Dan Bent
{{short description|Gibraltarian footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Daniel Bent
| image =
| caption =
| fullname = Daniel David Bent
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1996|01|10|df=y}}
| birth_place = London, United Kingdom
| height =
| position = Defensive midfielder, centre-back
| currentclub = Larne
| clubnumber = 26
| youthyears1 = | youthclubs1 = Pro Soccer Academy
| youthyears2 = 2013–2015 | youthclubs2 = Gillingham
| youthyears3 = 2017 | youthclubs3 = Columbus Crew
| collegeyears1 = 2015–2016 | collegecaps1 = 16 | collegegoals1 = 0 | college1 = Reinhardt Eagles
| collegeyears2 = 2016–2018 | collegecaps2 = 48 | collegegoals2 = 1 | college2 = Wright State Raiders
| years1 = 2012–2013 | caps1 = | goals1 = | clubs1 = Corinthian
| years2 = 2016 | caps2 = 4 | goals2 = 0 | clubs2 = Dayton Dutch Lions
| years3 = 2018 | caps3 = 10 | goals3 = 0 | clubs3 = SC United Bantams
| years4 = 2019–2023 | caps4 = 60 | goals4 = 1 | clubs4 = Bruno's Magpies
| years5 = 2023–2024 | caps5 = 7 | goals5 = 1 | clubs5 = Manchester 62
| years6 = 2024–2025 | caps6 = 35 | goals6 = 6 | clubs6 = Lincoln Red Imps
| years7 = 2025– | caps7 = 0 | goals7 = 0 | clubs7 = Larne
| nationalyears1 = 2024– | nationalteam1 = Gibraltar
| nationalcaps1 = 9 | nationalgoals1 = 2
| club-update = 2 May 2025
| ntupdate = 9 June 2025
}}
Daniel David Bent (born 10 January 1996) is a professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for NIFL Premiership side Larne. Born in England, he represents the Gibraltar national football team at international level.
Club career
=Early career=
Dan Bent began his career at Corinthian and made his senior breakthrough at the age of 16, during the 2012–13 season. During his time at Corinthian, he had a trial at Dagenham & Redbridge.[https://kentishfootball.co.uk/news/corinthiandefenderdanbentearnstrialatdagenhamredbridge Corinthian defender Dan Bent earns trial at Dagenham & Redbridge] Kentish Football. 25 January 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2024. He left Corinthian at the end of the season after being offered a scholarship by Gillingham,[https://kentishfootball.co.uk/news/goalkeepersearchesfornewrecruitsforacademythatgavecorinthiandefenderdanbenthischance Goalkeeper searches for new recruits for Academy that gave Corinthian defender Dan Bent his chance] Kentish Football. 25 May 2013. Retrieved 28 August 2024. staying with the Kent side for 2 years before leaving to play college soccer in the United States. During his time in America, he also spent time with Columbus Crew U23, as well as PDL sides Dayton Dutch Lions and SC United Bantams.[https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/roster_players/13246515?subseason=278141 Dayton Dutch Lions - 2016 Regular Season - Roster - Dan Bent] USL League Two. Retrieved 28 August 2024.[https://www.uslleaguetwo.com/roster_players/24326850?subseason=482928 South Carolina United FC - 2018 Regular Season - Roster - Daniel Bent] USL League Two. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
=College career=
In 2015 he moved to the United States to play college soccer with Reinhardt Eagles, but after one season moved to Wright State Raiders, where he spent 3 years, winning the Horizon League twice in that time.[https://wsuraiders.com/sports/mens-soccer/roster/dan-bent/3296#sidearm-roster-player-stats Dan Bent - Men's Soccer] Wright State University Athletics. Retrieved 28 August 2024.
=Move to Gibraltar=
In 2019, after completing his studies in the US, Bent relocated to Gibraltar to join ambitious Bruno's Magpies in the newly formed Gibraltar National League. He spent 4 years at the club during which time he won the GFA Challenge Trophy and the 2022–23 Rock Cup. On 9 August 2023, he moved to Manchester 62.[https://x.com/Man62FC/status/1689277154930855938 Major Signing Announcement] Manchester 62 FC. 9 August 2023. Retrieved 28 August 2024. However, the club's perilous financial situation caused him to leave after half a season, and he joined Lincoln Red Imps on 8 January 2024.[https://lincolnredimpsfc.co.uk/news/bent-and-tarik-added-to-the-lincoln-family?id=436444 Bent and Tarik added to the Lincoln family] Lincoln Red Imps FC. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 28 August 2024. In his first half season, he helped secure a league and cup double.
=Return to the UK=
On 16 June 2025, after a season and a half with Lincoln Red Imps, Bent reunited with former coach Nathan Rooney when he joined NIFL Premiership side Larne.[https://larnefc.com/dan-bent-arrives-at-inver-park/ Dan Bent arrives at Inver Park] Larne FC. 16 June 2025. Retrieved 16 June 2025.
International career
Born and raised in England, Bent naturalised for Gibraltar in 2024 and received his first call-up in August that year. He made his international debut on 4 September, starting the match vs Andorra at Europa Sports Park and scoring on his debut.[https://www.uefa.com/uefanationsleague/friendlies/match/2041932--gibraltar-vs-andorra/ Match Report: Gibraltar vs Andorra] UEFA.com. 4 September 2024. Retrieved 4 September 2024.
Career statistics
=International=
{{updated|match played 9 June 2025.}}
class=wikitable style="text-align: center;"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year | |||
National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
---|---|---|---|
rowspan=3|Gibraltar | |||
2024 | 5 | 1 | |
2025 | 4 | 1 | |
colspan=2|Total||9||2 |
International goals
class="wikitable" | ||||||
No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
align=center|1 | 4 September 2024 | Europa Point Stadium, Europa Point, Gibraltar | {{fb|AND}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center| 1–0 | Friendly |
align=center|2 | 22 March 2025 | Gradski stadion, Nikšić, Montenegro | {{fb|MNE}} | align=center|1–0 | align=center| 1–3 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honours
- Horizon League: 2016, 2018
References
{{Reflist}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bent, Dan}}
Category:Gibraltarian men's footballers
Category:English men's footballers
Category:Footballers from Kent
Category:Men's association football midfielders
Category:Gibraltar men's international footballers
Category:USL League Two players
Category:Gibraltar Premier Division players
Category:Corinthian F.C. (Kent) players
Category:Dayton Dutch Lions players
Category:SC United Bantams players
Category:F.C. Bruno's Magpies players
Category:Manchester 62 F.C. players
Category:Lincoln Red Imps F.C. players
Category:21st-century English sportsmen
Category:English expatriate men's footballers
Category:Expatriate men's soccer players in the United States
Category:English expatriate sportspeople in the United States
Category:Reinhardt Eagles men's soccer players
Category:Wright State Raiders men's soccer players
Category:Gibraltarian expatriate sportspeople in the United States