If you ask any football supporter to name iconic Premier League goalkeepers of the 21st century, many would name Shay Given and David James – including West Ham United’s new stopper Wes Foderingham.
A calm, composed character, Given was a reassuring presence between the sticks for club and country for two decades, starring for Newcastle United and Manchester City and earning 134 caps for the Republic of Ireland, along with numerous individual accolades.
James may have been slightly less predictable, but showed admirable resolve to bounce back from high-profile mistakes to make 572 Premier League appearances – including 64 for West Ham – and win 53 England caps and travel to three FIFA World Cup finals.
For a young Foderingham, a promising nine-year-old goalkeeper who joined Fulham in 2000, Given and James were two glovemen he grew up eager to emulate and, two decades on, he has followed both into the Premier League.
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