Lars Bender

Lars Bender

Lars Bender in training with 1860 Munich
Personal information
Date of birth	27 April 1989 (1989-04-27)
Place of birth	Rosenheim, West Germany
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Playing position	Midfielder
Club information
Current club	Bayer Leverkusen
Number	8
Youth career
1993–1999	TSV Brannenburg
1999–2003	SpVgg Unterhaching
2003–2006	1860 Munich
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
2006–2007	1860 Munich II	9	(1)
2006–2009	1860 Munich	58	(4)
2009–2011	Bayer Leverkusen II	3	(0)
2009–	Bayer Leverkusen	60	(5)
National team‡
2005–2006	Germany U17	9	(1)
2007–2008	Germany U19	9	(2)
2008–2009	Germany U20	7	(1)
2010	Germany U21	1	(0)
2011–	Germany	3	(0)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 04:31, 19 November 2011 (UTC). † Appearances (Goals). ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 21:32, 15 November 2011 (UTC)

Lars Bender (born 27 April 1989) is a German footballer who plays for the German Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen. He is the twin brother of Sven Bender, who plays for Borussia Dortmund.

Bender is a former German youth international having played at all levels. At under-19 level, he was a part of the team that won the 2008 European Under-19 Championship. Bender made his debut for the senior team in a friendly match against Poland on September 2011.

Career

In 2006, while still playing for 1860 Munich, Bender has won the Fritz-Walter trophy, ahead of then Mönchengladbach's Marko Marin and his twin brother, Sven Bender. On 18 August 2009, Bender signed a three year contract with Bayer Leverkusen. Bender scored his first goal in the Bundesliga against Eintracht Frankfurt. In the 2010/2011 season, he was expected to degrade as a fourth choice central midfielder with the arrival of the experienced Germany captain Michael Ballack. However, the season turned out to be a successful one for Lars, playing in good form which is slowly, but surely giving him the first team regular status. He scored his first goal in 2011 against VfL Wolfsburg in a 3-0 win with a well-struck curled low shot from twenty meters.

International

He was part of the Germany U-19 side that won the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship.

Personal life

His twin brother, Sven, is also a professional footballer, who plays for Borussia Dortmund.

Career statistics

As of 1 November 2011 (2011 -11-01)

Club performance			League		Cup		Continental		Total
Season	Club	League	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
2006–07	1860 Munich	2. Bundesliga	13	0	0	0	—	—	13	0
2007–08			28	1	3	0	—	—	31	1
2008–09			15	3	2	0	—	—	17	3
2009–10			2	0	1	0	—	—	3	0
Club total			58	4	6	0	—	—	64	4
2009–10	Bayer Leverkusen	Bundesliga	20	1	1	0	—	—	21	1
2010–11			27	3	2	0	12	0	41	3
2011–12			11	0	1	0	4	1	16	1
Club total			58	4	4	0	16	1	78	5
Career total			116	8	10	0	16	1	142	9

Honours

International

• UEFA U-19 Championship (1): 2008

Individual

• 2006 Fritz Walter Gold Medal (U17 Category)

External links

• Lars Bender at transfermarkt.de (German)
• Lars Bender at fussballdaten.de (German)
• Lars Bender – FIFA competition record