Magical counterattack, 19-year-old cruciate ligament torn, joined Manchester United at the age of 22, returned to save penalty at the age of 40

When taking stock of high-quality goalkeepers in Premier League history, Ben Foster's name will not be the first choice for fans.

Although he has played for Manchester United for 5 years, he can only survive in the shadow of Van der Sar, and has only appeared for 2,160 minutes in total. Although he has participated in the World Cup, he is just a spare tire on the bench. In fact, Foster has only played for the Three Lions 8 times.

But from another perspective, Foster is not an ordinary person, and is even quite inspiring. He suffered a serious injury from a torn cruciate ligament at the age of 19, and his future is uncertain.

In fact, even though he was signed by Stoke City in 2001, he had never appeared in the official game for "Sky City". He could only waste his time on loan in low-level teams such as Lexham, Kidminster, Bristol City, Warwick Athletics and Wrexham.

It was unexpected to be taken by Ferguson at the age of 22. The transfer fee of £1 million cannot arouse a wave, but there are signs of someone walking to a higher place. In Foster's words, "It's like opening a blind box."

Even though Van der Sar is an unattainable mountain, the Englishman who has repeatedly experienced a loan journey still regards himself as a lucky person.

The main player Van der Sar was injured and substitute Kushchak was suspended. Foster only got the starting qualification for a long time in his third year of joining Manchester United. Ferguson gave him enough chicken soup: "He has extraordinary ability, speed and flexibility, and I think he has no problem at all."

's personal representative work is that in the 2009 League Cup final between Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur, Foster, who started, completely blocked his opponent in 120 minutes and saved a penalty kick in the penalty shootout.

When he was a player with honors, Foster won the Premier League, League Cup, Community Shield Cup and Champions League during his time at Manchester United. Although he was suspected of "lifting", he has already achieved a sense of accomplishment that he envied his peers. Moreover, Foster was selected for the Three Lions at the age of 23.

When summarizing his Red Devils' career, Foster admitted that he had the AB side. He explained the bad luck in advance, but he also confessed that he was not mature. The low-level mistakes against Manchester City and Sunderland made him fall into a battle of words. Ferguson angrily scolded Foster in front of the whole team: "You are out, I will now transfer you to the reserve team, which is suitable for your level."

" No one can lower Manchester United's standards, which also prompts Manchester United to become the best. The reason for showing the club. "It is not surprising that Foster, who only played 23 times for Manchester United, chose to leave. In fact, after retirement, he often commented on Manchester United players as a "experienced person". For example, when talking about Sancho, he said: "If Ferguson was the coach, he would be fired."

Birmingham won Foster for 6 million pounds in 2010, and Foster healed himself with the League Cup championship in the first season. You should know that Birmingham defeated Arsenal in the final.

Foster, who contributed 4 key saves, became a favorite. It is worth mentioning that at the end of the game, it was Foster's long pass from the backcourt that caused a misunderstanding and colliding with Szesney and Koscheerney during the clearance, and his teammate Martins accepted the gift with a smile.

Foster was awarded the best player in the team in the 2010-11 season. At this time, fans remembered that during his loan to Watford, he helped the team stand out in the English Championship promotion play-offs (6 saves against Leeds United). The only drawback is that the relegated Birmingham and the restored Foster did not last long.

West Bromwich gave Foster a stage to continue to prove himself. Although he was only on loan, he completed 10 clean sheets in 37 Premier League matches in the first season, setting a new record in team history.

Reincarnation is a reasonable reward. In fact, in the seven seasons Foster played for him, he won the best player in the season four times, but the most powerful reward came from the then West Bromwich coach Alan Elvin: "He is a contagious person and always passes his positive emotions to his teammates and those around him."

If West Bromwich had not been relegated, Foster would not be willing to move easily. For fans, the Englishman who suffered a cruciate ligament torn for the third time in 2015 seemed to be in line with the image of a tough guy. Combined with the transfer fee of 4 million pounds, it is no wonder he would be regarded as a good value for money signing in the club's history, and he took the opportunity to raise the meaning of two-way rushing.

Returning to Watford, the old club, is not a bad thing. In the plot of the old friends' reunion, "Bumblebee" experiences the pain of relegation and the joy of upgrading, but Foster, who has played for 6 seasons, is as steady as ever.

For example, when he played against Arsenal in 2021, he became the oldest goalkeeper to save penalty in the Premier League since Jiwen in August 2016. For example, at the age of 38 years and 329 days, he became the oldest goalkeeper in history to win Manchester United in Old Trafford.

In the process of two cooperations, Foster has made a total of 207 appearances. Of course, Te also acted as a background board. He was staged by the opponent in the match against Tottenham and contributed an own assist against Arsenal, but these episodes do not hinder the veteran's immortal character.

It is worth mentioning that he rescued a Watford fan with dementia from the ditch, not only took him home to have a meal, but also presented the fan with a season ticket for Watford.

Retiring at the age of 39 is already unusual. You should know that since the 2006-2007 season, Ben Foster (1248), De Gea (1157 times) and Fabianski (1131 times) are all chasers.

Retired Foster once enjoyed his new life, but when his old club Wrexham encountered a shortage of goalkeepers, he returned in his forties..

Go to visit here? He won the 5th National League Championship with the team, and thus promoted to the English League Two with the team. The classic battle was that he completed the save point in the 97th minute when he played against Notts County in April 2023. How to describe Ben Foster? Former Manchester United goalkeeper? A glass man who has suffered three cruciate ligament tears? A representative of old-fashioned beauty? Perhaps he interpreted that life is a journey, to enjoy it and enjoy it!