Biography
Who is Lars Bender?
Early football career
Lars Bender began his football path with TSV Brannenburg between 1993 and 1999. He later moved to the SpVgg Unterhaching youth teams from 1999 until 2002. In the summer of 2002, he joined the youth academy at 1860 München.
He made his professional debut for the 1860 Munich senior team on 27 November 2006 against TuS Koblenz. During that first professional season, he appeared in 13 matches and earned the Fritz-Walter trophy. He eventually played 58 games and scored four goals during his three seasons with the club.
Bayer 04 Leverkusen years
On 18 August 2009, he signed a three-year deal with Bayer 04 Leverkusen. He scored his first Bundesliga goal against Eintracht Frankfurt on 16 September. Over several seasons, he became a key player, including a season where he played 33 matches and provided six assists.
Lars Bender served as the team captain starting in the 2015/16 season. He eventually stepped down from the captaincy before the 2020–21 season due to injuries. He played his final match for the club on 22 May 2021 against Borussia Dortmund, scoring a penalty in his 256th top-flight appearance.
International career and honors
He was a member of the German under-19 side that secured the 2008 UEFA European Under-19 Football Championship. During that tournament, he was named as a Golden Player alongside his twin brother. He also represented Germany at the 2016 Summer Olympic Games, where he won a silver medal.
Lars appeared in the 2012 Euro squad and scored a winning goal against Denmark. Although he was part of the provisional 2014 FIFA World Cup squad, a thigh injury prevented him from participating in Brazil. He played his final matches for the national team in late 2014.
Coaching career
After retiring from professional play, he moved into coaching roles. The German Football Association appointed him as an assistant coach for the Germany U-15 national team in June 2022. He later took over as the manager of SV Wacker Burghausen in January 2025.
In May 2026, he began a new role as the head coach for the Bayern Munich under-17 team. This position was ahead of the 2026–27 season. He continues to work within professional football management.
Birthday and age
Lars Bender was born on April 27, 1989, which makes Lars 37 years old today. That birthday falls under the Taurus sign. Lars shares the date with 33 other famous people.
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