Lars Bender

Lars Bender (German pronunciation: [ˈlaʁs ˈbɛndɐ];[3][4] born 27 April 1989) is a German footballer who plays as a right back or defensive midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen. He was raised in Brannenburg, city in the district of Rosenheim. He is the twin brother of Sven Bender, who also plays for Bayer Leverkusen.[5][6]

For the footballer born in 1988, see Lars Bender (footballer, born 1988).

Lars Bender
Bender in 2018
Personal information
Full name Lars Bender[1]
Date of birth (1989-04-27) 27 April 1989
Place of birth Rosenheim, West Germany
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[2]
Position(s) Right back, defensive midfielder
Club information
Current team
 Bayer Leverkusen
Number 8
Youth career
1993–1999 TSV Brannenburg
1999–2002 SpVgg Unterhaching
2002–2006 1860 Munich
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2006–2009 1860 Munich 58 (4)
2009– Bayer Leverkusen 242 (21)
National team‡
2005–2006 Germany U17 9 (1)
2007–2008 Germany U19 9 (2)
2009 Germany U20 1 (1)
2010 Germany U21 1 (0)
2016 Germany Olympic 6 (0)
2011– Germany 19 (4)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 21:04, 27 June 2020 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 18 November 2014

Club career

Early career

Lars Bender played from 1993 to 1999 in the youth of the TSV Brannenburg, from 1999 to 2002 he was part of SpVgg Unterhaching youth teams. In summer 2002, he moved to the 1860 München youth team.

1860 Munich

In August 2006, Bender played his first game for 1860 Munich II in the Regionalliga Süd. In October, he was an unused substitute in the 1860 Munich senior team, and on 27 November 2006, when he was 17 years old, he made his professional debut at the home game against the TuS Koblenz in the 2. Bundesliga. In his first professional season, he played 13 matches, nine of them in the starting lineup. In this season, Bender won the Fritz-Walter trophy, ahead of then Mönchengladbach's Marko Marin and his twin brother, Sven Bender. In his second season, he was a regular player in the defensive midfield. On the first day of the new season, he scored his first goal. Bender started 2008–09 season again as a regular player. In the second league game against FSV Frankfurt on 3 October 2008, he took over the captaincy and was at 19 the youngest captain in the history of the 1860 Munich, but on 20 October he was seriously injured and after a number of injuries, he finished that season with only 15 matches played. In his three professional seasons played for 1860 München in the 2. Bundesliga, he played 58 games and scored four goals.

Bayer 04 Leverkusen

On 18 August 2009, Bender signed a three-year contract with Bayer Leverkusen. He played his first match in the Bundesliga coming off the bench on Matchday 6 and was used as a substitute in most of 20 games he played during his first season in Bayer Leverkusen. He scored his first goal in the Bundesliga against Eintracht Frankfurt on 16 September, an eventual 4–0 win.[7] In the following season, his position in the defensive midfield remained competitive and he was often second choice, but he played 27 matches and scored three goals. In the 2011–12 season, he was a regular player and played most of the games over the full season, only interrupted by a forced break for a muscle bundle crack injury in the spring of 2012. On 21 March 2012, Bender signed a new contract with Leverkusen to 2018.[8] In the 2012–13 Bundesliga season, he played 33 games, scored 3 goals and made 6 assists. On 31 October 2013, he extended his contract with Leverkusen until 2019.[9]

Bender playing for Bayer Leverkusen, 2012

In the 2013–14 season, he played 29 games and scored three goals in the Bundesliga, despite being injured for the most of September and October and again in the spring of 2014. In the 2014–2015 season, e returned to the field and played 26 games in Bundesliga, scoring one goal against SC Paderborn 07. In UEFA Champions League he helped Leverkusen finish runner-up in the group stage behind AS Monaco but later lost to Atlético Madrid in the Round of 16. For season 2015/16 coach Roger Schmidt appointed him as the new team captain in place of Simon Rolfes, who had ended his career after the end of the preseason.[10] This season is a struggle for him, after had long time injury in October 2015 until March 2016, and he's only got 10 appearances in Bundesliga and made a pair appearances in Champions League. Bender abdicated the captaincy prior to the 2020–21 season due to his ongoing injury issues, passing the role over to Charles Aránguiz.[11] He announced retirement from football after the end of the 20/21 season along with his brother.[12]

International career
Bender celebrating his goal against Denmark during Euro 2012

He was part of the German under-19 side that won the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. He and his twin Sven were named jointly as players of the tournament.

Bender was chosen as part of Germany's 23-man squad for Euro 2012. He scored an 80th-minute winner in the final group game against Denmark.[13]

On 29 May 2013 Bender scored twice in a 4–2 win over Ecuador.[14]

He was named in Germany's provisional 30-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, but withdrew on 23 May following a thigh injury in training. Manager Joachim Löw said, "I feel personally very sorry for Lars because I know how much he wanted to be in Brazil, when a player is ruled out so close before a tournament then it is very disappointing for everyone".[15] Lars was part of the Germany Olympic football team for Rio along with his twin and Nils Petersen who were the three selected over 23 years old players,[16] winning the silver medal.[17]

Playing style

Bender normally plays as a defensive midfielder or right-back. He is known for his all-action style and possesses good tackling, passing and ball interception.[18]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 13 September 2020.
ClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotalRef.
LeagueAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
1860 Munich II2006–07Regionalliga Süd92——92[19]
1860 Munich2006–072. Bundesliga13000130[19]
2007–0828130311[20]
2008–0915320173[21]
2009–10201030[22]
Total58460—644—
Bayer Leverkusen II2009–10Regionalliga West20—20[22]
2010–111010[23]
Totals30—30—
Bayer Leverkusen2009–10Bundesliga20110—211[22]
2010–1127320120413[23]
2011–122841081375[24]
2012–133333050413[25]
2013–142934160394[26]
2014–152612070351[27]
2015–161112140172[28]
2016–17900030120[29]
2017–1821231—243[30]
2018–192012050271[31]
2019–201822080282[32]
2020–2100110011[33]
Total2422123458132326—
Career total3092728358139331—

International goals
Scores and results list Germany's goal tally first.
GoalDateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.17 June 2012Arena Lviv, Lviv, Ukraine Denmark2–12–1UEFA Euro 2012
2.29 May 2013FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, United States Ecuador2–04–2Friendly
3.3–0
4.14 August 2013Fritz-Walter-Stadion, Kaiserslautern, Germany Paraguay3–33–3

Honours

International
Germany Youth

Individual

References
  1. "L. Bender". Soccerway. Retrieved 7 December 2013.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 27 February 2016. Retrieved 24 November 2016.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. Dudenredaktion; Kleiner, Stefan; Knöbl, Ralf (2015) [First published 1962]. Das Aussprachewörterbuch [The Pronunciation Dictionary] (in German) (7th ed.). Berlin: Dudenverlag. pp. 227, 544. ISBN 978-3-411-04067-4.
  4. Krech, Eva-Maria; Stock, Eberhard; Hirschfeld, Ursula; Anders, Lutz Christian (2009). Deutsches Aussprachewörterbuch [German Pronunciation Dictionary] (in German). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. pp. 363, 690. ISBN 978-3-11-018202-6.
  5. Uersfeld, Stephan (13 July 2017). "Bender twins reunited at Leverkusen". ESPN. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  6. Uersfeld, Stephan (1 February 2013). "Bender twins ready for showdown". ESPN FC. Archived from the original on 14 September 2018. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
  7. "Spielbericht Bayer Leverkusen – Eintracht Frankfurt 4:0 (3:0)" (in German). fussballdaten.de. Retrieved 29 October 2010.
  8. "Lars Bender verlängert vorzeitig bis 2017". Bayer 04 Leverkusen. 21 March 2012. Archived from the original on 21 August 2016. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  9. "Bayer 04 verlängert mit Lars Bender bis 2019" (in German). Bayer 04 Leverkusen. 31 October 2013. Archived from the original on 2 November 2013. Retrieved 31 October 2013.
  10. "Bayer Leverkusen: Lars Bender beerbt Simon Rolfes als Kapitän" (in German). sport1.de. 4 August 2015. Retrieved 12 August 2016.
  11. "Charles Aranguiz takes over as Leverkusen captain from Lars Bender". Bulinews. Retrieved 8 September 2020.
  12. "Sven and Lars Bender retire from international football". 21 December 2020.
  13. John Atkin (17 June 2012). "German joy signals despair for Denmark". UEFA. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  14. "Ecuador 2–4 Germany". ESPN. 29 May 2013. Retrieved 13 May 2014.
  15. "World Cup 2014: Injured Lars Bender out of Germany squad". BBC Sport. 23 May 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2014.
  16. "Lars und Sven Bender Der Traum von Olympia wird wahr!". bunte.de. 15 July 2016. Retrieved 13 August 2016.
  17. "Neymar's golden penalty sees Brazil to victory". fifa.com. 20 August 2016.
  18. https://www.whoscored.com/Players/29940
  19. "Lars Bender | 1860 München II | Regionalliga Süd (2000-2008) | 2006/07 | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  20. "Lars Bender | 1860 München | 2. Bundesliga | 2007/08 | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  21. "Lars Bender | 1860 München | 2. Bundesliga | 2008/09 | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  22. "Lars Bender | Bayer 04 Leverkusen II | Regionalliga West (2008-2012) | 2009/10 | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  23. "Lars Bender | Bayer 04 Leverkusen II | Regionalliga West (2008-2012) | 2010/11 | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  24. "Lars Bender | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 2011/12 | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  25. "Lars Bender | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 2012/13 | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  26. "Lars Bender | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 2013/14 | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  27. "Lars Bender | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 2014/15 | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Retrieved 26 August 2014.
  28. "Lars Bender | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 2015/16 | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Retrieved 23 August 2015.
  29. "Lars Bender | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 2016/17 | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Retrieved 14 January 2017.
  30. "Lars Bender | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 2017/18 | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Retrieved 17 February 2018.
  31. "Lars Bender | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 2018/19 | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Retrieved 5 September 2018.
  32. "Lars Bender | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 2019/20 | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  33. "Lars Bender | Bayer 04 Leverkusen | Bundesliga | 2020/21 | Spielerprofil". kicker (in German). Retrieved 13 September 2020.
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