Born in Neuruppin, Benschneider learned his craft as a defender with FC Neubrandenburg and Energie Cottbus.
In the 2000/01 season he switched to the Northern Regional League and played for Tennis Borussia Berlin. Only one year into his stint at Borussia, the player moved to Eintracht Trier in the Southern Regional League, where by 2002/03 he was to become a fully-fledged squad player.
In the following season he moved to Arminia Bielefield, whose league position he helped to boost.
He then joined FC Köln for 200,000 euros. However, in the opening season Benschneider played only twelve full games.
In the 2005/06 season he was used mainly as a substitute but scored his first goal against Schalke 04.