Ben Anthony Foster ( born 3 April 1983 ) is an english professional football player who plays as a goalkeeper for Premier League club Watford. Foster began his professional career in 2001 with Stoke City, having joined from Racing Club Warwick. however, he never made an appearance for Stoke, and spend time on lend with Bristol City, Tiverton Town, Stafford Rangers, Kidderminster Harriers and Wrexham. He switched permanently to Manchester United in July 2005, but again struggled to break into the beginning team, and he spent two consecutive seasons on loanword to Watford from August 2005 until the end of the 2006–07 season. Having played equitable 23 times for Manchester United ( although he besides played in the League Cup -winning teams of 2009 and 2010 ), Foster switched to Birmingham City in May 2010. An ever-present in the league for Birmingham, Foster was besides part of the Birmingham team that won the 2011 League Cup ; he made a total of 43 appearances in that season. Following Birmingham ‘s relegation to the championship at the end of the season, Foster was loaned to West Bromwich Albion, and moved there permanently in June 2012. Foster returned to Watford in July 2018.
Reading: Ben Foster (footballer)
internationally, Foster made his external debut for England in February 2007 against Spain. Although he announced his retirement from international football in May 2011, he returned in February 2013, and was selected in England ‘s team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup .
Club career [edit ]
Stoke City [edit ]
Born in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, [ 2 ] Foster started his football career as a child at Racing Club Warwick of the Southern League Division One West. He became their first-choice goalkeeper in December 2000, [ 4 ] and was besides training as an apprentice chef at Café Rouge in Leamington Spa. [ 5 ] In April 2001 Foster turned professional with Second Division club Stoke City after being spotted by scout Colin Dobson. He signed a annual contract with an choice for a promote two years ; the “ five-figure ” fee was undisclosed, and RC Warwick would benefit from the inclusion of a sell-on clause. [ 6 ] During his meter at Stoke, Foster had loanword spells at Bristol City, [ 7 ] Tiverton Town, [ 8 ] Stafford Rangers, Kidderminster Harriers [ 9 ] and Wrexham. [ 10 ] Foster sustained a cruciate ligament wound in June 2003 while playing tennis with his buddy, [ 11 ] which sidelined him for a time period of six months. [ 12 ] [ 13 ] After his recovery, Foster was awarded the number 14 shirt and received his maid call up to the Potters ‘ first base team for a first Division match versus Wimbledon on 17 January 2004. [ 14 ] [ 15 ] He remained on the bench for the 1–0 victory and was an unused substitute on a further six occasions during the remainder of the 2003–04 temper. [ 15 ] Foster was called into the beginning team police squad for four matches during the 2004–05 season. [ 16 ]
manchester United [edit ]
While playing for Wrexham on lend from Stoke, Foster was spotted by Manchester United director Alex Ferguson, who was watching his son, Darren, in the 2005 Football League Trophy Final. United had been struggling for several years to replace former goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, and Ferguson decided to move for the young Foster, making a wish of £1 million for the musician. [ 17 ] Stoke agreed a deal with United on 15 July 2005, [ 18 ] and the transfer was completed on 19 July. [ 19 ]
Watford [edit ]
Foster training with Watford in 2007 not ready for first team action, Foster was sent on a season-long loanword to Watford on 1 August 2005, [ 20 ] with the expectation of a second loan the temper after. [ 21 ] Watford coach Aidy Boothroyd claimed that “ he ‘s better than current Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van five hundred Sar “ and claimed Foster would be “ the best goalkeeper in the worldly concern ”. [ 22 ] Manchester United director Ferguson suggested that Foster would succeed Van five hundred Sar as first-choice keeper at United and finally replace Paul Robinson as “ England ‘s adjacent goalkeeper ”. [ 23 ] Foster helped Watford reach the Premier League by beating Leeds United 3–0 in the Championship play-off final. [ 24 ] He re-signed for Watford on a second season-long loan on 10 August 2006 after Manchester United secured the services of Poland external goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak on loan from West Bromwich Albion. [ 25 ] Foster ‘s performances during Watford ‘s Premier League campaign earnt him the club ‘s Player of the Season award. [ 26 ] Aidy Boothroyd expressed his hope to keep Foster at Watford for a third season on a number of occasions during the 2006–07 temper, but his hopes were dashed in January 2007 when Alex Ferguson announced his intention to bring Foster back to Old Trafford at the end of the season. [ 27 ]
return to Manchester United [edit ]
In June 2007, it was announced that Foster would undergo operation on a cruciate ligament injury in his correct stifle, forcing him to miss the begin of the 2007–08 season. [ 28 ] He returned to faint educate towards the end of 2007, setting a February 2008 target for his reelect. [ 29 ] He made a rejoinder in a reserve match against Middlesbrough on 6 March 2008, [ 30 ] before making his introduction for the Manchester United first team on 15 March 2008. With Edwin van five hundred Sar injured and Tomasz Kuszczak suspended for a red poster against Portsmouth in the FA Cup Sixth Round the previous Saturday, Alex Ferguson had to shelve plans to ship Foster out on lend again, and the young goalkeeper was promoted to the No. 1 jersey for the away match against Derby County. United won the match 1–0, with Foster making two crucial saves en route to keeping a clean sheet. [ 31 ] Although he was impress with Foster ‘s performance in the peer against Derby, [ 32 ] Ferguson did not start him for the postdate match against Bolton Wanderers, opting for the returning Kuszczak. [ 33 ] After being selected as a stand-in for Manchester United ‘s open catch of the 2008–09 Champions League against Villarreal on 17 September 2008, [ 34 ] Foster then played for the reserves against Blackburn Rovers the pursue day. During the match, he fell awkwardly and suffered a distorted ankle, putting him out of contention for six to eight weeks. [ 35 ] Fortunately for Foster, his recovery time was quicker than was first estimated and he returned to reserve team carry through on 14 October 2008, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 succeed over Oldham Athletic reserves. [ 36 ] Foster then made his first Champions League appearance – his second for the Manchester United first team – on 5 November 2008, in a 1–1 away draw to Celtic. [ 37 ] Foster was in the first place selected in Manchester United ‘s team for the 2008 FIFA Club World Cup, but after suffering a break finger in training the day before the team was due to depart for Japan, he was replaced by Ben Amos. [ 38 ] On 1 March 2009, Alex Ferguson named Foster in goal for the 2009 League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium. After keeping a clean and jerk sheet in normal clock, Foster then made a write from Tottenham ‘s Jamie O’Hara in the attendant penalty shoot-out. This, combined with a neglect from David Bentley, gave United a 4–1 gain in the gunfight and the 2009 League Cup entitle. [ 39 ] After the match, Foster was given the Alan Hardaker Trophy for his man of the match performance. [ 40 ] It was revealed after the match that Foster had used an ipod to help with his preparations in the punishment gunfight, prompting discussion about the function of technology in the match. [ 41 ] Foster was rewarded for his performance by being made United ‘s second-choice goalkeeper for the end of the season, starting three more matches when Alex Ferguson chose to rest Edwin van five hundred Sar ahead of crucial matches. however, he had been attempting to play with a tear ligament in his correct ovolo, which became aggravated, necessitating surgery which ruled him out of United ‘s championship quarrel, the Champions League Final against Barcelona and England ‘s 2010 World Cup qualifiers in June. [ 42 ] Following meditation that United were in the commercialize for a new goalkeeper to replace the soon-to-retire Edwin van five hundred Sar, Foster signed a fresh four-year condense with the cabaret. Alex Ferguson commented that Manchester United “ authentically see him [ Foster ] as a successor to Edwin van five hundred Sar ”. [ 43 ] With Van five hundred Sar injured for the first two months of the 2009–10 temper, Foster was given the opportunity to nail down the number one shirt in the 2009 FA Community Shield defeat to Chelsea, where his mistakes led to two Chelsea goals and made no saves in the penalty gunfight. [ 44 ] Foster continued to play in the League, starting with the opening day victory over Birmingham City. [ 45 ] In wins against Arsenal and Manchester City, Foster received heavy criticism for massive errors that led to opposition goals. [ citation needed ] Manager Alex Ferguson stated that he believes in Foster ‘s abilities and potential ; [ 46 ] however, eight days late, Foster was again criticised for a mistake which led to a Sunderland goal in a 2–2 withdraw, [ 47 ] and left out of the England squad the future day with bruise ridicule. [ 48 ] however, following Robert Green ‘s loss card in the match against Ukraine and attendant abeyance, Foster was given the all-clear by doctors and recalled to the England squad for the match against Belarus on 14 October. [ 49 ] Foster played entirely doubly more in 2009 for Manchester United after the Sunderland match : a League Cup winnings against Championship team Barnsley, and a Champions League tie versus Beşiktaş, with Manchester United ‘s advancement from the group already secured. [ 50 ] [ 51 ] He was displaced from the first team in Van five hundred Sar ‘s absence by Tomasz Kuszczak, [ 52 ] and on occasion, reserve goalkeeper Ben Amos took Foster ‘s seat on the substitutes bench. [ 53 ] Foster started his first gear match for three months against West Ham in February 2010, keeping a fairly plane in a 3–0 victory. [ 54 ]
Birmingham City [edit ]
After accepting that in order to play regularly he needed to leave Manchester, whether on loanword or permanently, [ 55 ] Foster signed a three-year contract with Premier League club Birmingham City on 19 May 2010. [ 56 ] The tip was not disclosed, though media guess suggested an initial tip of £4 million, potentially rising to £6 million with add-ons. [ 57 ] The club were seeking a substitute for Foster ‘s chap England international goalkeeper Joe Hart, who had returned to Manchester City after a successful 2009–10 season on loanword at Birmingham. [ 58 ] Foster made his Birmingham debut on the open day of the 2010–11 temper in a 2–2 draw away to Sunderland. [ 59 ] On his home debut the following week against Blackburn Rovers, he saved a penalty from Morten Gamst Pedersen as Birmingham won the match 2–1. [ 60 ] Criticised for an mistake in England ‘s 2–1 frustration to France, [ 61 ] Foster produced a man-of-the-match performance on his return to League duty on 20 November as Birmingham beat reigning champions Chelsea 1–0. Though Chelsea had 32 shots at goal, Foster made a series of excellent saves, [ 62 ] including one described by BBC Sport as “ staggering ” to deny Didier Drogba ‘s “ fierce close-range down header ”. [ 63 ] He made a “ awful blurt out ” in the telecast League Cup semi-final, allowing a soft shot from Carlton Cole to slip underneath him, which gave West Ham United a 2–1 run after the first leg. [ 64 ] Birmingham stil reached the final, and Foster ‘s display earned him the Alan Hardaker Trophy for the moment meter in three years, as his team defeated Arsenal 2–1 to claim their first major trophy in 48 years. [ 65 ] They were relegated to the Championship on the concluding day of the season. [ 66 ] Because of his “ series of inspirational performances ”, Foster was named Birmingham ‘s Player of the Season and Players ‘ Player of the Season for 2010–11. [ 67 ]
West Bromwich Albion [edit ]
Foster joined Premier League cabaret West Bromwich Albion on 29 July 2011, changing places with Albion goalkeeper Boaz Myhill, both players signing a lend deal for the whole of the 2011–12 season. [ 68 ] Foster played in 37 of their 38 league matches, entirely missing the concluding catch of the season with a minor groin strain. He kept 10 league clean sheets, equalling West Brom ‘s Premier League clean sheets record, as the club finished in 10th rate, their highest league stopping point in 30 years. [ 69 ] At the end of the season, Foster was given the supporters ‘ player of the class and the players ‘ actor of the class awards. [ 70 ] On 29 June 2012, Foster signed permanently with West Brom for an undisclosed tip, [ 70 ] widely reported to be £4 million. [ 71 ] [ 72 ] He signed a three-year abridge with an choice for a promote two years in the cabaret ‘s privilege. [ 70 ] Foster continued to perform impressively in his second season with the club, keeping 7 clean sheets in 30 league matches, [ 73 ] and helping to guide West Brom to their record senior high school Premier League side of 8th for the 2012–13 season. [ citation needed ] A highlight of that season was saving a Steven Gerrard punishment against Liverpool at Anfield. The score was 0–0 at the time and West Brom went on to win 2–0. [ 74 ] Despite missing 4 months of the follow season through injury, Foster went on to win both fans player, and player ‘s player of the year awards for the second time in three years after a series of impressive performances throughout the 2013–14 season. [ 75 ] Foster ‘s impressive shape for the club saw him called up to the 2014 England World Cup squad, becoming the first West Bromwich Albion musician to represent England in a earth cup team since Jeff Astle in 1970. [ 76 ] After an impressive 2016–17 season, Foster was nominated for the Football Writers ‘ Association Footballer of the Year award. He was besides the West Brom supporters ‘ club player of the season. [ 77 ]
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come back to Watford [edit ]
After West Brom ‘s relegation to the Championship, Foster re-signed for Premier League club Watford on 5 July 2018 on a biennial contract, with the choice of an extra year, for an undisclosed tip. [ 78 ] He immediately overtook brazilian teammate Heurelho Gomes to the Watford number one shirt and remains Watford ’ s first-choice goalkeeper after their delegating from the Premier League in 2020. Foster signed a further two class contract with Watford in June 2020. [ 79 ]
International career [edit ]
On 26 May 2006, Foster was named on the stand-by number for England ‘s 2006 World Cup police squad, because of Robert Green ‘s injury in a “ B ” international against Belarus. [ 80 ] After Foster re-signed on loan for Watford, he was called up to Steve McClaren ‘s first England police squad as one of three goalkeepers for the friendly against Greece. [ 81 ] Since his inaugural call-up but prior to his wound, Foster was named in every England squad, and made his England introduction in the 1–0 kill against Spain on 7 February 2007. [ 82 ] After not playing for England for two years and never being called to the first team, he was finally selected by Fabio Capello after his performance at the League Cup concluding and was a second-half alternate against Slovakia in a 4–0 victory to earn his second base cap. [ citation needed ] inconsistent performances in Manchester United ‘s first fixtures of the 2009–10 season, deoxyadenosine monophosphate well as bruised rib, meant that Foster was left out of Capello ‘s initial police squad for their final two World Cup qualifiers. however, after Robert Green was sent off in the match against Ukraine on 10 October, Foster was recalled in his space for the adopt match against Belarus. It had been expected that David James would take Green ‘s place in the starting line-up, but James was injured in the warm-up and Foster was given his third gear England capital alternatively. England won the match 3–0, with Foster making a one-handed save from Syarhey Amelyanchuk in the 63rd minute. [ 83 ] Foster won his fourth cap against Brazil, where he played the whole match in a 1–0 loss on 14 November 2009, the friendly match was played in Qatar, with forward Nilmar scoring the only finish of the match from a header in the 47th moment. [ 84 ] He was overlooked for England ‘s 2010 World Cup police squad, Joe Hart being preferred for the one-third goalkeeping spotlight. [ citation needed ] Foster stated in a 2020 consultation that he found Capello unmanageable to work with, not lone as a coach but besides as a person. Foster had been training with England for a friendly match when his fraught wife went into parturiency. Capello initially refused to allow Foster to leave for his child ‘s birth, before reluctantly allowing it alone after Foster pleaded with him. Three hours after his child ‘s give birth, Capello called Foster and urged him to return to the training camp immediately, promising foster that he would play the second half of the approaching couple. ultimately, Foster was not brought on in the irregular one-half and played no role in the meet ; Capello offered no acknowledgment or explanation to Foster. [ 85 ] shortly after, in May 2011, Foster announced that he would be making himself unavailable for international choice for an indefinite menstruation. He intended to “ prolong [ his ] club career for american samoa long as possible ” by allowing his body “ a proper rest period between games ” to reduce “ niggling ” injuries. [ 86 ] It was not until February 2013 – after Capello had been succeeded by Roy Hodgson – that he made himself available for excerpt again. [ 87 ] In the adjacent international break, he was called up to the England team for World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro. [ 88 ] On 29 May 2013 Foster represented England in a friendly fixture against the Republic of Ireland. [ citation needed ] Foster was selected in the final 23 for England ‘s 2014 World Cup squad, [ 89 ] and played in the 2–2 draw with Ecuador in readiness for the tournament. With England unable to advance to the last 16, he played the solid 90 minutes of the last group peer against Costa Rica, and kept a clean sail in the 0–0 tie in Belo Horizonte. [ 90 ]
YouTube channel [edit ]
Foster has a YouTube transmit called “ The Cycling GK ” where he posts cycling videos and Watford matchday vlogs, including GoPro footage of the games in the back of his finish. [ 92 ] [ 93 ] As of December 2021, the channel has over 1 million subscribers and over 60 million views. [ 94 ]
personal life [edit ]
Foster attended North Leamington School in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire. [ 95 ] Foster lives with his wife and two children in a house he helped design on a 30-acre farm in Henley-in-Arden, Warwickshire. [ 5 ] [ 96 ] He is an enthusiastic cyclist. [ 96 ] [ 97 ]
career statistics [edit ]
club [edit ]
- As of match played 7 November 2021
International [edit ]
- As of match played 24 June 2014[119]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team
Year
Apps
Goals
England
2007
1
0
2009
3
0
2010
1
0
2013
1
0
2014
2
0
Total
8
0
Honours [edit ]
Wrexham
Watford
Manchester United
Birmingham City
Individual
References [edit ]
- Profile at the Watford F.C. website
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