 Foster playing forWest Bromwich Albion in 2017 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Ben Anthony Foster[1] | ||
| Date of birth | (1983-04-03)3 April 1983 (age 42)[2] | ||
| Place of birth | Leamington Spa, England | ||
| Height | 6 ft 4 in (1.93 m)[3] | ||
| Position | Goalkeeper | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2000 | Racing Club Warwick | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2000–2001 | Racing Club Warwick | ||
| 2001–2005 | Stoke City | 0 | (0) |
| 2002 | →Bristol City (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| 2002–2003 | →Tiverton Town (loan) | 16 | (0) |
| 2004 | →Stafford Rangers (loan) | 1 | (0) |
| 2004 | →Kidderminster Harriers (loan) | 2 | (0) |
| 2005 | →Wrexham (loan) | 17 | (0) |
| 2005–2010 | Manchester United | 12 | (0) |
| 2005–2006 | →Watford (loan) | 44 | (0) |
| 2006–2007 | →Watford (loan) | 29 | (0) |
| 2010–2012 | Birmingham City | 38 | (0) |
| 2011–2012 | →West Bromwich Albion (loan) | 37 | (0) |
| 2012–2018 | West Bromwich Albion | 172 | (0) |
| 2018–2022 | Watford | 125 | (0) |
| 2023 | Wrexham | 12 | (0) |
| Total | 505 | (0) | |
| International career | |||
| 2007–2014 | England | 8 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
Ben Anthony Foster (born 3 April 1983) is an English former professionalfootballer who played as agoalkeeper.
Foster began his professional career in 2001 withStoke City, having joined fromRacing Club Warwick. However, he never made an appearance for Stoke, and spent time on loan withBristol City,Tiverton Town,Stafford Rangers,Kidderminster Harriers, andWrexham. He switched permanently toManchester United in July 2005, but again struggled to break into the first team, and spent two successive seasons on loan toWatford from August 2005 until the end of the2006–07 season.
Having played just 23 times for Manchester United (although he also played in theLeague Cup-winning teams of2009 and2010), Foster switched toBirmingham City in May 2010. An ever-present in the league for Birmingham, he was also part of the Birmingham team that won the2011 League Cup. Following Birmingham's relegation to theChampionship at the end of the season, he was loaned to West Bromwich Albion, and moved there permanently in June 2012. He returned to Watford in July 2018. He announced his retirement from football in September 2022 before returning to Wrexham in March 2023. He again retired in August 2023 after helping Wrexham to theNational League title.
Foster made his international debut forEngland in February 2007 againstSpain. Although he announced his retirement from international football in May 2011, he returned in February 2013, and was selected in England's squad for the2014 FIFA World Cup. He also runs aYouTube channel, "The Cycling GK", and The Fozcast podcast.
Foster was born inLeamington Spa, Warwickshire.[2] He started his football career as a youngster atRacing Club Warwick of theSouthern League Division One West. He became their first-choice goalkeeper in December 2000,[4] and was also training as an apprentice chef atCafé Rouge in Leamington Spa.[5]
In April 2001 Foster turned professional withSecond Division clubStoke City after being spotted by scoutColin Dobson. He signed a one-year contract with an option for a further two years; the "five-figure" fee was undisclosed, and RC Warwick would benefit from the inclusion of a sell-on clause.[6] During his time at Stoke, He hadloan spells atBristol City,[7]Tiverton Town,[8]Stafford Rangers,Kidderminster Harriers[9] andWrexham.[10] He sustained acruciate ligament injury in June 2003 while playing tennis with his brother,[11] which sidelined him for a period of six months.[12][13] After his recovery, He was awarded the number 14 shirt and received his maiden call up to the Potters' first team for aFirst Division match versusWimbledon 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 the2003–04 season.[15] He was called into the first team squad for four matches during the2004–05 season.[16]
While playing for Wrexham on loan from Stoke, Foster was spotted byManchester United managerAlex Ferguson, who was watching Foster's teammate and his son,Darren, in the2005 Football League Trophy final. United had been struggling for several years to replace former goalkeeperPeter Schmeichel, and Ferguson decided to move for the young Foster, making a bid of £1 million for the player.[17] Stoke agreed a deal with United on 15 July 2005,[18] and the transfer was completed on 19 July.[19]
Not ready for first team action, Foster was sent on a season-long loan toWatford on 1 August 2005,[20] with the expectation of a second loan the season after.[21] Watford managerAidy Boothroyd claimed that "he's better than current Manchester United goalkeeperEdwin van der Sar" and claimed Foster would be "the best goalkeeper in the world".[22] Manchester United manager Ferguson suggested that Foster would succeed Van der Sar as first-choice keeper at United and eventually replacePaul Robinson as "England's next goalkeeper".[23] Foster helped Watford reach thePremier League by beatingLeeds United 3–0 in theChampionship 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 ofPoland international goalkeeperTomasz Kuszczak on loan fromWest Bromwich Albion.[25] Foster's performances during Watford's Premier League campaign earnt him the club'sPlayer of the Season award.[26] Aidy Boothroyd expressed his desire to keep Foster at Watford for a third season on a number of occasions during the 2006–07 season, but his hopes were dashed in January 2007 when Alex Ferguson announced his intention to bring Foster back toOld Trafford at the end of the season.[27]
In June 2007, it was announced that Foster would undergo surgery on a cruciate ligament injury in his right knee, forcing him to miss the start of the 2007–08 season.[28] He returned to light training towards the end of 2007, setting a February 2008 target for his return.[29] He made a comeback in a reserve match againstMiddlesbrough on 6 March 2008,[30] before making his debut for the Manchester United first team on 15 March 2008. With Edwin van der Sar injured and Tomasz Kuszczak suspended for a red card againstPortsmouth in the FA Cup sixth round the previous Saturday, Alex Ferguson had to shelve plans to ship Foster out on loan again, and the young goalkeeper was started for the away match againstDerby County. United won the match 1–0, with Foster making two crucial saves en route to keeping a clean sheet.[31] Although he was impressed with Foster's performance in the match against Derby,[32] Ferguson did not start him for the following match againstBolton Wanderers, opting for the returning Kuszczak.[33]
After being selected as a substitute for Manchester United's opening match of the2008–09 Champions League againstVillarreal on 17 September 2008,[34] Foster then played for the reserves againstBlackburn Rovers the following day. During the match, he fell awkwardly and suffered a twisted 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 action on 14 October 2008, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 win overOldham Athletic reserves.[36] Foster then made his firstChampions League appearance – his second for the Manchester United first team – on 5 November 2008, in a 1–1 away draw toCeltic.[37]
Foster was originally selected in Manchester United's squad for the2008 FIFA Club World Cup, but after suffering a broken finger in training the day before the squad was due to depart for Japan, he was replaced byBen Amos.[38] On 1 March 2009, Alex Ferguson named Foster in goal for the2009 League Cup final at Wembley Stadium. After keeping a clean sheet in normal time, Foster then made a save from Tottenham'sJamie O'Hara in the consequent penalty shoot-out. This, combined with a miss fromDavid Bentley, gave United a 4–1 win in the shootout and the 2009 League Cup title.[39] After the match, Foster was given theAlan Hardaker Trophy for his man of the match performance.[40]
It was revealed after the match that Foster had used aniPod to help with his preparations in the penalty shootout, prompting discussion about the use of technology in the match.[41]
Foster was rewarded for his performance by being made United's second-choice goalkeeper for the remainder of the season, starting three more matches whenAlex Ferguson chose to rest Edwin van der Sar ahead of important matches. However, he had been attempting to play with a ruptured ligament in his right thumb, which became aggravated, necessitating surgery which ruled him out of United's title run-in, theChampions League final againstBarcelona andEngland's2010 World Cup qualifiers in June.[42] Following speculation that United were in the market for a new goalkeeper to replace the soon-to-retire Edwin van der Sar, Foster signed a new four-year contract with the club. Alex Ferguson commented that Manchester United "genuinely see him [Foster] as a successor to Edwin van der Sar".[43]
With Van der Sar injured for the first two months of the 2009–10 season, Foster was given the opportunity to nail down the number one shirt in the2009 FA Community Shield defeat toChelsea, where his mistakes led to two Chelsea goals and made no saves in the penalty shootout.[44] Foster continued to play in the League, starting with the opening day victory overBirmingham City.[45] In wins againstArsenal andManchester City, Foster received heavy criticism for 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 later, Foster was again criticised for a mistake which led to a Sunderland goal in a 2–2 draw,[47] and left out of the England squad the next day with bruised ribs.[48] However, followingRobert Green's red card in the match againstUkraine and consequent suspension, Foster was given the all-clear by doctors and recalled to the England squad for the match againstBelarus on 14 October.[49] Foster played only twice more in 2009 for Manchester United after the Sunderland match: a League Cup win against Championship teamBarnsley, and a Champions League tie versusBeşiktaş, with Manchester United's progress from the group already secured.[50][51] He was displaced from the first team in Van der Sar's absence by Tomasz Kuszczak,[52] and on occasion, reserve goalkeeper Ben Amos took Foster's place on the substitutes bench.[53] Foster started his first match for three months against West Ham in February 2010, keeping a clean sheet in a 3–0 victory.[54]
After accepting that in order to play regularly he needed to leave Manchester, whether on loan or permanently,[55] Foster signed a three-year contract with Premier League club Birmingham City on 19 May 2010.[56] The fee was not disclosed, though media speculation suggested an initial fee of £4 million, potentially rising to £6 million with add-ons.[57] The club were seeking a replacement for Foster's fellow England international goalkeeperJoe Hart, who had returned to Manchester City after a successful 2009–10 season on loan at Birmingham.[58] Foster made his Birmingham debut on the opening day of the 2010–11 season in a 2–2 draw away toSunderland.[59] On his home debut the following week against Blackburn Rovers, he saved a penalty fromMorten Gamst Pedersen as Birmingham won the match 2–1.[60]
Criticised for an error in England's 2–1 defeat toFrance,[61] Foster produced aman-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 byBBC Sport as "staggering" to denyDidier Drogba's "fierce close-range downward header".[63] He made a "horrendous blunder" in the televised League Cup semi-final, allowing a soft shot fromCarlton Cole to slip underneath him, which gaveWest Ham United a 2–1 lead after the first leg.[64] Birmingham still reachedthe final, and Foster's display earned him the Alan Hardaker Trophy for the second time 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 final 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 for2010–11.[67]
Foster joined Premier League club West Bromwich Albion on 29 July 2011, changing places with Albion goalkeeperBoaz Myhill, both players signing a loan deal for the whole of the 2011–12 season.[68] Foster played in 37 of their 38 league matches, only missing the final match 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 place, their highest league finish in 30 years.[69] At the end of the season, Foster was given the supporters' player of the year and the players' player of the year awards.[70]
On 29 June 2012, Foster signed permanently with West Brom for an undisclosed fee,[70] widely reported to be £4 million.[71][72] He signed a three-year contract with an option for a further two years in the club's favour.[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 high Premier League position of 8th for the2012–13 season.[74] A highlight of that season was saving aSteven Gerrard penalty againstLiverpool atAnfield. The score was 0–0 at the time and West Brom went on to win 2–0.[75] Despite missing 4 months of the following 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 the2013–14 season.[76] Foster's impressive form for the club saw him called up to the 2014 England World Cup squad, becoming the first West Bromwich Albion player to represent England in a world cup squad sinceJeff Astle in 1970.[77]
After an impressive 2016–17 season, Foster was nominated for the Football Writers' Association Footballer of the Year award. He was also the West Brom supporters' club player of the season.[78]
After West Brom's relegation to the Championship, Foster re-signed for Premier League club Watford on 5 July 2018 on a two-year contract, with the option of an additional year, for an undisclosed fee.[79] He immediately overtook Brazilian teammateHeurelho Gomes to the Watford number one shirt and remained Watford's first-choice goalkeeper after their relegation from the Premier League in 2020. Foster signed a further two-year contract with Watford in June 2020.[80] On 16 May 2022, Foster revealed he would be leaving the club at the end of his contract in June.[81]
On 15 September 2022, Foster announced his retirement from football at the age of 39 after turning down a contract offer fromNewcastle United.[82] On 23 March 2023, he came out of retirement to sign a short-term contract withNational League club Wrexham following an injury toRob Lainton.[83] He made his second debut for Wrexham two days later in a 3–0 home win overYork City.[84] This was his first appearance for Wrexham in 17 years and 310 days, the longest gap between two appearances in the club's history.[85] On 10 April, he saved a penalty in stoppage time to secure a 3–2 win overNotts County, which helped his club to go three points clear of Notts County in the National League title race.[86][87] On 22 April, Wrexham secured promotion toLeague Two and were confirmed as champions of theNational League after a 3–1 win overBoreham Wood.[88][89]
Foster signed a new one-year contract with Wrexham on 9 June 2023.[90] On 20 August, following a 5–5 draw at home to Swindon Town, Foster announced his retirement from professional football, believing he was no longer able to play at his best and that it was costing his team to concede goals.[91] He played his last match for the club at the age of 40 years and 4 months, thus becoming the oldest recorded Wrexham player in a league match and the second oldest overall, only behindBobby Roberts.[85]
On 26 May 2006, Foster was named on the stand-by list for England's2006 World Cup squad, because ofRobert Green's injury in a "B" international against Belarus.[92] After Foster re-signed on loan for Watford, he was called up toSteve McClaren's first England squad as one of three goalkeepers for the friendly againstGreece.[93] Since his first call-up but prior to his injury, Foster was named in every England squad, and made his England debut in the 1–0 defeat againstSpain on 7 February 2007.[94]
After not playing for England for two years and never being called to the first team, he was finally selected byFabio Capello after his performance during the League Cup Final and earned his second cap as a second-half substitute in a 4–0 victory overSlovakia.[95] Inconsistent performances in Manchester United's first fixtures of the2009–10 season, as well as bruised ribs, meant that Foster was left out of Capello's initial squad for their final two World Cup qualifiers. However, after Robert Green was sent off in the match againstUkraine on 10 October, Foster was recalled in his place for the following match againstBelarus. It had been expected thatDavid 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 England cap instead. England won the match 3–0, with Foster making a one-handed save fromSyarhey Amelyanchuk in the 63rd minute.[96] Foster won his fourth cap againstBrazil, where he played the whole match in a 1–0 loss on 14 November 2009, the friendly match was played in Qatar, with forwardNilmar scoring the only goal of the match from a header in the 47th minute.[97] He was overlooked for England's2010 World Cup squad, Joe Hart being preferred for the third goalkeeping spot.[98]
Foster stated in a 2020 interview that he found Capello difficult to work with, not only as a manager but also as a person. Foster had been training with England for a friendly match when his pregnant wife went into labour. Capello initially refused to allow Foster to leave for his child's birth, before reluctantly allowing it only after Foster pleaded with him. Three hours after his child's 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 upcoming match. Ultimately, Foster was not brought on in the second half and played no role in the match; Capello offered no acknowledgement or explanation to Foster.[99] Shortly after, in May 2011, Foster announced that he would be making himself unavailable for international selection for an indefinite period. He intended to "prolong [his] club career for as long as possible" by allowing his body "a proper rest period between games" to reduce "niggling" injuries.[100] It was not until February 2013 – after Capello had been succeeded byRoy Hodgson – that he made himself available for selection again.[101] In the next international break, he was called up to the England squad for World Cup qualifiers against San Marino and Montenegro.[102] On 29 May 2013 Foster represented England in a friendly fixture against theRepublic of Ireland.[103]
Foster was selected in the final 23 for England's2014 World Cup squad,[104] and played in the 2–2 draw withEcuador in preparation for the tournament. With England unable to advance to the last 16, he played the whole 90 minutes of the last group match againstCosta Rica, and kept aclean sheet in the 0–0 draw inBelo Horizonte.[105]
Ben Foster - The Cycling GK | |
|---|---|
 | |
| YouTube information | |
| Channel | |
| Years active | 2020–present |
| Subscribers | 1.46 million |
| Views | 167 million |
| Last updated: May 2025 | |
Foster has a verified YouTube channel called "Ben Foster – The Cycling GK", which he started in 2020 during the UK's COVID-19 lockdown. He posts cycling videos and matchday vlogs, includingGoPro footage of the games in the back of his goal;[106][107] he occasionally wears anInsta360 camera fastened to his chest to provide afirst-person viewpoint.[108] As of April 2023[update], the channel has amassed over 1.43 million subscribers and over 138 million views.[109] He also has a podcast called "Fozcast – The Ben Foster Podcast", which he hosts with Tom Ochoa.[110][111] Foster also has a golf channel called "The Golfing GK",[112] and hosts a debate show on his channel called "The Football Fill-In", which began during the2022–23 Premier League season.[113]
Foster attended North Leamington School inLeamington Spa, Warwickshire.[114]
Foster lives with his wife and two children in a house he helped design on a 30-acre farm inHenley-in-Arden,Warwickshire.[5][115] He is an enthusiastic cyclist.[115][116]
In March 2022, Foster was fined £2,250 and banned from driving for six months after he was caught driving at 99 mph (159 km/h) on theM40, an offence he committed in April 2021.[117]
| Club | Season | League | FA Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Stoke City | 2001–02[118] | Second Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2002–03[119] | First Division | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2003–04[120] | First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2004–05[121] | Championship | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |||
| Bristol City (loan) | 2002–03[119] | Second Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
| Tiverton Town (loan) | 2002–03[122] | Southern League Premier Division | 16 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 0 | ||||
| Stafford Rangers (loan) | 2003–04[123] | Southern League Premier Division | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | ||||
| Kidderminster Harriers (loan) | 2004–05[121] | League Two | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | ||||
| Wrexham (loan) | 2004–05[121] | League One | 17 | 0 | — | — | — | 4[a] | 0 | 21 | 0 | |||
| Manchester United | 2007–08[124] | Premier League | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| 2008–09[125] | Premier League | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1[b] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2009–10[50] | Premier League | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2[b] | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | 13 | 0 | |
| Total | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 23 | 0 | ||
| Watford (loan) | 2005–06[126] | Championship | 44 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 3[d] | 0 | 48 | 0 | |
| 2006–07[127] | Premier League | 29 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 33 | 0 | |||
| Total | 73 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 3 | 0 | 81 | 0 | |||
| Birmingham City | 2010–11[128] | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 43 | 0 | ||
| West Bromwich Albion (loan) | 2011–12[129] | Premier League | 37 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 39 | 0 | ||
| West Bromwich Albion | 2012–13[73] | Premier League | 30 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 0 | ||
| 2013–14[130] | Premier League | 24 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 0 | |||
| 2014–15[131] | Premier League | 28 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 0 | |||
| 2015–16[132] | Premier League | 15 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 19 | 0 | |||
| 2016–17[133] | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 0 | |||
| 2017–18[134] | Premier League | 37 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 41 | 0 | |||
| Total | 209 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 223 | 0 | ||||
| Watford | 2018–19[135] | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20[136] | Premier League | 38 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 38 | 0 | |||
| 2020–21[137] | Championship | 23 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 23 | 0 | |||
| 2021–22[138] | Premier League | 26 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 27 | 0 | |||
| Total | 125 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 126 | 0 | ||||
| Wrexham | 2022–23[139] | National League | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||||
| 2023–24[140] | League Two | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 4 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 12 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 12 | 0 | |||||
| Career total | 505 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 547 | 0 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| England | 2007 | 1 | 0 |
| 2009 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2013 | 1 | 0 | |
| 2014 | 2 | 0 | |
| Total | 8 | 0 | |
Wrexham
Watford
Manchester United
Birmingham City
Individual
