Marcus Bent Explained

Marcus Bent
Fullname:Marcus Nathan Bent
Birth Date:19 May 1978[1]
Birth Place:Hammersmith, London, England[2]
Height:[3]
Position:Forward
Currentclub:Cornard United
Youthyears1:–1995
Youthclubs1:Brentford
Years1:1995–1998
Clubs1:Brentford
Caps1:70
Goals1:8
Years2:1998–1999
Clubs2:Crystal Palace
Caps2:28
Goals2:5
Years3:1999
Clubs3:Port Vale
Caps3:23
Goals3:1
Years4:1999–2000
Clubs4:Sheffield United
Caps4:48
Goals4:20
Years5:2000–2001
Clubs5:Blackburn Rovers
Caps5:37
Goals5:8
Years6:2001–2004
Clubs6:Ipswich Town
Caps6:61
Goals6:21
Years7:2003–2004
Clubs7:Leicester City (loan)
Caps7:33
Goals7:9
Years8:2004–2006
Clubs8:Everton
Caps8:55
Goals8:7
Years9:2006–2008
Clubs9:Charlton Athletic
Caps9:46
Goals9:4
Years10:2007–2008
Clubs10:Wigan Athletic (loan)
Caps10:31
Goals10:7
Years11:2008–2011
Clubs11:Birmingham City
Caps11:33
Goals11:3
Years12:2009–2010
Clubs12:Middlesbrough (loan)
Caps12:7
Goals12:0
Years13:2010
Clubs13:Queens Park Rangers (loan)
Caps13:3
Goals13:0
Years14:2010–2011
Clubs14:Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan)
Caps14:3
Goals14:0
Years15:2011
Clubs15:Sheffield United (loan)
Caps15:11
Goals15:0
Years16:2011–2012
Clubs16:Mitra Kukar
Caps16:11
Goals16:4
Years17:2017–2018
Clubs17:Wick
Caps17:0
Goals17:0
Years18:2020
Clubs18:Cornard United
Caps18:1
Goals18:0
Totalcaps:501
Totalgoals:97
Nationalyears1:1998
Nationalteam1:England U21
Nationalcaps1:2
Nationalgoals1:1

Marcus Nathan Bent (born 19 May 1978) is a retired English professional footballer. A former England under-21 international, the journeyman striker played 573 games and scored 113 goals for fourteen different clubs. His numerous transfer fees totalled over £10 million.

He began his career at Brentford in 1995 before he signed with Crystal Palace in 1998, where he made his Premier League debut. The next year, he joined Sheffield United via Port Vale. In 2000, he transferred to Blackburn Rovers, before he moved on to Ipswich Town in 2001. He spent 2003–04 on loan at Leicester City before he transferred to Everton in 2004.

Two years later, he was sold on to Charlton Athletic. He spent the 2007–08 season on loan at Wigan Athletic before he moved on to Birmingham City in 2008. He spent three years with Birmingham, during which he spent time on loan at Middlesbrough, Queens Park Rangers, Wolverhampton Wanderers, and Sheffield United. After leaving the club, he spent six months in Indonesia with Mitra Kukar. After five years out of the game, during which time he faced legal issues, he then had brief spells in non-League football with Wick and Cornard United.

Club career

Brentford

Bent graduated through the Brentford youth team ranks, usually playing as a forward. He broke into the first-team at Griffin Park in 1995–96 under manager David Webb, helping the Bees to a 15th-place finish in the Second Division. Bent was almost ever-present in a successful season that saw Brentford reach the play-offs in 1996–97 with a fourth-place finish. He played at Wembley in the play-off final defeat to Crewe Alexandra. He was substituted after 70 minutes for Scott Canham. Bent then scored five goals in 29 games in 1997–98, as the Bees struggled in vain to avoid relegation under Eddie May and then his replacement Micky Adams.

Crystal Palace

Though not a prolific striker for Brentford, Bent's potential was spotted by Crystal Palace manager Steve Coppell, who brought Bent to Selhurst Park for £300,000 on 8 January 1998.[2] The Eagles were relegated out of the Premier League in last place in 1997–98. However, Bent had shown his ability with five goals in 16 games, including strikes at Stamford Bridge and Anfield. However, he remained goalless in 15 appearances in 1998–99, as Palace struggled under new boss Terry Venables. With the club heading for administration,[4] he was sold on to First Division rivals Port Vale for £300,000 on 15 January 1999, as one of long-term manager John Rudge's last purchases.[2]

Port Vale

Rudge was unable to make the most of his new player, as chairman Bill Bell controversially sacked Rudge and hired Brian Horton. Played out of position on the left wing, Bent went 15 games without a goal for the Valiants in 1998–99. He played nine games in 1999–2000, scoring once against Grimsby Town in a 3–1 win at Vale Park.[5] In October 1999, he was sold on to league rivals Sheffield United for £375,000, with Bell eager to cash in on the £75,000 profit. He later described moving from Crystal Palace to Port Vale as "my dream blown up in my face" as he struggled to adapt to life outside London, referring to the culture shock he said "Someone said 'All right, Duck', which put me on my toes. I thought, 'Why are you calling me Duck?'[6]

Sheffield United

Bent became the Blades top scorer in 1999–2000 with 15 league goals in 32 appearances, including a hat-trick past West Bromwich Albion in a 6–0 thrashing at Bramall Lane on 19 February. The club had struggled under Adrian Heath before finding an upturn in results after Neil Warnock stepped into the hot seat in December. He began the 2000–01 campaign in fine form, hitting a hat-trick past Lincoln City in a 6–1 win in the League Cup. Former club Crystal Palace reportedly targeted him for a swap deal of Clinton Morrison and £1.5 million; however, manager Alan Smith denied that he had made any such offer.[7] [8] He was instead sold to promotion-chasing Blackburn Rovers for £2 million in November 2000; the transfer was seen as good business for both clubs.[9]

Blackburn Rovers

Bent scored his first goal for Rovers against bitter East Lancashire rivals Burnley in a 2–0 win at Turf Moor on 17 December 2000.[10] He went on to hit 11 goals in 34 appearances in 2000–01, justifying Graeme Souness's fee, as the Ewood Park club won promotion back to the Premier League. He made ten goalless appearances in 2001–02, before he was sold on to Ipswich Town for £3 million in November 2001,[11] which was Town's fourth biggest transfer fee behind teammates Matteo Sereni, Hermann Hreiðarsson, and Finidi George.

Ipswich Town

Despite Bent scoring nine times in 22 league starts,[12] the Blues were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2001–02 season. He stayed at Portman Road for the 2002–03 campaign, hitting 12 goals in 38 games, as the Tractor Boys missed out on the play-offs by one place and four points. However, Ipswich entered administration and were forced to sell talent such as Marcus Stewart, Titus Bramble, and Darren Ambrose; a relegation battle was only avoided after manager George Burley was replaced by Joe Royle. Ipswich then found another striking talent, Darren Bent (no relation). Bent joined newly promoted Premier League side Leicester City on loan for the 2003–04 campaign, in a move that reunited him with manager Micky Adams. Bent scored ten goals in 35 games, though the First Division beckoned for the Foxes, as the Walkers Stadium club finished six points behind 17th place Everton.

Everton

Unable to afford his £17,000-per-week contract, in June 2004, Ipswich sold Bent to Everton for a fee of £450,000; the Toffees manager David Moyes said that "he's got athleticism, he's quick, good in the air".[13] He became a regular starter at Goodison Park in the lone centre-forward role (supported by Tim Cahill). He only managed seven goals in 2004–05, which were key in securing draws away to Southampton and at home to Aston Villa, as well as decisive goals against Middlesbrough and Manchester City. Despite having helped the club to secure a place in the Champions League, Bent became a more peripheral figure in 2005–06, having lost his first-team place to James Beattie.

Charlton Athletic

In January 2006, it was announced that Bent had signed for Charlton Athletic in a deal worth £2.3 million.[14] He scored on his debut as a substitute against Premier League champions Chelsea in a 1–1 draw. Bent hit only two goals in 35 games in 2006–07, 13 fewer than strike partner Darren Bent, who had signed with Charlton from Ipswich. The club had collapsed following the departure of manager Alan Curbishley after his fifteen-year reign, and First Division football returned to The Valley despite the best efforts of Iain Dowie, Les Reed and Alan Pardew.

Loan to Wigan Athletic

Bent joined Wigan Athletic on Transfer Deadline Day (31 August 2007) on a season-long loan move, one of nine summer signings by boss Chris Hutchings.[15] However, after a poor start to the campaign, Hutchings was replaced by Steve Bruce. Bent scored a hat-trick, his first in the Premier League, against former club Blackburn Rovers in a 5–3 win on 15 December; Roque Santa Cruz also scored a hat-trick in the game, the first time in the Premier League that two opposing players scored hat-tricks in the same match. Despite only hitting seven goals in 32 games, he still became the Latics's top scorer in 2007–08. At the end of the season, Wigan manager Steve Bruce chose not to make the deal permanent, feeling Bent was too similar in style to Emile Heskey; Bent subsequently returned to cash-strapped Charlton, where he was placed on the transfer list.[16]

Birmingham City

Bent signed a three-year deal for Birmingham City in July 2008 for a fee in excess of £1 million,[17] after rejecting the opportunity to join Cardiff City.[18] [19] He scored three goals from 16 starts and 17 substitute appearances as Alex McLeish got the club promoted to the Premier League with a second-place finish in 2008–09. He did not feature at the higher level for the Blues. Instead, he became Gordon Strachan's first signing for Middlesbrough when he joined on a two-month loan deal on 30 October 2009,[20] later extended to 16 January 2010. He spent the final three months of the 2009–10 season on loan at a second Championship club, Queens Park Rangers, whom he joined in February 2010.[21] Both clubs finished in mid-table, and Bent failed to find the net at either the Riverside Stadium or Loftus Road.

He was still out of the first-team plans at St Andrew's; he again moved on loan in August 2010, as he joined Mick McCarthy's Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers until 4 January 2011.[22] He made five appearances without scoring, before joining Sheffield United on loan until the end of the 2010–11 season, teaming up with Micky Adams at a third different club.[23] With the Blades in free-fall Bent made ten appearances, mainly from the bench, before returning early to Birmingham in mid-April having failed to score a goal.[24] Birmingham decided against taking up the option of another season, and Bent was released when his contract expired at the end of the 2010–11 season.[25]

Mitra Kukar

Bent signed a one-year contract with Indonesia Super League club Mitra Kukar on 3 November 2011.[26] In doing so he rejected interest from clubs in England, choosing the Far East as he "didn't want to be based up north".[27] He was released on 17 April 2012, with the club in mid-table.[28]

Non-league football

On 13 September 2017, now aged 39, Bent signed a one-year contract with Southern Combination League Premier Division club Wick; club chairman Rodney Lampton said he and Bent had been childhood friends.[29] However, Bent left the club without making an appearance.[30] On 3 January 2020, he joined Eastern Counties League First Division North club Cornard United.[31]

International career

Bent represented his England at under-21 level in May 1998, in games against South Africa and Argentina.[32]

Personal life

Bent was born in Hammersmith, London,[1] to parents of Jamaican origin.[33] Before signing a scholarship with Brentford in 1994, he was named Marcus Lecky.[34] He has a younger brother, Elliott, who is ten years his junior and is also a footballer. Elliott was a youth team player at Fulham, until injury saw him released in 2007.[35] He dropped into non-League football and has played for Dorchester Town, Welling United and Hampton & Richmond Borough.

Bent had been engaged to Kelly Clark, with whom he has a daughter, but their relationship ended, and they split up. He has since been involved with model Danielle Lloyd[36] and actress Gemma Atkinson, to whom he was briefly engaged.[37] After his playing career ended, Bent entered the oil business.[38] However, he left the industry and his life went into a steep decline as he struggled with mental health problems, using drugs to self medicate.[39]

He was charged with affray and possession of a Class A drug in September 2015 after police used a taser whilst arresting him at his home in Esher, Surrey.[40] He had called 999 after believing intruders were in his house, but was tasered by police responding to the call.[41] In February 2016 he admitted to one charge of affray and possession of cocaine; he was given a suspended 12-month prison sentence, a two-month curfew and 200 hours of compulsory unpaid work.[42] Four months later he was fined £385 with £85 costs after being found with cocaine at Chessington World of Adventures.[43] He was declared bankrupt in January 2019.[44]

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonDivisionLeagueFA CupLeague CupOtherTotal
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Brentford1995–96[45] Second Division12143001[46] 0174
1996–97Second Division34320405[47] 1454
1997–98Second Division244203100295
Total7088371619113
Crystal Palace1997–98Premier League1650000165
1998–99First Division1201020150
Total2851020315
Port Vale1998–99First Division1500000150
1999–2000First Division81001091
Total2310010241
Sheffield United1999–2000First Division321531003516
2000–01First Division1650053218
Total482031535624
Blackburn Rovers2000–01First Division28863003411
2001–02Premier League900010100
Total37863104411
Ipswich Town2001–02Premier League2592100002710
2002–03First Division32112010313812
2003–04First Division4100100051
Total61214120317023
Leicester City (loan)2003–04Premier League3392100003510
Everton2004–05Premier League3763021427
2005–06Premier League181101040241
Total557403140668
Charlton Athletic2005–06Premier League1320000132
2006–07Premier League3011041352
2007–08Championship31001041
Total4641051525
Wigan Athletic (loan)2007–08Premier League317100000327
Birmingham City2008–09Championship333101000353
Middlesbrough (loan)2009–10Championship7010000080
Queens Park Rangers (loan)2009–10Championship3000000030
Wolverhampton Wanderers (loan)2010–11Premier League3000200050
Sheffield United (loan)2010–11Championship110000000110
Mitra Kukar2011–12Indonesia Super League114114
Wick2017–18Southern Combination
Premier Division
00000000
Cornard United2019–20[48] [49] Eastern Counties League
Division One North
1010
Career total50197329296132575114

Honours

Blackburn Rovers

Birmingham City

Individual

January 2002

Notes and References

  1. Book: The PFA Footballers' Who's Who 2005/2006 . Queen Anne Press . 2005 . 978-1-85291-662-6 . Hugman . Barry J . 40.
  2. Web site: Marcus Bent . Holmesdale Online . 29 October 2022.
  3. Web site: Player Profile: Marcus Bent . Premier League . 16 March 2011.
  4. News: Business: The Company File Palace on the rocks . 3 March 1999 . 22 April 2012 . BBC News.
  5. News: Vale's Foyle spoils brave comeback by Grimsby . Staniforth . Tommy . 5 September 1999 . The Independent . 21 February 2010.
  6. News: Lawrence . Sarah . Interview: Marcus Bent . 19 June 2020 . The Guardian . 27 January 2002 . en.
  7. News: Bent bid rejected . 29 October 2022 . Holmesdale Online . 15 November 2000.
  8. News: Boss denies Bent bid . 29 October 2022 . Holmesdale Online . 16 November 2000.
  9. News: Bent completes Rovers switch . 24 November 2000 . 15 March 2008 . BBC Sport.
  10. News: Burnley 0–2 Blackburn . 17 December 2000 . 22 April 2012 . BBC Sport.
  11. News: Bent completes Ipswich move . 23 November 2003 . 15 March 2008 . BBC Sport.
  12. Web site: Profile . Wolverhampton Wanderers FC . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110106035307/http://www.wolves.co.uk/page/ProfilesDetail/0%2C%2C10307~8440%2C00.html . 6 January 2011 . 22 April 2012.
  13. News: Everton clinch Bent signing . 23 June 2004 . 15 March 2008 . BBC Sport.
  14. News: Charlton complete Bent transfer . 17 January 2006 . 15 March 2008 . BBC Sport.
  15. News: Marcus Bent joins Wigan on loan . 31 August 2007 . 15 March 2008 . BBC Sport.
  16. News: Striker Bent returns to Charlton . 13 June 2008 . 11 September 2010 . BBC Sport.
  17. Web site: Bent becomes a blue . 16 July 2008 . Birmingham City FC . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20081222030437/http://www.blues.premiumtv.co.uk/page/News/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10412~1343927%2C00.html . 22 December 2008 . 16 July 2008.
  18. News: Cardiff Bent double . 14 July 2008 . 14 July 2008 . Sky Sports.
  19. News: Marcus Bent signs for Bluebirds . 12 July 2008 . Wales Online . 12 July 2008 . Reach.
  20. News: Middlesbrough complete Bent loan . 30 October 2009 . 31 October 2009 . BBC Sport.
  21. News: Striker Marcus Bent joins QPR on loan from Birmingham . 1 February 2010 . 11 September 2010 . BBC Sport.
  22. News: Wolves sign striker Marcus Bent on loan from Birmingham . 31 August 2010 . 11 September 2010 . BBC Sport.
  23. Web site: Bent makes Blades move . 18 January 2011 . Birmingham City FC . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20110707215607/http://www.bcfc.com/page/News/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10412~2269292%2C00.html . 7 July 2011 . 18 January 2011.
  24. Web site: Loan duo return . 16 April 2011 . Sheffield United F.C . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120206130037/http://www.sufc.co.uk/page/NewsDetail/0%2C%2C10418~2340465%2C00.html . 6 February 2012 . 17 April 2011.
  25. News: Colin Doyle to stay on at Blues for another year . Tattum . Colin . 25 May 2011 . BirminghamLive . 26 May 2011 . Reach.
  26. Web site: Marcus Bent Resmi Gabung Mitra Kukar . 3 November 2011 . Mitra Kukar FC . id . Marcus Bent joins Mitra Kukar . 5 November 2011.
  27. News: From Ipswich to Indonesia: Marcus Bent Dispels the Myth of an Englishman Abroad . Back . Adrian . 25 November 2011 . 22 April 2012 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150402092543/http://www.sportsvibe.co.uk/news/football/from-ipswich-to-indonesia-marcus-bent-dispels-the-myth-of-an-englishman-abroad-13323/ . 2 April 2015 . SportsVibe.
  28. News: Mitra Kukar Resmi Lepas Marcus Bent . 16 April 2012 . 22 April 2012 . dead . https://archive.today/20120731173231/http://www.antaranews.com/berita/306469/mitra-kukar-resmi-pecat-marcus-bent . 31 July 2012 . AntaraNews.com . id.
  29. News: Former Crystal Palace, Everton, Sheffield United and Charlton striker signs for Wick . Mason . Lewis . 13 September 2017 . Littlehampton Gazette . 13 September 2017 . JPI Media.
  30. News: Wick start search for new chairman as Usher steps down . 24 July 2018 . Littlehampton Gazette . 28 May 2019 . JPI Media.
  31. Web site: THURLOW NUNN: Cornard sign ex-Premier League striker . 4 January 2020 . Suffolk Free Press . en . 5 January 2020.
  32. Web site: Marcus Bent . Football Association . 18 January 2011.
  33. News: Bent targets revival at Wigan . Stuart Roach . 24 September 2007 . 27 December 2008 . BBC Sport.
  34. Book: The Big Brentford Book Of The Nineties . Croxford . Mark . Lane . David . Waterman . Greville . Legends Publishing . 2013 . 9781906796723 . Sunbury, Middlesex . 531 .
  35. News: Player Profile . 21 June 2016 . https://web.archive.org/web/20131203020832/http://www.dorchestertownfc.co.uk/squad/200708/bent_elliot.shtml . 3 December 2013 . Dorchester Town FC.
  36. News: Danielle Lloyd splits from Marcus Bent . 29 June 2007 . Now Magazine . 29 February 2008.
  37. News: Gemma Atkinson splits from Marcus Bent . 22 December 2008 . Now Magazine . 12 July 2009.
  38. Web site: Brother of ex-Everton and Birmingham striker opens his heart . Street . Tim . 19 October 2012 . MyLondon . Reach . 7 June 2014.
  39. News: McNamara . Paul . Former Everton Striker Opens Up On Mental Health Struggles . 19 June 2020 . www.evertonfc.com . 15 February 2020 . en.
  40. News: Former striker Marcus Bent tasered by police and charged with affray and drug possession . 15 September 2015 . The Sentinel . 15 September 2015 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150917035104/http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/Port-Vale-striker-Marcus-Bent-tasered-police/story-27803391-detail/story.html . 17 September 2015 . Local World.
  41. News: Suspended sentence for former Port Vale player who admitted affray . 12 February 2016 . The Sentinel . 12 February 2016.
  42. News: Ex-footballer Marcus Bent sentenced for affray . 12 February 2016 . BBC News . 12 February 2016.
  43. News: Former Valiants striker Marcus Bent fined for possessing cocaine . Baggaley . Mike . 21 June 2016 . The Sentinel . 21 June 2016 . Local World.
  44. News: Ex-Birmingham star bankrupt after cocaine-fuelled fall from grace . Johnson . Ian . 14 January 2019 . BirminghamLive . 4 February 2019 . Reach . Rodger . James.
  45. Web site: Player Details: Marcus Bent . 2022-05-01 . The English National Football Archive.
  46. Appearance in Football League Trophy
  47. Three appearances and one goal in Second Division play-offs, two appearances in Football League Trophy
  48. Web site: Cornard United Player Season Totals. 2021-03-02. fulltime-league.thefa.com.
  49. Web site: Marcus Bent player stats Thurlow Nunn League . 2022-07-09 . fulltime.thefa.com.