 in a game against Oxford United in the FA Cup, coming on as a substitute for Kolo Toure in the 77th minute.
Loan Spells and Blackburn Rovers
After his debut, Bentley was loaned out to Norwich City and returned to Arsenal at the end of the 2004/2005 season, where he requested to be sent to a club where he would have more playing time. He was subsequently loaned out to Blackburn Rovers in August 2005 and in January 2006, it was announced that he had signed a permanent contract with the club. In his first match for Blackburn, Bentley scored a hat-trick in a victory against Manchester United (4-3). This made him the first player in the history of the Premier League to score three goals against Manchester United in their first match. His successful season helped Blackburn secure a 6th place finish in the Premier League and qualify for the UEFA Cup 2006-2007.
Tottenham Hotspur and Later Career
In the 2006-2007 season, Bentley regularly played in the starting lineup for Blackburn and scored several goals, both in the league and the UEFA Cup. Rumors circulated about his possible move to one of the top clubs in England, including Manchester United, but Bentley decided to sign a new contract with Blackburn until the end of 2011. He scored seven goals and provided thirteen assists during that season, and was voted Blackburn's Player of the Year by the fans. However, Bentley decided to leave the club after manager Mark Hughes moved to Manchester City. He then transferred to Tottenham Hotspur for approximately £18 million.
Bentley joined Tottenham in 2008 as a backup player, as he was expected to compete with Aaron Lennon for a starting position. However, Bentley's talent overshadowed David, and he found himself spending most of the season on the bench. Despite limited playing time, he managed to score a goal against his former club, Arsenal (4-4). In the 2009-2010 season, Bentley started matches as a substitute but had a chance to solidify his place in the starting lineup after Lennon's injury. He performed exceptionally well, scoring goals from free kicks and providing assists.
Bentley had loan spells at Birmingham City and also faced transfer rumors during his time at Tottenham. He eventually left Tottenham and joined Birmingham City on loan until the end of the 2010/2011 season.
