Former Blues Striker Bent Retires - Ipswich Town News
Former Blues striker Darren Bent has announced his retirement at the age of 35.
Cambridge-based Bent came through the Town academy having been spotted playing for Godmanchester Rovers’ U13s by Blues scout Barry Kettlewell.
The Tooting-born frontman made his first-team debut as a sub in the UEFA Cup tie away in Helsingborg in November 2001. He scored the first of his 55 Blues goals in the 4-1 League Cup defeat at Newcastle United later the same month and netted his first Premier League goal in the 1-0 home win against Middlesbrough the following April.
In total, Bent made 116 starts and 25 sub appearances for Town before departing to Charlton for £3 million in the summer of 2005. Town received a further £2.58 million via a sell-on when Bent left the Addicks for Tottenham in the summer of 2007.
Spells with Sunderland, Aston Villa, Fulham (loan), Brighton (loan), Derby (initially loan) and Burton (loan) followed as well as 13 full caps and four goals for England, having previously represented the U15s, U16s, U19s and U21s.
He was released by Derby at the end of the 2017/18 campaign having spent the second half of that season on loan with the Brewers.
What to read next:
Hirst: Massive Opportunity For MeBlues striker George Hirst says sees Scotland’s June friendlies as massive opportunity for him to cement a place in Steve Clarke’s squad ahead of their World Cup qualifiers which get under way in September.
Ipswich Town v West Ham United - PredictionsHave you predicted the West Ham score yet? Fifty per cent of TWTD members are predicting a Town win this afternoon, 17 per cent a draw and 33 per cent are predicting an away win. The most commonly predicted result is a 2-1 win to Town with Delap scoring first, but what do you think?
McKenna: Important to End the Season on a HighTown boss Kieran McKenna says it’s really important for the Blues to finish their season well when they host West Ham United at Portman Road on Sunday afternoon, believing there’s lots to play for in the game.
McKenna: I'm Confident We Can Challenge Next SeasonManager Kieran McKenna is confident Town will challenge for promotion back to the Premier League next season with the Blues stronger for their year in the top flight and with talks with other clubs regarding potential targets having already taken place.