Daniel Bennett (footballer)

Early career and S.League debut

Bennett was selected to join the FAS Milo Scheme for talented young footballers at the age of 12. He was drafted as a trainee by National Football League side Tiong Bahru three years later, giving him the opportunity to train with the team before he left Singapore to further his tertiary studies in England. He returned to Singapore in 1999 hoping to make a career as a professional footballer. Balestier Central coach P N Sivaji gave him his first opportunity with the S.League club. Bennett moved to previous club Tanjong Pagar United (formerly Tiong Bahru) in May 2000. Having played as a midfielder for 15 years, his defining career shift to defence came when coach Tohari Paijan played him as a centre-back in the absence of regular stopper Lim Tong Hai in a league match. Recognition of his performances came when he was selected in the Singapore selection that faced Manchester United and Liverpool in a couple of high-profile friendly matches, and culminated in a S.League Player of the Year award.

Wrexham

Bradford City manager Jim Jefferies was impressed with Bennett and offered him a trial at the Yorkshire club. On 8 February 2002, Wrexham manager Denis Smith signed him on a short-term contract til the end of the 2001-02 Football League. He made his league debut against Port Vale on 6 March 2002, partnering Trinidad & Tobago international Dennis Lawrence in the heart of defence. He was assessed as "enjoying a remarkable start, looking composed at the back and reading the game superbly" by the fans, who had contributed money to sign the player. However, with the Welsh side 4th from bottom in the league, relegation was confirmed at the end of the season. Bennett made a brief return to the S.League in 2002, playing 11 games for Singapore Armed Forces during their title-winning season. He returned to Wrexham in the 2002-03 season. His second spell was more successful, making 21 appearances, including 3 League Cup games as he helped the club win the FAW Premier Cup and clinch promotion to the Second Division. Bennett was offered new terms by Wrexham at the end of the season but chose to reject the contract to return to Singapore to improve his chances of featuring regularly for the national team.

Return to the S.League

Amid interest from Home United, Tampines Rovers and Woodlands Wellington after his Wales stint, Bennett signed for defending champions Singapore Armed Forces in mid-2003. He moved to ambitious Woodlands Wellington in 2005, joining his international colleagues Agu Casmir, Itimi Dickson, Goh Tat Chuan and Masrezwan Masturi. Bennett led the team to 3rd place in the 2005 S.League, and 2nd and 3rd placing in the 2005 and 2006 Singapore Cup respectively. After two seasons with the Rams, Bennett rejoined Singapore Armed Forces for a second time, achieving the S.League and Singapore Cup double in 2007 and 2008.

In the 2007 Singapore Cup final won by Singapore Armed Forces on 25 November, Bennett was involved in a clash with Tampines Rovers' Noh Alam Shah, a fellow Singapore national team player towards the end of the match. Noh Alam Shah kneed Bennett in the head in a tussle for the ball and after being dragged away by his team-mates, returned and kicked Bennett in the head. Bennett was knocked unconscious and had to be taken to hospital while Alam Shah was sent off by referee Abas Daud. The incident resulted in Alam Shah receiving a 12-month global ban which was reduced to 7 months on appeal.

Bennett was handed the club's captaincy in 2012.

After playing for Warriors for 5 years (2007-2012), Bennett later went on to sign for Geylang International ahead of the 2016 S.League campaign.

In 2017,Bennett turned back his time to join Tampines Rovers FC in 2017

International career

After deliberating for two years, Bennett received his citizenship under the Foreign Sports Talent Scheme and became a naturalised Singapore national footballer. He made his debut under Jan B. Poulsen in a friendly match against Philippines on 11 December 2002. He had a goal disallowed that day, an effort that he still maintains was a legitimate goal. He would score his first international goal against Hong Kong on 4 August 2003. His timely citizenship meant that he took part in the 2002 ASEAN Football Championship in co-hosts Singapore. The Lions failed their target of reaching the final, exiting the competition at the group stage after poor performances by the team, including an abysmal 4-0 loss at home to traditional rivals Malaysia.

Under coach Radojko Avramović, Bennett never missed a call-up to Singapore's tournament squad. He scored with a long-range effort in the 3rd minute of the 2004 finals first leg against Indonesia in front of an intimidating 100,000 Senayan crowd. Singapore went on to win their second title after their 1998 triumph. Bennett completed a hat-trick of titles with tournament wins in 2007 and 2012.

Bennett earned his 100th cap against Thailand on 24 August 2011 and was inducted into the FIFA Century Club. With his 122nd appearance in the away leg of the 2012 ASEAN Football Championship finals, Bennett surpassed Aide Iskandar and Malek Awab as Singapore's most capped player.

Personal life

Bennett was born in England. His family moved to Singapore when he was two years old. He was educated in Singapore at Tanglin Trust School and the United World College of South East Asia where his father Andrew was a teacher and later Headmaster until 2004. He graduated with an honours degree in Sports Science from Loughborough University.

Bennett married his fiancee Cherry Cheung, a lady from China whom he met in Singapore, on 5 January 2005.

Club

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International

International goals

Club

Singapore Armed Forces

Wrexham

International

Singapore

Individual