Craig Foster (footballer)

Football player infobox2
playername = Craig Foster
fullname = Craig Andrew Foster


dateofbirth = birth date and age|df=yes|1969|4|15
cityofbirth = Lismore
countryofbirth = Australia
height = height|m=1.80
currentclub =
clubnumber =
position = Attacking Midfielder
youthyears =
1986-1987
youthclubs = Goonellabah
AIS
years = 1989
1989-1990
1991
1991
1992
1992
1995-1996
1996-1997
1997-1998
1998-2000
2000-2003
2007-
clubs = Sydney United
Sunshine Georgies
Bonnyrigg White Eagles
Singapore (Malaysian League team)
Avala
Earnest Boral
Adelaide City
Marconi Stallions
Portsmouth
Crystal Palace
Northern Spirit
Waverley Old Boys FC
caps(goals) = 20 (1)
06 (0)
24 (3)
16 (2)
14 (3)
47 (5)
nationalyears = 1985
1996-2000
nationalteam = flagicon|Australia Australia U-17
flagicon|Australia Australia
nationalcaps(goals) =
29 (9)
manageryears =
managerclubs =

Craig Foster (born 15 April 1969) is a former soccer player from Australia. He is currently a sports commentator for the Special Broadcasting Service (SBS) in Australia, and was a coach for Nerds FC.

Club career

Playing as a midfielder, Foster debuted with Sydney United before playing with Victorian club Sunshine George Cross before returning to Sydney to play for Bonnyrigg White Eagles. In 1992, Foster moved to Earnest Boral in Hong Kong. He also played for Adelaide City and Marconi Stallions in the National Soccer League (NSL) before moving to England as a 28 year old. His three season stint in England saw him play with Portsmouth F.C., before moving on a free transfer to Crystal Palace F.C. at the time Pompey were in administration and needed to offload their biggest earners and with Foster being one of them, Alan Ball apraoched him about selling him which ended in a fierce arguement between the two. He played at Palace until the end of the 1999/00 season. He then played with Northern Spirit FC until retiring in 2003.

He currently plays amateur football in the Eastern Suburbs Premier league in Sydney, with Waverley Old Boys FC.

International career

Foster earned 29 caps with the Australian national football team, scoring nine goals and represented Australia at under 20 level at the 1985 FIFA World Youth Championship in Samoa.

After retirement

Following his retirement, Foster became the chief football analyst for the SBS football show The World Game, and is remembered for his passionate commentary during the World Cup Qualifier in November 2005 against Uruguay. He is also renowned for his militant advocacy against the use of the long ball in football. [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/asian-cup-analysis/lessons-to-be-learnt-from-our-asian-boot-in-the-backside/2007/07/28/1185339320409.html Lessons to be learnt from our Asian boot in the backside] ] [ [http://www.theworldgame.com.au/opinions/index.php?pid=st&cid=47594&ct=33 Time to end the English cringe] ] Foster has been a strong advocate for player’s rights, having served for five years on the PFA (Players Association) Executive, as a Director of the PFA’s commercial wing, PFAM (PFA Management), and formerly as Chief Executive of the Player’s Association. Foster remains a life member of the PFA and a member of the PFA Technical Committee. He writes a column once a week for the Sun-Herald.

Foster has recently been linked to a role as Technical Director of the new A-League franchise Gold Coast Galaxy.

[ [http://www.northernstar.com.au/localsport/storydisplay.cfm?storyID=3753575&thesection=localsport&thesubsection= Foster defends Arnold comments] ] [ [http://www.smh.com.au/news/football/fosters-expert-opinion-will-be-welcome-at-training/2006/10/18/1160850998763.html Foster's expert opinion will be welcome at training] ]

Honours

With Australia:
* FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997 (Runners-Up)
* OFC Nations Cup: 1996, 2000
* Silver Fox Award (2008)

References

ee also

* The World Game

External links

* [http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/meettheteam/craig-foster-106593/ The World Game profile]
* [http://www.ozfootball.net/ark/Players/F/FO.html Oz Football profile]
* [http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/ The World Game]