Manuel Benson
Belgian footballer.
Manuel Benson is a Belgian professional footballer who currently plays as a right winger for Burnley FC in the Premier League. Born on March 28, 1997, in Lokeren, Belgium, Benson has had a journeyman career in Belgian football before making his move to England. He joined Burnley in August 2022 from Royal Antwerp for an undisclosed fee, signing a four-year deal with the Clarets. Benson played a crucial role in Burnley's Championship-winning 2022-23 season, helping the team secure promotion back to the Premier League. Known for his pace and dribbling skills, Benson has quickly become a fan favorite at Turf Moor. His ability to create chances and score goals has made him an important asset for Burnley as they navigate the challenges of top-flight football.
Despite facing tough competition in the Premier League, Benson continues to develop his game and contribute to Burnley's attacking efforts.
Early life & youth football
Benson's early life and youth career began in his hometown of Lokeren, Belgium. He joined the youth academy of KSC Lokeren in 2003 at the age of six, spending four years there before moving to Anderlechtt's youth setup in 2007. After three years with Anderlechtt, Benson transferred to Lierse SK in 2010, where he continued his development until December 2014. It was at Lierse where Benson made his professional debut in 2015, breaking into the first team and showcasing his potential as a young winger. His performances at Lierse caught the attention of larger Belgian clubs, leading to moves to Genk, Mouscron, and eventually Royal Antwerp, where he further honed his skills before making the leap to English football with Burnley.
Professional career
Manuel Benson's time with Lierse SK was a crucial period in his early career development, marking his transition from youth football to the professional ranks. He joined Lierse's youth academy in 2010 at the age of 13, spending four years developing his skills before breaking into the first team.Benson made his professional debut for Lierse on April 19, 2014, in a Belgian Pro League match against KV Oostende. At just 17 years old, he came on as a late substitute in the 87th minute, replacing Ahmed Sayed in a 2-0 home defeat.
This brief appearance was a significant milestone, marking the beginning of his senior career.The 2016-17 season proved to be Benson's breakout campaign with Lierse. He featured prominently in the team, making 37 league appearances and scoring 7 goals. Four of these goals came in 9 Europa League play-off games, showcasing his ability to perform in high-pressure situations.
Notably, Benson's creative prowess was on full display as he tied with Kevin Kis for the league's top assist provider.Throughout his time at Lierse, Benson made a total of 71 appearances across all competitions, scoring 10 goals and providing 11 assists. This impressive output for a young player demonstrated his potential and caught the attention of larger Belgian clubs. Benson joined Genk in July 2017 after impressing at Lierse SK.
However, his time at Genk was characterized more by loan spells than appearances for the club itself. In his first season with Genk (2017-18), Benson made only 12 appearances across all competitions, scoring one goal. This limited playing time led to the decision to loan him out to gain more experience.For the 2018-19 season, Benson was loaned to Royal Excel Mouscron.
This move proved beneficial for his development, as he featured regularly for the club. During his time at Mouscron, Benson played a total of 28 games, scoring 6 goals. More impressively, he showcased his creative abilities by providing 8 assists in the regular season, ranking him third in the league behind only Hans Vanaken and Alejandro Pozuelo. This productive loan spell highlighted Benson's potential as an attacking threat.
Despite his success at Mouscron, Benson's future at Genk remained uncertain. In September 2019, he made a permanent move to Royal Antwerp FC, ending his time with Genk after just over two years, most of which was spent on loan.At Royal Antwerp, Benson initially struggled to secure a regular starting position. In the 2019-20 season, he made 20 appearances across all competitions, scoring 3 goals and providing 2 assists.
The following season (2020-21) saw Benson's playing time further reduced. He featured in only 5 Belgian First Division A matches and 3 UEFA Europa League games for Antwerp. However, he did make a notable contribution in Europe, scoring a goal in Antwerp's 3-1 win over Ludogorets, which helped the team advance to the Round of 32.Seeking more regular playing time, Benson was loaned out to PEC Zwolle in the Dutch Eredivisie for the second half of the 2020-21 season.
This loan move proved successful, as Benson quickly became an important player for Zwolle. In just 13 league appearances, he provided 4 assists, the highest in the team for that season.Upon returning to Antwerp for the 2021-22 season, Benson found more opportunities. He made 37 appearances across all competitions, scoring 6 goals and providing 7 assists.
This improved form and regular playing time at Antwerp set the stage for his move to Burnley in August 2022, marking the end of his time in Belgian football and the beginning of a new chapter in England. Manuel Benson's move to Burnley in August 2022 marked a significant step in his career. He joined the Clarets for an undisclosed fee on a four-year deal, reuniting with former Anderlechtt manager Vincent Kompany. Benson quickly became an integral part of Burnley's Championship campaign, playing a crucial role in their promotion push.
He made 33 league appearances, scoring an impressive 11 goals and providing 3 assists. His performances were particularly notable for their efficiency, with Benson scoring his goals from just a 4.06xG rate, demonstrating his clinical finishing.Benson's creativity was also on full display, as he created 36 chances from the right wing.
His ability to take on defenders and deliver dangerous crosses made him a constant threat. One of the highlights of his season came in the FA Cup, where he scored a brace against Premier League side AFC Bournemouth. Benson's contributions were instrumental in Burnley securing the Championship title and promotion back to the Premier League, establishing himself as a fan favorite at Turf Moor in the process.The 2023-24 season has proven challenging for Manuel Benson as Burnley returned to the Premier League.
Despite his success in the Championship, Benson has struggled to secure regular playing time in the top flight. As of the latest data, he has made only 8 appearances in the Premier League, all as a substitute, failing to score or assist. Additionally, he featured once in a cup competition.Benson's limited involvement has led to speculation about his future at the club.
National team
Manuel Benson's international career has been limited thus far, with no senior appearances for Belgium. However, he has represented his country at the youth level, playing for the Belgium U17 and U19 teams. Despite his promising performances at club level, Benson has yet to break into the highly competitive Belgian national team setup. In a recent development, Benson received a call-up to represent Angola, his father's country of origin, in March 2024.
This opportunity could potentially open a new chapter in his international career, allowing him to showcase his talents on the global stage and contribute to Angola's national team ambitions
Player’s style
Manuel Benson's style of play is characterized by his explosive pace, excellent dribbling skills, and ability to take on defenders one-on-one. As a right winger, he excels at creating space for himself and his teammates, often using his quick footwork to beat opponents and deliver dangerous crosses into the box. Benson possesses a good eye for goal, capable of cutting inside onto his left foot to unleash powerful shots. His agility and low center of gravity make him a difficult player to dispossess, allowing him to maintain possession in tight spaces.
While primarily deployed on the right flank, Benson's versatility enables him to play across the front line when needed. His work rate and willingness to track back and help defensively make him a valuable asset in both attacking and defensive phases of the game.