Former Everton, Ipswich Town and Sheffield United striker Marcus Bent moves to Indonesia!
Nov 1, 2011 by Gav
Former Ipswich Town, Sheffield United, Everton and England striker Marcus Bent is set to become the second former national team player to play in Indonesia in the past twelve months. Bent, who has been without a club since being released by Birmingham City in the summer, is set to move to Indonesian Liga Prima side Mitra Kukar, with the league season about to get underway.
Bent, now 33, has played for a string of clubs over the years, as well as representing England at Under 21 level in 1998. In recent weeks there have been rumours of a move to League Two side AFC Wimbledon, while there was also interest from an unnamed Danish club, who have been looking to bolster their forwards ranks. However it seems the Hammersmith-born striker has decided to give things a go in South-East Asia.
Mitra Kukar, who are based in East Kalimantan on the island of Borneo, are managed by former Phillippines national team manager and rosbif, Simon McMenemy. Although the signing of Bent is seen as a real coup for the club (and the league), Mitra Kukar also had former Cameroonian international Pierre Njanka on their books last season. The club are said to be on the look-out for more quality signings, although they will not be overseas players, as the club already have their full quota in the squad.
Bent was preceded in Indonesia by former Aston Villa and Stoke City midfielder Lee Hendrie, who had a brief spell in the breakaway national league earlier this year. We reported on Hendrie’s spell in the country here.
Bent will make his debut for the club in the pre-season Inter-Island Cup competition, which begins next week. League action will begin soon after. It makes an unusual – if very praise-worthy – move for the striker, whose previous clubs include Ipswich Town, Brentford, Charlton Athletic and Blackburn Rovers. We wish him – and Simon – all the best for the new season.
