Benjani Mwaruwari
|
Benjani playing for Manchester City in 2008 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 13 August 1978 | ||
| Place of birth | Bulawayo, Zimbabwe | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position(s) | Striker | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 1996–1999 | Air Zimbabwe Jets | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 1999–2002 | Jomo Cosmos | 45 | (20) |
| 2001–2002 | → Grasshoppers (loan) | 25 | (1) |
| 2002–2006 | Auxerre | 72 | (19) |
| 2006–2008 | Portsmouth | 70 | (19) |
| 2008–2010 | Manchester City | 23 | (4) |
| 2010 | → Sunderland (loan) | 8 | (0) |
| 2010–2011 | Blackburn Rovers | 18 | (3) |
| 2011–2012 | Portsmouth | 18 | (1) |
| 2012–2013 | Chippa United | 9 | (1) |
| 2013–2014 | Bidvest Wits | 15 | (0) |
| Total | 303 | (68) | |
| International career | |||
| 1999–2010 | Zimbabwe | 42 | (10) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Benjani (or Mpenjani) Mwaruwari (born 13 August 1978) is a Zimbabwean former professional footballer who played as a striker.
Having started his career with the Jomo Cosmos, Benjani moved to Europe in 2001 to join Swiss side Grasshopper Club Zürich, before moving to Auxerre a year later. He signed with Premier League club Portsmouth in 2006, then went on to play in England's top flight for Manchester City, Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers before returning to Portsmouth in 2011. The following year, he returned to South Africa with Chippa United and then the Bidvest Wits.
From 1999 to 2010, Benjani played a total of 31 times for the Zimbabwe national team and played at the 2006 Africa Cup of Nations. After his retirement, he became the national team's assistant coach.
He works with the Plymouth Argyle Academy as part of the Premier League player-to-coach initiative.