David Bentley, the former Arsenal and Tottenham winger, has opened up about why he walked away from football at the age of 29, admitting he never felt the professional game was for him. The ex-England international, who retired in June without fanfare, now runs a restaurant in Marbella and is investing in a new UK-based venture.
Bentley, who won nine caps for England, revealed his disillusionment began during his time at Blackburn Rovers. 'I was even having a few doubts about football when I was at Blackburn,' he said. 'I remember walking my dog, thinking: "This ain't for me." I loved matchdays, but the professional dressing-room wasn't that exciting.'
The winger, once tipped as football's next big thing, forced a move from Arsenal to Blackburn at 22 before Tottenham paid £15 million for him two years later. However, his career stalled under Harry Redknapp, and he made only 42 appearances for Spurs before his contract expired. Bentley said he 'got tired of all the bull****' and that certain people are built for football, but 'I don't think I was.'
Bentley, now a shareholder in the new La Sala restaurant in Chigwell, Essex, insisted he has no regrets. 'Everyone grows up dreaming of being a Premier League footballer, playing for England – and I did it,' he said. 'But it wasn't like whoopee-do and then, bang, finished. I just decided that my future was outside of football.'
