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Lars BenderGerman footballer
Date of Birth: 27.04.1989
Country:  Germany |
Content:
Early Life and Career
Lars Bender was born in Rosenheim, Bavaria, Germany, on April 27, 1989. He is the twin brother of fellow German footballer Sven Bender, who currently plays for Borussia Dortmund.
Lars began his professional career with 1860 Munich, where he won the Fritz-Walter Trophy in 2006. The award recognizes the most promising young players in Germany.
Bayer Leverkusen
In August 2009, Bender signed a three-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen. He made his Bundesliga debut later that month and scored his first Bundesliga goal in a match against Eintracht Frankfurt.
Bender faced limited opportunities during the 2010-2011 season due to the arrival of Michael Ballack. However, he impressed with his performances and eventually earned a regular starting spot. He scored his first goal of the season in a 3-0 win over VfL Wolfsburg.
International Career
Bender has represented Germany at international level. He played for the German under-19 team and helped them win the UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship in 2008.
He made his debut for the senior German national team in 2011 and was part of the squad that reached the semi-finals of the 2012 UEFA European Championship. Bender scored his only international goal in a 2-1 victory over Denmark during the tournament.
Later Career
Bender continued to be a key player for Bayer Leverkusen, establishing himself as a versatile and reliable midfielder. He helped the club win the DFB-Pokal in 2019.
In the summer of 2021, Bender announced his retirement from professional football due to a chronic knee injury. He played over 300 matches for Leverkusen and scored 21 goals.
