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Ben Foster left Watford at the end of last season. PA

Lack of enthusiasm for Newcastle move told Ben Foster it was time to retire

The former Manchester United goalkeeper has decided to finish a career spanning almost two decades.

FORMER ENGLAND GOALKEEPER Ben Foster has announced his retirement.

The 39-year-old left Watford at the end of last season and has decided to bring an end to a career spanning almost two decades.

Foster was capped eight times by England having joined Manchester United from Stoke as a youngster.

He made 23 appearances for the Red Devils, winning the League Cup twice after impressing on successive loan spells at Watford.

Foster went on to play for Birmingham and West Brom and returned to Vicarage Road in 2018.

He announced his retirement on his YouTube channel, also revealing he turned down a move to Newcastle last week before making the decision.

“Welcome back to a very special edition of the FozCast because today I’ve got an announcement to make – it is a big one,” he said on his Cycling GK series.

“The time has finally come for me to announce my retirement. I have got a belting story for you and it will explain my reasons why I know finally that it is time to hang the gloves up and enter retirement.”

Foster then explained how he had been approached by Newcastle after Karl Darlow had suffered an injury but that “deep down I didn’t want to do it” as contract talks progressed.

He revealed an agreement was reached and a medical was booked, adding: “I was just eating my dinner and I thought ‘no, I’m not doing it’,” as the idea of living away from his family turned him off the move.

“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.”

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    Mute T Meister
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    Apr 25th 2019, 9:39 AM

    Roy always says it as he sees it- no filter but unadulterated Truth.
    Gotta love it

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    Mute Adrian Newman
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    Apr 25th 2019, 8:22 AM

    Rashford: bare minimum to work hard. How about scoring a goal? 8 hours and 47 mins without a goal from open play and yet this guy keeps starting!!! So so overrated

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    Mute Ardmore02
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    Apr 25th 2019, 9:09 AM

    @Adrian Newman: and who do you suggest starts ahead of him? Sanchez, Lukaku? At the moment he’s by far the first name on the team sheet.

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    Mute Keith Walsh
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    Apr 25th 2019, 9:53 AM

    @Adrian Newman: I enjoyed watching UTD’s resurgence under ole these past few months, a bit like I did the tiger comeback, and as a gooner and someone who thinks Tiger is a proper toerag this just means that I enjoy seeing sport played with the right amount of passion/skill ratio..
    But let’s remember, money divides people from their moral standings, their senses and their motives.. players have too much power now with the agent era, Ferguson saw the writing on the wall and so the story went… I’d love to see the Pogba’s and the Sanchez’s of football get sacked for not performing to the standards they’ve sold themselves at..

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    Mute Mikezip007
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    Apr 25th 2019, 8:23 AM

    If rashford was able to take half the clear goal scoring opportunities he had this season united would be in a much stronger position regarding champions league next season….. His composure is poor at best

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    Mute GARFARKLE
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    Apr 25th 2019, 9:10 AM

    Rashford wants to sign a new contract for €200,000 per week. A joke.

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    Mute james mccarthy
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    Apr 25th 2019, 11:53 AM

    Wouldn’t you love to have Roy involved in the United set that would be one way to clear out some of the players

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    Mute Nollaig Elliot
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    Apr 25th 2019, 2:03 PM

    @james mccarthy:

    Director of football. He’d be the right man for the shake up. Fred wouldn’t have lasted candlelight. He’s spot on in what he said too. I’ll be the first lad to admit that I’m one of United’s biggest critics on here, regardless of being a United supporter. Last night was by a country mile, the worst performance I’ve seen from them in as long as I can remember. Completely gutless. De Gea has to go in the summer too. I wouldn’t begrudge him it either, he’d have 4 CL medals now if he got his move to Madrid the last time.

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    Mute Fran Harding
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    Apr 25th 2019, 8:37 AM

    SLIPPY G

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