Ben Manga

Equatoguinean football player, scout and manager

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is  Manga and the second or maternal family name is  Ubenga.

Ben MangaPersonal information

Full name|  Bienvenido Manga Ubenga
Date of birth|  (1974-02-11) 11 February 1974 (age 51)
Place of birth|  Bata, Equatorial Guinea
Height|  1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s)|  Midfielder
Youth career
1978–1993|  VfR Neuss
Senior career*
Years|  Team|  Apps|  (Gls)
1993–1996|  Fortuna Düsseldorf|  3|  (0)
1996|  Wuppertaler SV|  |
1996–1997|  KFC Uerdingen 05|  |
1997–2000|  Alemannia Aachen|  1|  (0)
2000–2001|  Karlsruher SC|  21|  (0)
2001–2002|  Wormatia Worms|  11|  (1)
2002–2003|  GFC Düren 09|  22|  (1)
2003–2005|  Alemannia Aachen|  21|
2005|  Alemannia Aachen II|  1|  (0)
International career
1990s|  Equatorial Guinea|  |
Managerial career
2003–2005|  Alemannia Aachen (D youth)
2005–2008|  Alemannia Aachen (C youth)
2008–2010|  Alemannia Aachen (U17)[1]
2003–2011|  Alemannia Aachen (scout)
2011–2012|  1899 Hoffenheim (scout)
2012–2016|  VfB Stuttgart (scout)
2016–2022|  Eintracht Frankfurt (scout and squad planner)
2022–2023|  Watford (technical director)
2024–|  Schalke 04 (technical director)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Bienvenido "Ben" Manga Ubenga (born 11 February 1974) is an Equatoguinean former footballer who played as a midfielder. He is currently technical director of 2\. Bundesliga club Schalke 04.

## Career

[edit]

Ben Manga was born in Bata. He managed three scoreless Bundesliga appearances for Fortuna Düsseldorf in the 1995–96 season.[2]

In July 2016, Manga was appointed Chief Scout of Eintracht Frankfurt,[3] a role he held until 2021 when he also took on the role of Director of Football.[4] On 30 November 2022, he departed the club by mutual consent.[5]

On 22 December 2022, Manga was appointed technical director of EFL Championship club Watford.[6] In the following winter transfer window Ismaël Koné and João Ferreira were signed, Henrique Araújo loaned. Mangas only summer transfer window at Watford saw the hiring of Valerien Ismael as coach and players like Mileta Rajović, Tom Ince, while some top performers left. He departed the club in October 2023.[7]

On 10 May 2024, Schalke 04 announced that Manga became their new director of squad planning, scouting and youth academy.[8]

## Personal life

[edit]

He lives in the English city of London and also holds German citizenship. Manga also worked as an auto mechanic. He has a cousin, Juan Oburu, who plays for TV Jahn Hiesfeld.[9]

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Ben Manga" (in German). Alemannia Aachen. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
2. ^ "Manga, Ben" (in German). Kicker. Retrieved 5 July 2012.
3. ^ "Chefscout Ben Manga verlängert bis 2023" [Chief scout Ben Manga extends contract through to 2023]. profis.eintracht.de (in German). 23 July 2019. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
4. ^ "Ben Manga commits to Eintracht Frankfurt". em.eintracht.de. 5 March 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
5. ^ "Eintracht Frankfurt and Ben Manga part company". en.eintracht.de. 30 November 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
6. ^ "Ben Manga: Technical Director Confirmed". watfordfc.com. 22 December 2022. Retrieved 22 December 2022.
7. ^ "Club Statement: Ben Manga". www.watfordfc.com. 12 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
8. ^ "Ben Manga joins FC Schalke 04". FC Schalke 04. 10 May 2024.
9. ^ "Oburu jetzt in der Viererkette" (in German). derwesten.de. 9 September 2009. Retrieved 5 July 2012.

## External links

[edit]

* Ben Manga at Alemannia Aachen official website (in German)

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*[Apps]: League appearances
*[Gls]: League goals
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