Emanuel Bentil
Encyclopedia
Emanuel Bentil is a Ghana
ian footballer who currently plays for Hollywood United Hitmen
in the USL Premier Development League
.
, making his debut for the team aged 16, before scouts spotted him playing for at the FIFA U-17 World Championship. He subsequently signed for famed German side Bayern Munich
, but never made a first team appearance for the side in his three years there, playing instead for the reserve team
, before being released in 2000.
Bentil spent the next few years bouncing around in Europe, playing for Kalamata
in Greece, Alania Vladikavkaz in Russia, and Cherno More
in Bulgaria, before heading to North America in 2006. He played with Los Angeles Galaxy
's reserve team, before signing for Isidro Metapán
in El Salvador
; he went on to play 33 games in the Salvadoran Primera División before leaving at the end of the 2007 season.
Bentil tackled his third continent in 2007 when he signed for Vietnamese side Khatoco Khánh Hoà
. He moved again in 2008 to play for Hapoel Nazareth Illit in Israel
, and played the entire 2008-2009 season for the team, before again leaving at the end of the year.
He returned to North America in 2010 and, having been unable to secure a professional contract elsewhere, signed with the Hollywood United Hitmen
of the USL Premier Development League
for the 2010 PDL season. He scored a goal on his Hitmen debut on May 22, 2010, in a 3-3 tie with Fresno Fuego
.
he captained the Ghana team
that won the 1995 FIFA U-17 World Championship
, scoring what turned out to be the winning goal in the 3-2 victory over Brazil in the final.
Ghana
Ghana , officially the Republic of Ghana, is a country located in West Africa. It is bordered by Côte d'Ivoire to the west, Burkina Faso to the north, Togo to the east, and the Gulf of Guinea to the south...
ian footballer who currently plays for Hollywood United Hitmen
Hollywood United Hitmen
Hollywood United Hitmen is an American soccer team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 2009, the team plays in National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division, having switched from the...
in the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
.
Professional
Bentil began his playing career with Okwawu UnitedOkwawu United
Okwahu Stores United Nkawkaw is an Ghanaian football club based in Nkawkaw. They are a member of the Ghana Telecom Premier League. Their home stadium is Nkawkaw Park.-Match Fixing Scandal:...
, making his debut for the team aged 16, before scouts spotted him playing for at the FIFA U-17 World Championship. He subsequently signed for famed German side Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich
FC Bayern Munich , is a German sports club based in Munich, Bavaria. It is best known for its professional football team, which is the most successful football club in Germany, having won 22 national titles and 15 cups....
, but never made a first team appearance for the side in his three years there, playing instead for the reserve team
FC Bayern Munich II
Bayern Munich II are the second team of German association football club Bayern Munich. In 2010–11 they played in the 3rd Liga, having qualified for its inaugural season in 2008, and have consistently played at the third level of German football — they played in the Regionalliga Süd from...
, before being released in 2000.
Bentil spent the next few years bouncing around in Europe, playing for Kalamata
Kalamata FC
Kalamata F.C. is a professional football club based in Kalamata, Greece, currently competing in Delta Ethniki.-Background:Kalamata F.C. was formed in 1967 in a merger among Apollon Kalamata and other local sides.- History :...
in Greece, Alania Vladikavkaz in Russia, and Cherno More
PFC Cherno More Varna
PFC Cherno More Varna , or simply Cherno More is a Bulgarian professional football club from the city of Varna, which currently competes in Bulgaria's top football league, the A PFG....
in Bulgaria, before heading to North America in 2006. He played with Los Angeles Galaxy
Los Angeles Galaxy
The Los Angeles Galaxy are an American professional soccer team, based in the Los Angeles suburb of Carson, California, which competes in Major League Soccer , the top professional soccer league in the United States and Canada. It is one of the ten charter clubs of MLS, and the league's second...
's reserve team, before signing for Isidro Metapán
A.D. Isidro Metapán
Asociación Deportiva Isidro Metapán, also known simply as Isidro Metapán, is a Salvadoran football club based in Metapán, El Salvador. The club currently plays in the Primera División, which is the top tier football league in the country...
in El Salvador
El Salvador
El Salvador or simply Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated country in Central America. The country's capital city and largest city is San Salvador; Santa Ana and San Miguel are also important cultural and commercial centers in the country and in all of Central America...
; he went on to play 33 games in the Salvadoran Primera División before leaving at the end of the 2007 season.
Bentil tackled his third continent in 2007 when he signed for Vietnamese side Khatoco Khánh Hoà
Khatoco Khánh Hoà
Khatoco Khánh Hoà is a Vietnamese football club based in Nha Trang. They play in the top division in Vietnamese football. Their home stadium is Nha Trang Stadium.-Achievements:Vietnam First Division:*Champions : 2005...
. He moved again in 2008 to play for Hapoel Nazareth Illit in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, and played the entire 2008-2009 season for the team, before again leaving at the end of the year.
He returned to North America in 2010 and, having been unable to secure a professional contract elsewhere, signed with the Hollywood United Hitmen
Hollywood United Hitmen
Hollywood United Hitmen is an American soccer team based in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 2009, the team plays in National Premier Soccer League , a national amateur league at the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Northwest Division, having switched from the...
of the USL Premier Development League
USL Premier Development League
The USL Premier Development League is the amateur league of the United Soccer Leagues in the United States, Canada, and Bermuda, forming part of the American Soccer Pyramid...
for the 2010 PDL season. He scored a goal on his Hitmen debut on May 22, 2010, in a 3-3 tie with Fresno Fuego
Fresno Fuego
Fresno Fuego is an American soccer team based in Fresno, California, United States. Founded in 2003, the team plays in the USL Premier Development League , the fourth tier of the American Soccer Pyramid, in the Southwest Division of the Western Conference.The team plays its home games at Chukchansi...
.
International
Bentil was a member of various Ghanaian youth teams as a teenager. Playing alongside current senior international Stephen AppiahStephen Appiah
Stephen Leroy Appiah is a former Ghana International football midfielder and captain. He is currently a free agent. He has played for several European clubs since 1997 and is currently without a club. Appiah was a member of the Ghana national team, which he has represented at the youth, Olympic,...
he captained the Ghana team
Ghana national under-17 football team
Ghana national U-17 football team known as "The Riley Goon Squad" has been a two-time FIFA U-17 World Cup Champions in 1991 and 1995 and a two-time Runner-up in 1993 and 1997...
that won the 1995 FIFA U-17 World Championship
1995 FIFA U-17 World Championship
The FIFA U-17 World Championship 1995 was held in the cities of Guayaquil, Portoviejo, Quito, Ibarra, Cuenca, and Riobamba in Ecuador between 3 August and 20 August 1995. Players born after 1 August 1978 could participate in this tournament...
, scoring what turned out to be the winning goal in the 3-2 victory over Brazil in the final.