Former Premier League Star Commits to La Sala UK
Former Tottenham Hotspur midfielder David Bentley has announced his retirement from professional football, revealing plans to focus on the growth of the Spanish La Sala restaurant chain, which recently announced its expansion into the UK.
Bentley, 29, is co-owner of La Sala, famed for its flagship restaurant in Puerto Banus, Marbella, which is a regular haunt of celebrities such as the TOWIE crew and Jamie Oliver. The company recently announced that its first UK site will open in Chigwell, Essex, in September 2014, backed by other big names from the world of football, including Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Stephen Carr.
“It’s very sad that David has had to retire from the game, but there is always a silver lining and we are very excited about his involvement in the growth of La Sala,” said James Horler, Chairman of La Sala UK. “The La Sala brand enjoy international recognition and, with David’s backing, we are very excited about the prospects for growth in the UK.”
The player enjoyed a fruitful career in the Premier League playing for Arsenal and Blackburn Rovers, where he was named Player of the Season in 2007, before moving to White Hart Lane in a £15 million deal. Bentley completed the end of the last season on loan back at Ewood Park where he enjoyed the most prolific seasons of his Premier League career.
He said: “I’ve retired from football. I’ve taken the decision to take my life in a different direction. My love for the game went a little bit and I didn’t want to carry on just for the fact of paying me money. It’s not really ever been an option for me to do that. I’m involved in a restaurant in Spain and we’re bringing it to the UK, so there is a lot of work there.”
The first La Sala location in the UK will be a prominent site on Chigwell Road, formerly occupied by the White Hart Inn, with convenient access to London Underground and the M11. The building will be transformed to create a unique La Sala atmosphere in the heart of Essex, opening in September 2014.
