Ben Foster (footballer)

Infobox Football biography
playername = Ben Foster


fullname = Benjamin Anthony Foster
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1983|4|3
cityofbirth = Leamington Spa
countryofbirth = England
height = height|ft=6|in=2
position = Goalkeeper
currentclub = Manchester United
clubnumber = 12
years = 2000–2001
2001–2005
2002
2002–2003
2004
2004
2005
2005–
2005–2007
clubs = Racing Club Warwick
Stoke City
→Bristol City (loan)
→Tiverton Town (loan)
→Stafford Rangers (loan)
→Kidderminster Harriers (loan)
→Wrexham (loan)
Manchester United
→Watford (loan)
caps(goals) = 18 (0)
00 (0)
00 (0)
16 (0)
01 (0)
02 (0)
17 (0)
01 (0)
73 (0)
nationalyears = 2006–
nationalteam = England
nationalcaps(goals) = 01 (0)
pcupdate = 14:56, 15 March 2008 (UTC)
ntupdate = 08:01, 23 February 2008 (UTC)

Benjamin Anthony "Ben" Foster (born 3 April 1983 in Leamington Spa) is an English association footballer who plays as a goalkeeper. He plays club football for Manchester United in the Premier League.

Club career

Racing Club Warwick

Ben Foster started his football career at Racing Club Warwick in 2000. He spent a season there before he joined Stoke City.

toke City

During his time at Stoke, Foster had loan spells at Tiverton Town, [cite web |title=Foster moves again |url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=154130&plid=9089&clid=&cpid=10 |publisher=Sky Sports |accessdate=2007-06-06 |date=2002-12-20} ] Bristol City, Stafford Rangers, Kidderminster Harriers and Wrexham. Foster sustained a cruciate knee ligament injury in June 2003 while playing tennis, this sidelined him for a period of six months. [cite web |url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=151980&plid=9089&clid=&cpid=10 |title=Foster out for six months |date=2003-06-24 |accessdate=2007-06-06 |publisher=Sky Sports ] [cite web |url=http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=154130&plid=9089&clid=&cpid=10 |title=Foster blow for Potters |publisher=Sky Sports |date=2003-07-10 |accessdate=2007-06-06 ]

Manchester United

Ben Foster was spotted by Alex Ferguson, playing for Wrexham, on loan from Stoke, when the United manager was watching his son, Darren, in the LDV Vans Trophy Final in 2005, which Wrexham won. Manchester United had been struggling for many years to replace goalkeeping legend Peter Schmeichel, and Ferguson decided to move for the young Foster – paying £1 million.

He joined Manchester United from Stoke City on 19 July 2005. Between 2005 and 2007, he was on loan to Watford. Watford manager Aidy Boothroyd has claimed that "he's better than current Manchester United goalkeeper Edwin van der Sar" and believes that "he is going to be the best goalkeeper in the world." [ [http://home.skysports.com/list.aspx?hlid=451350&CPID=8&clid=1&lid=&title=Aidy:+Foster+to+come+to+the+fore&channel=& Aidy: Foster to come to the fore] ] Manchester United manager Ferguson has suggested that Foster will succeed Edwin van der Sar as first-choice keeper at United and should eventually replace Paul Robinson as "England's next goalkeeper." [ [http://www.eurosport.com/football/euro-2008-qualifying/2006-2007/sport_sto1068855.shtml Fergie tips Foster over Robbo] ]

Foster had an impressive season at Watford, attracting plaudits from opponents and commentators. His long goal-kick was a particular asset for Watford as many of the team's goals came via so called 'route one' football, with a long clearance from Foster collected by strikers Marlon King and Darius Henderson in promising positions. His imposing stature, confidence at set-pieces and excellent shot-stopping ability also stood out in what was his first full professional season. Foster helped Watford reach the Premier League by beating Leeds United 3–0 in the Championship play-off final.

On 10 August 2006, Foster re-signed on loan for Watford after Manchester United secured the services of Polish goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak on loan. Foster remained at Vicarage Road for the entire 2006–07 season as United had no option to recall him.

In June 2007, it was announced that Foster would undergo surgery on a cruciate ligament injury in his right knee. [cite web |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/6707485.stm |title=Knee surgery for Man Utd's Foster |publisher=BBC Sport |date=2007-06-06 |accessdate=2007-06-06 ] He returned to light training towards the end of 2007, before moving on to a more rigorous regime in mid-January 2008 and made a comeback in a reserves game against Middlesbrough on the 6th March 2008,Foster made his debut for Manchester United on 15 March 2008 against Derby County, as Van der Sar was injured and Kuszczak was suspended, having been sent off against Portsmouth in the FA Cup quarter final the previous Saturday. United won the game 1-0 [cite web| url=http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={B4CEE8FA-9A47-47BC-B069-3F7A2F35DB70}&newsid=541058| title=Report: Derby 0 United 1| date=2008-03-15| accessdate=2008-03-15| publisher=ManUtd.com] , with Foster making two crucial saves en route to keeping a clean sheet.

However, despite that performance, Ferguson did not start Foster for the match against Bolton Wanderers, and opted for Kuszczak after he served his suspension. The reason was given by the fact that Foster was not registered, and therefore ineligible, to play in European competition, so Kuszczak would be the only eligible and fit keeper available if Van der Sar could not recover from his groin injury in time.

After being selected as a substitute for Manchester United's opening game of the 2008–09 Champions League against Villarreal on 17 September 2008, Foster then played for the reserves against Blackburn Rovers the following day. Unfortunately, during the game, he fell awkwardly and suffered a twisted ankle, putting him out of contention for six to eight weeks.

International career

On 26 May 2006, Foster was named on the stand-by list for England's 2006 World Cup squad, because of Robert Green's injury in a "B" international against Belarus.After Foster re-signed on loan for Watford, he was called up to Steve McClaren's first England squad as one of three goalkeepers for the friendly against Greece. 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 against Spain on 7 February 2007.

Honours

As a player

;Wrexham:
*LDV Vans Trophy winner: 2004–05

References

External links

*soccerbase|id=32442|name=Ben Foster
* [http://www.manutd.com/default.sps?pagegid={FE60904B-C2A8-4E60-9B05-700DBBC29BBC}&section=playerProfile&teamid=458&bioid=92000 Profile] at ManUtd.com

Persondata
NAME=Foster, Benjamin Anthony
ALTERNATIVE NAMES=Foster, Ben, Foster, Benjamin
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Football (soccer) player
DATE OF BIRTH=April 3 1983
PLACE OF BIRTH=Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=