Robbie Benson Explained

Robbie Benson
Fullname:Robert Benson
Birth Date:7 May 1992
Birth Place:Athlone, Ireland
Position:Midfielder
Currentclub:Dundalk
Clubnumber:8
Years1:2008–2010
Clubs1:Athlone Town
Caps1:38
Goals1:5
Years2:2011–2015
Clubs2:UCD
Caps2:127
Goals2:29
Years3:2016–2019
Clubs3:Dundalk
Caps3:96
Goals3:21
Years4:2020–2021
Caps4:40
Goals4:7
Years5:2022–
Clubs5:Dundalk
Caps5:66
Goals5:7
Nationalyears1:2007–2008
Nationalteam1:Republic of Ireland U16
Nationalcaps1:3[1]
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2008–2009
Nationalteam2:Republic of Ireland U17
Nationalcaps2:3[2]
Nationalgoals2:1
Club-Update:00:57, 10 August 2024 (UTC)
Nationalteam-Update:00:42, 6 August 2016 (UTC)

Robert Benson (born 7 May 1992) is an Irish professional footballer who plays as a midfielder, for Dundalk in the League of Ireland Premier Division.[3] He has also played for his hometown club, Athlone Town, UCD and St Patrick's Athletic. Benson has made 10 appearances in European competition throughout his career and was part of the Dundalk team that became the first Irish side ever to reach the play-off stage of the UEFA Champions League in August 2016.[4] Benson scored twice for the club on their European run, including a volleyed goal against Legia Warsaw in the play-off round that received worldwide media coverage.[5]

Early life

Benson was born in Athlone and attended Marist College in the town between 2004 and 2010 where he studied for his Leaving Certificate.[6] He played underage football for local club St. Francis.[7]

Professional career

Athlone Town

Benson began his career with Athlone Town, making his debut against Waterford United in the Regional Sports Centre on 3 October 2008.[8] He spent the following two seasons playing in the First Division with the club. After achieving 600 points in his Leaving Certificate examinations, Benson gained a scholarship with UCD in September 2010.[9] This allowed him to combine his academic studies with football, and he majored in chemistry and maths before earning a master's degree in actuarial science.[10] [11]

UCD

Benson was unable to play for UCD's league side during the closing stages of the 2010 season due to scholarship regulations, however he joined up with the senior squad for the 2011 season, making 20 league appearances in the Premier Division and scoring five goals. Benson became a mainstay of the side during the 2012 season, playing a part in 31 league games for the club and scoring three goals in the process, as UCD finished ninth and avoided relegation.

Benson remained with UCD for the 2013 season, and scored a career-high nine league goals in 25 appearances during the campaign, as UCD once more finished ninth. In 2014, Benson was made the captain of the team and played in all 35 league games for the club, scoring three goals. However, UCD were relegated at the end of the season after losing a play-off to Galway United. Despite this, Benson chose to stay with UCD in 2015 as he wished to complete his studies before later making the move to full-time football.[10] He made his European debut in July 2015, captaining his side to a 1–0 win over Dudelange in the Europa League first qualifying round. He went on to make a further 3 appearances in the Europa League as UCD eliminated Dudelange and met Slovan Bratislava in the following round. Throughout the 2015 campaign, Benson played in eighteen league games and scored seven goals as UCD ultimately lost out on promotion to the Premier Division in a play-off against Finn Harps.

Dundalk

Despite interest from St. Patrick's Athletic, Shamrock Rovers and Cork City, Benson signed for Dundalk in December 2015, citing the opportunity to work under boss Stephen Kenny as being one of the deciding factors.[12] [13] He scored the third goal in the 3–0 home defeat of BATE Borisov to help Dundalk become the first Irish side to reach the play-off round of the Champions League,[14] and followed this up with a volleyed goal against Legia Warsaw in the play-off round that received widespread exposure in international media and on social media.[15] Benson considers this to be the greatest goal of his career to date. Dundalk went on to qualify for the 2016–17 UEFA Europa League group stage for the first time and Robbie scored for Dundalk in the home game against FC Zenit Saint Petersburg, but lost 2-1.[16] He was rewarded for his Champions League displays by being named Soccer Writers' Association of Ireland Player of the Month for August 2016.[17] After considering offers from Scotland and England, Benson signed a new one-year contract with Dundalk in November 2017.

St Patrick's Athletic

Benson signed for St Patrick's Athletic on 13 November 2019, signing for his former teammate Stephen O'Donnell, who was less than 3 months into his first managerial role.[18] Benson scored on his first start for the club in a 6–0 win over Fermoy in a friendly.[19] On 28 November 2021 Benson scored the winning penalty in the 2021 FAI Cup Final penalty shootout, beating rivals Bohemians 4–3 on penalties following a 1–1 draw after extra time in front of a record FAI Cup Final crowd of 37,126 at the Aviva Stadium.[20]

Return to Dundalk

On 17 December 2021, it was announced that Benson had followed head coach Stephen O'Donnell back to Dundalk for a second spell at the club.[21]

International career

Benson was a key member of the Irish Schools side which won the Centenary Shield in 2010 including scoring the winner against England which sealed the trophy for Ireland. He was named the FAI's Under 18 International Schools Player of the Year in 2009–10.[6] He has also represented Ireland at under-16 and under-17 levels.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational CupLeague CupEuropeOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Athlone Town2008LOI First Division10000010
2009932010123
2010122001000132
Total225202000265
UCD2011LOI Premier Division205203010265
2012313202031384
2013259101000279
2014335100000345
2015LOI First Division18710004020257
Total127296060406115030
Dundalk2016LOI Premier Division242501011310425
2017279522120103712
201832940004010419
201913130103021222
Total9621172412035114228
St Patrick's Athletic2020LOI Premier Division16210172
202124520265
Total40730437
Dundalk2022LOI Premier Division29321314
2023141100010161
20242030010213
Total637310020688
Career total3486931312124313242878

Honours

Club

Dundalk

St Patrick's Athletic

Individual

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Player's profile on SoccerScene.ie. SoccerScene.ie. 28 August 2016.
  2. Web site: Player's profile on SoccerScene.ie. SoccerScene.ie. 28 August 2016.
  3. Soccerbase Player Profile|http://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=58539
  4. News: Robbie Benson – UEFA player profile . UEFA. 30 August 2016 . 30 August 2016.
  5. News: LIAM MACKEY: Benson racks up a stylish hat-trick for the remarkable Robbies . Irish Examiner. 27 August 2016 . 30 August 2016.
  6. News: Robbie Benson awarded FAI International Schools' accolade . FAI Schools. 8 February 2011 . 30 August 2016. https://web.archive.org/web/20160927085333/http://www.faischools.ie/national/news/2011/feb/sun/robbie-benson-awarded-fai-international-schools%E2%80%99-accolade. 27 September 2016. dead.
  7. News: Athlone's Robbie stars in €1.2m Champions League success for Dundalk . Westmeath Independent. 21 July 2016 . 30 August 2016.
  8. News: Robbie Benson - Extratime.ie player profile . Extratime.ie. 13 September 2016 . 13 September 2016.
  9. News: Returning to Athlone as men – but UCD's skipper was a plane journey away from another path . the42.ie. 23 May 2014 . 30 August 2016.
  10. Web site: 'I won't get the highs of winning trophies sitting behind a desk' - Robbie Benson has put career on hold to chase Dundalk dream. independent.
  11. Web site: O'Donnell and Benson talk Dundalk. UEFA. 9 September 2016.
  12. Web site: Dundalk make two big signings as they bid to replace Richie Towell. the42.ie. 26 August 2016.
  13. Web site: Dundalk land McEleney and Benson. Irish Independent. 26 August 2016.
  14. Web site: 'We're not content with the Europa League' - Dundalk's Robbie Benson. Irish Independent. 9 September 2016.
  15. Web site: Watch: Dundalk Pull Away Goal Back With An Absolute Belter From Robbie Benson. Mikey. Traynor. Balls.ie.
  16. Web site: Champions League Goal "Best I've Scored By A Mile" – Dundalk's Robbie Benson. 98fm.ie. 9 September 2016.
  17. Web site: 600 points in the Leaving Cert, a master's degree and two goals in this season's Champions League. the42.ie. 9 September 2016.
  18. Web site: Robbie Benson Joins The Saints. www.stpatsfc.com.
  19. Web site: Pre-Season Result: Fermoy 0 - Saints 6. www.stpatsfc.com.
  20. Web site: Benson spot on as Saints beat Bohs to lift the FAI Cup. Ed. Leahy. 28 November 2021. www.rte.ie.
  21. Web site: BENSON RETURNS TO DUNDALK FC. Gavin. McLaughlin. 17 December 2021. Dundalk Football Club.
  22. News: Dundalk midfielder Robbie Benson crowned Player of the Month . Goal.com. 8 September 2016 . 25 September 2016.