Ben Foster is an English former professional footballer who played as a goalkeeper for various clubs and national teams.
He is also an avid cyclist and a YouTube personality who runs a channel called “GK cycling” and a podcast called “What is Fozcast?“ .
He is widely regarded as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation, having won numerous honours and awards throughout his career.
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- Full name: Benjamin Anthony Foster
- Nicknames: Ben, The Cycling GK, Fozzy
- Date of birth: April 3, 1983
- Age: 40 years old
- Gender: Male
- Place of birth: Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England
- Nationality: British
- Occupation: Former soccer player, YouTube host, podcast host
- Height: 1.93 m (6 ft 4 in)
- Parents: Brian Foster (father), Sue Foster (mother)
- Siblings: None
- Spouse: Kate Foster (married 2010)
- Children: Louie Foster (son), Olivia Foster (daughter)
- Relationship status: Married
- Net worth: $5 million
Early life and education
Ben Foster, who turns 40 in 2023, was born on April 3, 1983, in Leamington Spa, Warwickshire, England. Brian and Sue Foster are both teachers and he is an only child.
He grew up in a sporting family, as his father was an avid rugby player and his mother was a netball coach. He attended North Leamington School, where he excelled in many sports, especially football and cricket.
He began playing football as a youth player at Racing Club Warwick in the Southern League Division One West, where he impressed scouts from Stoke City.
He joined Stoke City’s youth academy in 1999 and turned professional in 2001.
Personal life
Ben Foster is married to Kate Foster, a psychologist he met in 2008. They married in 2010 and have two children, Louie and Olivia.
The couple live on a farm in Warwickshire, where they enjoy spending time with their pets, which include dogs, cats, chickens and horses. Ben Foster is a devout Christian and attends church regularly.
He is also an avid cyclist and owns several bikes, which he uses for training and recreation. He often takes part in charity rides and events such as the London to Paris cycling challenge and the RideLondon-Surrey 100.
He is also a music fan and plays the guitar and piano.
Career
Ben Foster started his football career as a goalkeeper for Stoke City in 2001 but never made an appearance for the team.
He spent time on loan at a number of clubs, including Bristol City, Tiverton Town, Stafford Rangers, Kidderminster Harriers and Wrexham, where he gained valuable experience and insight.
He joined Manchester United in 2005 but struggled to break into the first team due to competition from Edwin van der Sar and Tomasz Kuszczak.
He spent two seasons on loan at Watford from 2005 to 2007, helping the team reach the semi-finals of the Premier League and FA Cup.
He played 23 times for Manchester United and won the League Cup twice in 2009 and 2010, saving three penalties in the 2009 final against Tottenham Hotspur.
He moved to Birmingham City in 2010 and was a member of the team that won the 2011 League Cup, beating Arsenal 2–1 in the final.
For his outstanding performances, he was named Birmingham City’s Player of the Year and the Fans’ Player of the Year.
He was loaned to West Bromwich Albion in 2011 and signed permanently in 2012. He played 172 times for West Bromwich Albion until 2018, becoming a fan favourite and a club legend. He was named West Bromwich Albion Player of the Year three times in 2013, 2016 and 2018.
He returned to Watford in 2018 and played 125 times until 2022. He helped them reach the FA Cup final in 2019, where they lost 6-0 to Manchester City. He also helped them secure promotion to the Premier League in 2021 after being relegated in 2020.
He announced his retirement from football in September 2022 but returned to Wrexham in March 2023. He helped Wrexham win the National League title and retired again in August 2023.
He made his international debut for England in 2007 against Spain. He has played eight times for England and was part of the squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup, where he played in the final group stage match against Costa Rica.
He was also named in the provisional squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup but withdrew due to injury. He retired from international football in 2014, citing a desire to focus on his club career and family.
Net worth
Ben Foster’s estimated net worth as of 2023 is $5 million.
He earned his wealth from his football career and endorsement and sponsorship deals.
Social media
- Instagram Name: @benfoster
- Twitter Username: @BenFoster
- YouTube Channel: The Cycling GK
- Podcast: Fozcast
