29 Facts About David Bentley

David Michael Bentley was born on 27 August 1984 and is an English former professional footballer who played primarily as a winger, but played as a central midfielder or as a second striker.

David Bentley spent two seasons on loan with Norwich City and Blackburn Rovers, and sealed a permanent transfer to Rovers in January 2006.

David Bentley produced strong performances for his new club, and soon featured regularly for the England under-21 team.

David Bentley made his senior international debut against Israel in September 2007.

David Bentley 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.

David 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.

David Bentley was used primarily in midfield, usually as a wide midfielder.

David 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.

David Bentley returned to Arsenal in the summer of 2005, but submitted a transfer request, citing his desire for first team football.

David Bentley admitted to gambling addiction in the early stages of his career, reaching a peak of placing 100 bets a day.

David Bentley was later voted by Rovers fans as the club's Player of the Year.

David Bentley recorded similar statistics in the following season, scoring eight goals and providing 13 assists.

Not long after the departure of manager Mark Hughes to Manchester City, David Bentley reiterated his desire to leave.

On 12 January 2011, David Bentley joined Birmingham City on loan for the remainder of the season.

David Bentley went straight into the starting eleven for the Second City derby against Aston Villa and was named man of the match.

David Bentley was cup-tied for Birmingham's victory in the 2011 League Cup Final.

On 31 August 2011, David Bentley signed a season-long loan deal with Championship club West Ham United.

David Bentley made his second Blackburn debut the next day, coming on as substitute in a fifth round FA Cup away win at Arsenal.

On 13 June 2014, David Bentley announced his retirement from professional football at the age of 29, having been without a club for over a year.

David Bentley 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".

David Bentley said that he wished to spend time with his three children.

David Bentley has invested in beach clubs and in a restaurant in Woodford Green, London with Raheem Sterling and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain.

In 2015, as part of a job-swap documentary for Irish television, David Bentley trained for and played in a Gaelic football match for Crossmaglen Rangers; in return, Aaron Kernan was to train with Sunderland.

David 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.

David Bentley recorded eight caps and four goals with the under-21 team, David Bentley was the first Englishman to score at the new Wembley Stadium in a match against the Italy under-21 team on 24 March 2007.

David Bentley received the man of the match award for his performance.

In June 2007, David Bentley was called up to the England under-21 squad for the 2007 UEFA European Under-21 Championship in the Netherlands.

David Bentley 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.

David Bentley started for England for the first time in the friendly against Switzerland on 6 February 2008.