Francis Benali

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Francis Benali
{{nobold|{{post-nominals|country=GBR|MBE}}}}

| fullname = Francis Vincent Benali{{Hugman|1357|accessdate=5 April 2020}}

| height = {{height|ft=5|in=9}}{{cite book |title=Rothmans Football Yearbook 1987–88 |editor-first=Peter |editor-last=Dunk |publisher=Queen Anne Press |location=London |date=1987 |page=[https://archive.org/details/rothmansfootball00lond/page/336 336] |isbn=978-0-356-14354-5 |url=https://archive.org/details/rothmansfootball00lond/page/336}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1968|12|30}}

| birth_place = Southampton, England

| position = Full back

| youthyears1 = 1985–1988

| youthclubs1 = Southampton

| years1 = 1988–2004

| clubs1 = Southampton

| caps1 = 311

| goals1 = 1

| years2 = 2001

| clubs2 = → Nottingham Forest (loan)

| caps2 = 15

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2006–2008

| clubs3 = Eastleigh

| caps3 = 22

| goals3 = 0

| totalcaps = 348

| totalgoals = 1

}}

Francis Vincent Benali {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|MBE}} (born 30 December 1968) is an English football coach and former professional player.

As a player, he was a full back who notably spent most of his career in the Premier League with Southampton, during a sixteen-year spell he notched up a total of 373 appearances in all competitions, scoring just once. He was named as one of "Southampton's Cult Heroes," in a book by Jeremy Wilson in October 2006.{{Cite book|last=Wilson|first=Jeremy|title=Southampton's Cult Heroes: Saints' 20 Greatest Icons|date=2006-10-19|id={{ASIN|1905449011|country=uk}}}} He also played for Nottingham Forest on loan in 2001 and later finished his career with a two-year spell at non-league side Eastleigh.

Following his retirement, Benali has coached at Southampton's academy as well as with semi-professional side Romsey Town. He is also noted for his charity work and co-founded a football management agency with former teammate Matt Le Tissier. Benali was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to cancer patients in the UK.{{London Gazette|issue=62866|supp=y|page=N16|date=28 December 2019}}{{cite web |title=New Year Honours: Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes and Baroness Sue Campbell recognised |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/50918896 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=28 December 2019 |date=27 December 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Yandell |first1=Chris |title=Francis Benali made an MBE after netting huge amount for Cancer Research UK |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/18125951.francis-benali-made-mbe-netting-huge-amount-cancer-research-uk/ |access-date=28 December 2019 |work=Daily Echo |date=27 December 2019 |location=Southampton}}

Playing career

Benali was born in Southampton and attended Bellemoor School.{{cite news|last1=Kusi-Obodum|first1=Maxwell|title=Saints legend Franny 'honoured' to be given Freedom of the City of Southampton|url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/14910988.Saints_legend_Franny__honoured__to_be_given_Freedom_of_the_City_of_Southampton/|access-date=24 November 2016|work=Daily Echo|date=17 November 2016|location=Southampton}} He played for Winsor United in the Southampton Tyro League. At this level he was playing as a forward and was a prolific goal-scorer, being an early developer and quicker and stronger than most footballers of his age. He was selected to represent Southampton and Hampshire Schools, and progressed to the England schoolboy team, scoring on his debut against Northern Ireland and making nine appearances at this level.{{cite web|title=Francis Benali|url=http://www.thesaintshub.com/francisbenali.html|publisher=The Saints Hub|access-date=24 November 2016}}

Benali made his first team debut on 1 October 1988, coming off the bench against Derby County, in a 0–0 draw at The Dell.{{cite web|url=http://www.thesaintshub.com/francisbenali.html|title=Thesaintshub.com|website=www.thesaintshub.com}}

His first start came soon after on 25 October 1988 at White Hart Lane against Tottenham Hotspur in a 2–1 win.{{cite web|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/tottenham-hotspur-v-southampton-25-october-1988-89061/|title=Tottenham Hotspur v Southampton, 25 October 1988|website=11v11.com}}

He soon became a mainstay in the Saints team, going on to make a total of 389 appearances for the club, including 243 Premier League appearances.{{cite web|url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/523/Francis-Benali/overview|title=Francis Benali Profile, News & Stats - Premier League|website=www.premierleague.com}}

His only FA Premier League goal came on 13 December 1997 with a header from a Matthew Le Tissier free-kick against Leicester City at The Dell.{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football-benalis-goal-surprise-1288800.html |title=Benali's goal surprise |work=The Independent |date=13 December 1997 |access-date=11 March 2010 |location=London |first=Bob |last=Houston}}

After losing his first-team place to Wayne Bridge, in January 2003, Benali returned to the starting line-up making two league appearances against Sunderland{{cite news |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/2395169/Beattie-stays-cool-as-Sunderland-feel-heat.html |title=Beattie stays cool as Sunderland feel heat |publisher=The Telegraph |date=28 January 2003 |access-date=11 March 2010 |location=London |first=Rob |last=Stewart}} and Manchester United{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_prem/2694029.stm |title=Man Utd see off Saints |publisher=BBC |date=1 February 2003 |access-date=11 March 2010}} as well as two in the FA Cup against Millwall. Although Benali did not appear in the FA Cup Final on 17 May 2003, he was awarded a runners-up medal for his two appearances in Round 4. The replay against Millwall turned out to be his final competitive appearance for Southampton.{{cite news |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/fa_cup/2708849.stm |title=Saints tame Lions |publisher=BBC |date=5 February 2003 |access-date=11 March 2010}}

His final appearance in the Southampton first-team came as a substitute in the inaugural Ted Bates trophy match in January 2004 against Bayern Munich.{{cite web|url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/saints/reports0304/display.var.776379.0.saints_1_bayern_munich_1.php |title=SAINTS 1 - BAYERN MUNICH 1 (From Daily Echo) |publisher=Dailyecho.co.uk |date=30 May 2006 |access-date=7 August 2012}}

Coaching career

In July 2003, Benali joined the coaching staff at St. Mary's and took charge of the under-12 side at the Academy.[http://www.mysouthampton.org/southampton/celebs&gossip-francis_benali.htm] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070227211757/http://www.mysouthampton.org/southampton/celebs%26gossip-francis_benali.htm|date=27 February 2007}}

On the departure of manager Harry Redknapp in December 2005, Benali and Matthew Le Tissier put themselves forward as joint candidates for the vacant position, but were not interviewed by chairman Rupert Lowe.{{cite web |url=http://home1.skysports.com/column.aspx?lid=Sky_Sports_Columnist_Chris_Kamara&hlid=332242&cpid |title=Sky Sports - the Best Sport Coverage from Around the World |access-date=3 November 2006 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312124515/http://home1.skysports.com/column.aspx?lid=Sky_Sports_Columnist_Chris_Kamara&hlid=332242&cpid |archive-date=12 March 2007}}

Benali had a two-year spell coaching at Romsey Town first coaching his son Luke in the under-18s before managing the club's reserve side.{{cite web|url=http://www.francisbenali.com/about|title=About Francis Benali|website=francisbenali.com|access-date=20 August 2018}}

Charitable activities

In August/September 2014, Benali completed a three-week 1,000-mile (1,600 km) challenge running to all 20 Premier League grounds, raising in excess of £100,000 for the charity Cancer Research UK.{{cite news|title=Francis Benali's completes 1,000-mile stadium challenge|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-29191795|publisher=BBC News|access-date=14 September 2014|date=13 September 2014}} As a result, he became the first recipient to be awarded with the Spirit of the Game award in December 2014.{{cite news |last1=Simpson |first1=Gordon |title=Francis Benali awarded Barclays Spirit of the Game award |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/11679835.francis-benali-awarded-barclays-spirit-of-the-game-award/ |access-date=14 October 2020 |work=Daily Echo |date=20 December 2014}} He was also awarded the Just Giving Celebrity Fundraiser of the Year award in September 2015.{{cite web |last1=Marrins |first1=Kirsty |title=Announcing the JustGiving Award 2015 winners |url=https://blog.dev.justgiving.com/announcing-the-justgiving-award-2015-winners/ |website=justgiving.com |access-date=9 May 2019 |date=24 September 2015}}

In October 2016, Benali completed another ultra-challenge, running and cycling to all 44 Premier League and Championship stadiums in 2 weeks. He ran a marathon and cycled 75 miles each day and in the process raised over £350,000 for Cancer Research UK.{{cite web|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-37671685 |title=Francis Benali completes stadium running and cycling challenge |publisher=BBC News|date=16 October 2016 |access-date=17 October 2016}} Following this, he was awarded the freedom of the city of Southampton.{{cite web|title=Ex-footballer Francis Benali granted freedom of Southampton|url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-37985639|publisher=BBC News|access-date=24 November 2016|date=16 November 2016}}

In April 2019 it was announced that Benali would race seven Ironmans in seven days, as part of his aim to raise £1million for Cancer Research UK.{{cite web |last1=Falkingham |first1=Katie |title=Francis Benali: Ex-Southampton defender to race seven Ironmans in seven days |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/47959743 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=9 May 2019 |date=17 April 2019}} Despite being hospitalised,{{cite web |title=Ex-Southampton footballer halts Ironman challenge again |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-48160831 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=9 May 2019 |date=4 May 2019}} Benali completed five Ironmans, raising £1million.{{cite web |title=Ex-footballer Francis Benali hits £1m fundraising goal |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-hampshire-48212603 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=9 May 2019 |date=9 May 2019}}

Benali was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2020 New Year Honours for services to cancer patients in the UK.{{London Gazette|issue=62866|supp=y|page=N16|date=28 December 2019}}{{cite web |title=New Year Honours: Eoin Morgan, Ben Stokes and Baroness Sue Campbell recognised |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/50918896 |publisher=BBC Sport |access-date=28 December 2019 |date=27 December 2019}}{{cite news |last1=Yandell |first1=Chris |title=Francis Benali made an MBE after netting huge amount for Cancer Research UK |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/18125951.francis-benali-made-mbe-netting-huge-amount-cancer-research-uk/ |access-date=28 December 2019 |work=Daily Echo |date=27 December 2019 |location=Southampton}}

Benali has been a patron of the following charities:

The Children's Fire and Burn Trust{{cite web|title=Our patrons|url=http://www.childrensfireandburntrust.org.uk/about/patrons/|publisher=Children's Fire & Burn Trust |access-date=24 November 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061010042516/http://www.childrensfireandburntrust.org.uk/about/patrons/|archive-date=10 October 2006|date=30 January 2006}}
The Dave Wellman Cancer Trust{{cite web|url=http://www.dwct.net/ |title=Dave Wellman Cancer Trust |publisher=Tina Wellman-Hawke |date=1 April 2000 |access-date=7 July 2012}}

He is also an ambassador for Southampton FC's charity Saints Foundation, alongside his daughter Kenzie Benali.{{cite web |last1=Sheldon |first1=Dan |title=Franny and Kenzie Benali named Saints Foundation ambassadors |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/18513266.franny-kenzie-benali-named-saints-foundation-ambassadors/ |website=Daily Echo |access-date=29 March 2022 |date=12 June 2020}}

He is also an ambassador for the Saints Disabled Supporters' Association.{{Cite web |title=Franny Benali MBE |url=https://saintsdsa.org.uk/ambassadors/franny-benali-ambassador/ |access-date=2022-12-27 |website=Saints DSA}}

Media career

Alongside his charitable activities, Benali has worked as a pundit and commentator, mainly on Southampton matches.{{Cite web |last=Rees-Julian |first=George |date=17 November 2023 |title=Southampton legend Franny Benali joins Echo team as columnist |url=https://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/23927242.southampton-legend-franny-benali-joins-echo-team-columnist/ |access-date=17 November 2023 |website=Southern Daily Echo}} In November 2023, he joined the Southern Daily Echo as a weekly columnist.

Personal life

He is the father of television presenter, event host and blogger Kenzie Benali, {{Cite web|url=https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/cricket/kenzie-benali-keeps-family-sporting-24129778|title = Kenzie Benali adding to her families sporting ties on the South Coast|website = Daily Mirror|date = 18 May 2021}} and Luke Benali, who briefly played non-league football for Winchester City during the 2015–16 season.{{Cite web|url=http://www.aylesburyunitedfc.co.uk/players/luke-benali|title=Luke Benali Profile | Aylesbury United FC}}

Benali, alongside Matt Le Tissier was the founder in October 2003 of the True Greats website.{{cite web|url=http://www.truegreats.com/player.asp?c=106&p=17 |title=truegreats.com |publisher=truegreats.com |access-date=7 August 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120207000628/http://www.truegreats.com/player.asp?c=106&p=17 |archive-date=7 February 2012}}

In 2016, Benali was one of four founders of 73 Management, a football management agency, again along with ex-teammate Le Tissier.{{cite web|url=http://www.73management.co.uk/|title=73 Management|website=73 Management|access-date=17 April 2019|archive-date=27 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190627172353/http://www.73management.co.uk/|url-status=dead}}

Career statistics

rowspan=2\|Club !rowspan=2\|Season !colspan=3\|League !colspan=2\|FA Cup !colspan=2\|League Cup !colspan=2\|Other !colspan=2\|Total
class=wikitable style=text-align:center \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition {{cite web\|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=591 \|title=Francis Benali career appearances \|publisher=soccerbase.com \|access-date=20 September 2022}}{{cite web\|url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/523/player/overview \|title=Francis Benali career appearances \|publisher=premierleague.com \|access-date=20 September 2022}}{{cite web\|url=https://www.11v11.com/players/francis-benali-431/ \|title=Francis Benali career appearances \|publisher=11v11.com \|access-date=20 September 2022}}{{cite book\| title=In That Number – A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC \|last= Holley \|first= Duncan \|author2=Chalk, Gary \| publisher=Hagiology Publishing \| year=2003 \| isbn=0-9534474-3-X\|page=301}}
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan=17\|Southampton
1988–99 \|First Division \|7	0	0	0	2	0	colspan=2\|—	9	0
1989–90 \|First Division \|27	0	3	0	6	0	colspan=2\|—	36	0
1990–91 \|First Division \|12	0	2	0	3	0	colspan=2\|—	17	0
1991–92 \|First Division \|22	0	6	0	0	0	1{{efn\|name=FMC\|Appearance in Full Members' Cup Final}}	0	29	0
1992–93 \|Premier League \|33	0	1	0	3	0	colspan=2\|—	37	0
1993–94 \|Premier League \|37	0	1	0	2	0	colspan=2\|—	40	0
1994–95 \|Premier League \|35	0	4	0	3	0	colspan=2\|—	42	0
1995–96 \|Premier League \|29	0	1	0	4	0	colspan=2\|—	34	0
1996–97 \|Premier League \|18	0	1	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	19	0
1997–98 \|Premier League \|33	1	1	0	3	0	colspan=2\|—	37	1
1998–99 \|Premier League \|23	0	0	0	2	0	colspan=2\|—	25	0
1999–2000 \|Premier League \|26	0	1	0	3	0	colspan=2\|—	30	0
2000–01 \|Premier League \|4	0	0	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	4	0
2001–02 \|Premier League \|3	0	0	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	3	0
2002–03 \|Premier League \|2	0	2	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	4	0
colspan=2\|Total !311\|\|1\|\|23\|\|0\|\|31\|\|0\|\|1\|\|0\|\|366\|\|1
Nottingham Forest (loan) \|2000–01 \|First Division \|15	0	0	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	15	0
Eastleigh \|2006–07 \|Conference South \|22	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	22	0
colspan=3\|Career total !348\|\|1\|\|23\|\|0\|\|31\|\|0\|\|1\|\|0\|\|403\|\|1

Honours

Southampton

Full Members Cup finalist: 1992{{sfn|Holley|Chalk|2003|p=301}}
2003 F.A. Cup runners up medal (Awarded by club for contributions en route to final){{sfn|Chalk|Holley|2013|p=248}}

Individual

Barclays Spirit of the Game: 2014{{cite news|last1=Simpson|first1=Gordon|title=Francis Benali awarded Barclays Spirit of the Game award |url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/sport/11679835.Francis_Benali_awarded_Barclays_Spirit_of_the_Game_award/|access-date=24 November 2016|work=Daily Echo|date=20 December 2014 |location=Southampton}}
Just Giving Celebrity Fundraiser of the Year: 2015
Honorary Doctorate of Sport from Southampton Solent University, July 2016{{cite news|last1=Morris|first1=Felix|title=Saints legends Lawrie McMenemy and Francis Benali to receive honorary degrees from Southampton Solent University|url=http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/14601724.Honorary_degrees_for_Saints_legends/|access-date=24 November 2016|work=Daily Echo |date=7 July 2016|location=Southampton}}
Freedom of Southampton, November 2016

References

Bibliography

{{cite book | title=Saints – A complete record|last= Chalk|first= Gary|author2=Holley, Duncan | publisher= Breedon Books|year=1987|isbn= 0-907969-22-4|ref={{SfnRef|Chalk|Holley|1987}}}} |
{{Citation |last1=Chalk |first1=Gary |last2=Holley|first2=Duncan |last3=Bull |first3=David |year=2013 |title=All the Saints: A Complete Players' Who's Who of Southampton FC |publisher=Hagiology Publishing |isbn=978-0-9926864-0-6 |ref={{SfnRef|Chalk|Holley|2013}}}}
{{cite book | first1=Duncan |last1=Holley |first2=Gary |last2=Chalk | title=In That Number – A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC |publisher=Hagiology Publishing | year=2003| isbn=0-9534474-3-X}}
{{cite book | first=Jeremy |last=Wilson | title=Southampton's Cult Heroes| publisher=Know The Score Books | year=2006| isbn=1-905449-01-1}}

External links

[http://spanishsaints.com/dvd7.htm Interview in Dream Fans DVD – Spanish Saints]
{{Soccerbase}}
[https://web.archive.org/web/20061114121646/http://www.premierleague.com/fapl.rac?command=forwardOnly&nextPage=whereAreTheyNow&initial=B&playerID=845681 Premier League article on Francis Benali]

Category:1968 births

Category:Living people

Category:Footballers from Southampton

Category:English men's footballers

Category:Premier League players

Category:English Football League players

Category:Men's association football central defenders

Category:Men's association football fullbacks

Category:Southampton F.C. players

Category:Nottingham Forest F.C. players

Category:Eastleigh F.C. players

Category:Charity fundraisers (people)

Category:Members of the Order of the British Empire

rowspan=2\|Club !rowspan=2\|Season !colspan=3\|League !colspan=2\|FA Cup !colspan=2\|League Cup !colspan=2\|Other !colspan=2\|Total
class=wikitable style=text-align:center \|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition {{cite web\|url=https://www.soccerbase.com/players/player.sd?player_id=591 \|title=Francis Benali career appearances \|publisher=soccerbase.com \|access-date=20 September 2022}}{{cite web\|url=https://www.premierleague.com/players/523/player/overview \|title=Francis Benali career appearances \|publisher=premierleague.com \|access-date=20 September 2022}}{{cite web\|url=https://www.11v11.com/players/francis-benali-431/ \|title=Francis Benali career appearances \|publisher=11v11.com \|access-date=20 September 2022}}{{cite book\| title=In That Number – A post-war chronicle of Southampton FC \|last= Holley \|first= Duncan \|author2=Chalk, Gary \| publisher=Hagiology Publishing \| year=2003 \| isbn=0-9534474-3-X\|page=301}}
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
rowspan=17\|Southampton
1988–99 \|First Division \|7	0	0	0	2	0	colspan=2\|—	9	0
1989–90 \|First Division \|27	0	3	0	6	0	colspan=2\|—	36	0
1990–91 \|First Division \|12	0	2	0	3	0	colspan=2\|—	17	0
1991–92 \|First Division \|22	0	6	0	0	0	1{{efn\|name=FMC\|Appearance in Full Members' Cup Final}}	0	29	0
1992–93 \|Premier League \|33	0	1	0	3	0	colspan=2\|—	37	0
1993–94 \|Premier League \|37	0	1	0	2	0	colspan=2\|—	40	0
1994–95 \|Premier League \|35	0	4	0	3	0	colspan=2\|—	42	0
1995–96 \|Premier League \|29	0	1	0	4	0	colspan=2\|—	34	0
1996–97 \|Premier League \|18	0	1	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	19	0
1997–98 \|Premier League \|33	1	1	0	3	0	colspan=2\|—	37	1
1998–99 \|Premier League \|23	0	0	0	2	0	colspan=2\|—	25	0
1999–2000 \|Premier League \|26	0	1	0	3	0	colspan=2\|—	30	0
2000–01 \|Premier League \|4	0	0	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	4	0
2001–02 \|Premier League \|3	0	0	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	3	0
2002–03 \|Premier League \|2	0	2	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	4	0
colspan=2\|Total !311\|\|1\|\|23\|\|0\|\|31\|\|0\|\|1\|\|0\|\|366\|\|1
Nottingham Forest (loan) \|2000–01 \|First Division \|15	0	0	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	15	0
Eastleigh \|2006–07 \|Conference South \|22	0	0	0	colspan=2\|—	colspan=2\|—	22	0
colspan=3\|Career total !348\|\|1\|\|23\|\|0\|\|31\|\|0\|\|1\|\|0\|\|403\|\|1