Ben Manga | |
Fullname: | Bienvenido Manga Ubenga |
Height: | 1.70 m |
Birth Date: | 1974 2, df=yes |
Birth Place: | Bata, Equatorial Guinea |
Position: | Midfielder |
Youthyears1: | 1978–1993 |
Youthclubs1: | VfR Neuss |
Years1: | 1993–1996 |
Clubs1: | Fortuna Düsseldorf |
Caps1: | 3 |
Goals1: | 0 |
Years2: | 1996 |
Clubs2: | Wuppertaler SV |
Years3: | 1996–1997 |
Clubs3: | KFC Uerdingen 05 |
Years4: | 1997–2000 |
Clubs4: | Alemannia Aachen |
Caps4: | 1 |
Goals4: | 0 |
Years5: | 2000–2001 |
Clubs5: | Karlsruher SC |
Caps5: | 21 |
Goals5: | 0 |
Years6: | 2001–2002 |
Clubs6: | Wormatia Worms |
Caps6: | 11 |
Goals6: | 1 |
Years7: | 2002–2003 |
Clubs7: | GFC Düren 09 |
Caps7: | 22 |
Goals7: | 1 |
Years8: | 2003–2005 |
Clubs8: | Alemannia Aachen |
Caps8: | 21 |
Years9: | 2005 |
Clubs9: | Alemannia Aachen II |
Caps9: | 1 |
Goals9: | 0 |
Nationalyears1: | 1990s |
Nationalteam1: | Equatorial Guinea |
Manageryears1: | 2003–2005 |
Managerclubs1: | Alemannia Aachen (D youth) |
Manageryears2: | 2005–2008 |
Managerclubs2: | Alemannia Aachen (C youth) |
Manageryears3: | 2008–2010 |
Managerclubs3: | Alemannia Aachen (U17)[1] |
Manageryears4: | 2003–2011 |
Managerclubs4: | Alemannia Aachen (scout) |
Manageryears5: | 2011–2012 |
Managerclubs5: | 1899 Hoffenheim (scout) |
Manageryears6: | 2012–2016 |
Managerclubs6: | VfB Stuttgart (scout) |
Manageryears7: | 2016–2022 |
Managerclubs7: | Eintracht Frankfurt (scout and squad planner) |
Manageryears8: | 2022–2023 |
Managerclubs8: | Watford (technical director) |
Manageryears9: | 2024– |
Managerclubs9: | Schalke 04 (technical director) |
Bienvenido "Ben" Manga Ubenga (born 11 February 1974) is an Equatoguinean former footballer who played as a midfielder. He is currently technical director of 2. Bundesliga club Schalke 04.
Ben Manga was born in Bata. He managed three scoreless Bundesliga appearances for Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 1995–96 season.[2]
In July 2016, Manga was appointed Chief Scout of Eintracht Frankfurt,[3] a role in which he held until 2021 when he also took on the role of Director of Football.[4] On 30 November 2022, he departed the club by mutual consent.[5]
On 22 December 2022, Manga was appointed technical director of EFL Championship club Watford.[6] In the following winter transfer window Ismaël Koné and João Ferreira were signed, Henrique Araújo loaned. Mangas only summer transfer window at Watford saw the hiring of Valerien Ismael as coach, and players like Mileta Rajkovic, Tom Ince, while some top performers left. He departed the club in October 2023.[7]
On 10 May 2024, Schalke 04 announced that Manga became their new director of squad planning, scouting and youth academy.[8]
He lives in the English city of London and also holds German citizenship. Manga also worked as an auto mechanic. He has a cousin, Juan Oburu, who plays for TV Jahn Hiesfeld.[9]