Ben Foster explains why he turned down an offer from Newcastle United, the world’s richest club, and retired from football instead.
The 39 year old shot stopper, who was capped eight times for England, announced he is hanging up the gloves for good on his latest podcast having been without a club since departing from Watford after their relegation to the Championship last season.
But he did have a huge proposal from Newcastle, who secured a £300 million takeover from a Saudi Arabia led consortium back in October.
The Magpies were in a bit of a goalkeeping crisis, having let Martin Dubravka head to Manchester United as David De Gea’s understudy while Karl Darlow picked up an injury and number one Nick Pope unavailable.
Foster considered Newcastle’s offer, however decided it would not be worthwhile given he lives four hours away in the Midlands with his family.
Ben Foster confirming that #NUFC offered him a contract. 👀 pic.twitter.com/gmUejOqupF
— Adam. (@AdamNUFC_) September 15, 2022
“Deep down I didn’t want to do it [turn down Newcastle],” Foster said on Fozcast.
“It sounds mad and it’s such a hard thing to explain because there’ll be millions of people up and down the country that will say ‘you’ve just been offered a contract, a really good contract, by the richest team in the world to go and be second-choice goalkeeper and be part of something’.
“But I just didn’t want to do it, I had this deep feeling, and the wrench of it was that I’d have to move away from home, that would kill me.
“If I’m in an apartment in Newcastle by myself, away from my family, I don’t think people can understand. That’s hard to do, especially at the age I am and with everything else I’ve got going on.
“I know for a fact if I’d have gone there I’d have had an amazing time, the lads would have been absolutely brilliant and I’d have buzzed off the stadium, the fans, all that kind of stuff, but the overriding sinking feeling was ‘I don’t want to do this.’
“I was just eating my dinner and I thought ‘no, I’m not doing it’. I’ve got to be happy and comfortable and I wouldn’t be able to do that so far away from my family. It would kill me.’
In the end, Newcastle went and signed former Liverpool goalkeeper Loris Karius on a free transfer.
BEN FOSTER’S CAREER
Youth career
–2000 – Racing Club Warwick
Senior career
2000–2001 – Racing Club Warwick
2001–2005 – Stoke City
2002 → Bristol City (loan)
2002–2003 → Tiverton Town (loan) – 16 games
2004 → Stafford Rangers (loan) – 1 game
2004 → Kidderminster Harriers (loan) – 2 games
2005 → Wrexham (loan) – 17 games
2005–2010 – Manchester United – 12 games
2005–2006 → Watford (loan) – 44 games
2006–2007 → Watford (loan) – 29 games
2010–2012 Birmingham City – 38 games
2011–2012 → West Bromwich Albion (loan) – 37 games
2012–2018 – West Bromwich Albion – 172 games
2018–2022 – Watford – 125 games
Total – 493 games
National team
2007–2014 – England – 8 games
This is what fans said as Ben Foster explains why he turned down an offer from the world’s richest club and retired instead…
@haysy25: Legend!
@Oli_WBA: Get the gloves back on and replace button
@DeadpanJazman: Ah man, I’d have loved to have him at the club just for his character more than anything 😂
@Michael07688262: All the best for your future endeavours Ben, top man wishing you a Happy Retirement.
@ZacDjellab: What a hero!! Happy retirement mate
@doobyscoo19: Solidified yourself as an Albion legend and served football as a wider entity. Have a good retirement Fozza
@MaxwellA98: Imagine if he’s misheard and its actually Newcastle Blue Star he’s signed for 😂
@BradHolmes07: Ahh mate ! I was really hoping you’d get another season in ! Can’t wait for more YouTube videos now with that free time you just accumulated 🤣 all the best Ben! Big fan of yours. #bluenose
@C345Sam: Legend of the game
@asher_gordon: At a time when many footballers are rightly criticised for being mercenaries and only going to clubs to get a nice pay packet, particularly at end of career, – as an #NUFC fan I say fair play to @BenFoster for putting his family first 👏
@Andrew_McVittie: I’ve always respected Ben Foster as a player. Given the option, I would have liked Foster to join the club. That said, I absolutely respect his reasons for rejecting the move. He believes he made the right decision and I agree with him. Enjoy retirement @BenFoster! #nufc
@AndyfromNewHamp: What a legend.. Proved you can be a fantastic keeper and also connect, smile, not take yourself too seriously… By a mile, the best Baggies keeper in my life…
@kyleJohnNUFC: Just watched this full clip and I love @BenFoster. Always spoke highly of us. Us fans don’t realise the sacrifices player have to make, huge amount of respect to him. Always spoke highly of us #NUFCFans
@sjcnufc: He’s either retiring or joining our coaching staff. Would love him to join the coaching staff but highly likely he’s retiring
@8NUFC8: @BenFoster its a shame you didn’t come to #NUFC I think you would of had an immediate connection with the fans! But thank you for being honest and going with your gut. Family always comes first!
@howay51: @BenFoster seen the pod about “that newcastle contract”. Respect . If you aren’t feeling it walk away. Don’t waste the clubs time or your own. 👏 Still think when your 50 you might looking l and say I could have had #nufc on my wiki page 🤣 good luck in retirement
@steve19103: @BenFoster just want to say thank you and all the best. As a Newcastle fan I watched that interview and nothing but respect for you. All the best for the future. Congrats on a great career. Football needs great human beings like yourself
@dan1992_dan: Congrats on a great career @BenFoster mint podcast episode about Newcastle Would have defo loved you in the black and white even for a season but totally get your circumstances man and fair play for sticking to your guns and not just coming for the big wages 👏 fair play
@carl_toplis: Thought it was pretty interesting to be honest. Good to hear him talking about the likes of Ashworth and Howe in such high regards. “Dan Ashworth is the gold standard of CEO’s”
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