Bender is most fondly remembered for a goal scored against Oliver Kahn and Bayern Munich in the Bundesliga.

In summer 1989, Bender was playing in the second level of the Bundesliga, for SpVgg Unterhaching, then FC Bayern Munich.

Season 1991–92 went badly for Bayern, as they went through three coaches (Jupp Heynckes, Søren Lerby and Erich Ribbeck).

Bender moved to Karlsruhe in 1992 after a bad end-of-season result, in a direct swap with Mehmet Scholl.

In his strongest season to date, including a 7–0 victory over Valencia CF, Bender contributed significantly, helping them to reach the 1996 German Cup final.