The Swope Park Rangers have signed midfielder Louis Bennett II, the club announced today. Bennett II signed his first professional contract with Cypriot outfit Anorthosis Famagusta FC in August after three years at Marquette University, and will join the Rangers pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate (ITC) and USL and federation approval.
“I’m very excited to join a club and organization that upholds a wonderful professional identity,” Bennett II said. “Furthermore, I’m ready to help win games for the club and its fans.”
“Louis is a player we had last year on trial,” Swope Park Rangers head coach Nikola Popovic said. “We already scouted him and saw that he was a very good player. He can give us a lot of energy and a lot of passing quality for our model.”
A former member of the Chicago Fire Academy, Bennett II attended Marquette and tallied nine goals and 14 assists in 55 games for the Golden Eagles. The 21-year-old was named the team's Freshman of the Year for the 2013 season and also earned College Soccer News All-Freshman Second Team and Big East Men's Soccer Championship All-Tournament Team honors. Bennett II was Unanimously selected to the Big East All-Rookie Team.
During his sophomore year, Bennett II was named to the All-Big East First Team after leading Marquette with six assists, while he also earned a Big East Offensive Player of the Week accolade late in the season. As a junior, Bennett II earned Second Team All-Big East honors before deciding to forego his senior year with Marquette and join Anorthosis Famagusta FC in August.
Internationally, Bennett II is a former member of the U.S. Under-20 National Team, and also spent time training with FC Cologne in Germany and AIK Stockholm in Sweden. During the summer of 2016, Bennett II trained with both Sporting Kansas City and the Swope Park Rangers.
VITALS
Louis Bennett II
Position: Midfielder
Born: 5/19/95 (21 years old)
Height: 5-9
Weight: 160 lbs.
Last Club: Anorthosis Famagusta FC
College: Marquette University
Hometown: Shorewood, Wisconsin
Birthplace: Shorewood, Wisconsin
Citizenship: USA, England
Instagram: @louisoninsta
