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SHOCK EXIT – YOUNG PREMIER LEAGUE GOALKEEPER RETIRES FOR NEW VENTURE

Former Tottenham goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman has retired from football at 27 for a new career. After one Spurs appearance and a Europa League medal, he's now a director and photographer, leaving the "football bubble" behind.

Shock exit – young Premier League goalkeeper retires for new venture
Alfie Whiteman retires from Football - COURTESY/PHOTO

For millions of young aspirants, being a Premier League football player and taking home a European medal is the stuff of fantasies.

Most football players want to live out their dreams and earn the money and recognition that come with it, but not everyone is cut out to be a professional.

For one former Tottenham Hotspur player, who left the team after 17 years in favour of fresh opportunities, that is undoubtedly the case.

A former Spurs goalie declares retirement


Alfie Whiteman, who signed a three-year contract with the Spurs in 2019, began his journey through the youth ranks of the club at the age of eleven. When he took Joe Hart's place in the closing minutes of a Europa League game against Ludogorets Razgrad in November 2020, he made his first appearance in the first team.

Although it would turn out to be his only senior appearance for Spurs, the 27-year-old native was a member of the team that won the Europa League the previous season and took home a winners' medal after defeating Manchester United in the championship game.

However, that would turn out to be his last performance for the team, as he left in the summer when his contract expired. However, despite rumoured interest from Championship teams, Whiteman has chosen to change careers rather than look for a new club.

He has now shared that he is working as a director and photographer. He signed with the production company Somesuch. This news comes after he hosted a monthly radio show on NTS. He also has a popular profile on the film-review app Letterboxd.

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“The stereotype of a footballer is generally quite true. It’s the golf, wash-bag culture,” he told The Athletic while discussing his change in direction.

“I was that young footballer. I wanted the Gucci wash bag, and I drove the Mercedes. You all just become a reflection of each other. You’re a product of your environment.

“It’s the way football is in this country; it’s so shut off from anything else. You go to training and then you go home, that’s it. I guess I always felt a little different. My teammates – whom I got along with – called me a hippie. That was their definition.

“But then, when I was 18, I met my ex-girlfriend, who was a model. She was a bit older than me. Her best friend was a director. It started to open my eyes to what life has to offer. As I got older, around 18 or 19, I began meeting new people and learning more about myself, and understanding the football bubble because it’s so closed off.”

"Football is a short career, even if you do really well. I knew I didn’t want to stay in it. It was important for me to gain experience and actively learn about other things I was interested in. Mainly, I was enjoying it, and I was surrounded by people who were doing what I loved for a living. 

They were creating things. It was really inspiring.

For over a decade, Joe Mewis has worked in football journalism as a reporter and editor. He has worked at Mirror Football and LeedsLive, among others, and reported on Euro 2024 for FourFourTwo. Besides his journalism, Mewis has written four books on football history, focusing on Leeds United and the England national team. Now, he is also a digital marketing coordinator at Harrogate Town. Mewis considers some of his best moments to be at the famous Spygate press conference with Marcelo Bielsa and watching Leeds lift the Championship trophy during lockdown."

CONOR GALLAGHER CONFIRMED AS "VITAL" STARTER FOR SPURS FOLLOWING BENTANCUR’S INJURY LAYOFF

Conor Gallagher proved the doubters wrong against Man City. Discover why his €40m move to Tottenham is finally paying off for Spurs.

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Conor Gallagher secured first Spurs assist as Tottenham snatched a point at City

Chelsea and Atletico Madrid both decided Conor Gallagher wasn’t worth the trouble. At Chelsea, he had his moments—Pochettino liked him, but the fans never really warmed up. When Chelsea shipped him off to Atletico, it made sense. Enzo Fernandez stepped up, took over Gallagher’s role, and fit in perfectly next to Caicedo, with Cole Palmer adding that extra spark up front.

Things didn’t get much better for Gallagher in Spain. He barely got a chance at Atleti, lost his spot in the starting eleven, and pretty much ended up on the transfer list before anyone had time to blink. Interest was lukewarm at best until the winter window rolled around. Aston Villa wanted him and went after him pretty aggressively, but then Tottenham swooped in late. Spurs needed someone to patch up the midfield after Bentancur’s injury, so they just paid up—40 million euros, no hesitation.

His start at Tottenham? Rough. Honestly, that was to be expected. He’d played well at Palace before, but after his struggles at Atleti, he needed time to adjust. Sitting on the bench in Spain didn’t do him any favours.

Then Gallagher showed up. People doubted whether he could really add creativity and move the ball forward for Spurs, so his early struggles got people worried. But then came the 2-2 draw against Manchester City. He suddenly looked like the player both Ange Postecoglou and Thomas Frank were so desperate to sign.

Against City, Gallagher flipped the script. He set up a crucial assist, drove play forward on the dribble, and kept drawing fouls—everything the Spurs needed. Defensively, he was all over the place in a good way: two tackles, three interceptions, a full 90 minutes, and a huge part of the Spurs clawing their way back into the game.

Tottenham fans loved it. They saw the effort, the attitude, and the hunger to win. Gallagher just wouldn’t quit, and in that second half, he, Xavi Simons, Pape Matar Sarr, Destiny Udogie, and Dominic Solanke ran the show. Four of those guys have been carrying Spurs lately, so Gallagher is fitting right in with them. That’s a pretty good sign he’s going to work out just fine in North London.

AC MILAN MEDICAL FAILURE: THE HIDDEN KNEE INJURY THAT CRUSHED MATETA’S £30M MOVE

Jean-Philippe Mateta's £30m move to AC Milan is OFF. Discover why a failed medical has put his France World Cup dreams in jeopardy.

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Mateta’s "dream move" suddenly turned toxic.

Jean Philippe-Mateta’s got a real headache right now. The Crystal Palace striker just watched his £30 million dream move to AC Milan blow up at the last minute, all because a knee problem showed up during his medical.

The thing is, Mateta’s been carrying this injury for a while. Now he’s stuck: should he go under the knife and try to recover in time for the World Cup? He wants to make the France squad this summer, but nothing’s guaranteed. Even if he has surgery, there’s no telling if he’ll be fit enough—or have enough time on the pitch—to convince Didier Deschamps he deserves a spot.

The injury’s been dragging him down anyway. It’s messing with his form and his game time, and he’s worried he won’t get a real shot at proving himself for France if he isn’t at his best.

It’s tough because he’s coming off a fantastic year at Palace. FA Cup winner, big goals, helped the club reach Europe—it’s been a dream run. But now he might have to go back to Selhurst Park, even though he’s made it clear he’s had enough and wants out.

Honestly, it feels like only a matter of time before he leaves. His contract runs out next summer, and Palace can’t risk losing him for nothing. They’ve already watched Marc Guehi go to Man City for a bargain, just because his deal was running down.

Now Mateta has to sit down with Palace and the doctors to figure out what to do about his knee. Surgery would sideline him for months, probably killing his World Cup chances.

He’s gutted about Milan falling through, especially after Juventus cooled their interest and Nottingham Forest had an offer turned down. Over the weekend, he even unfollowed Palace on Instagram and posted a fed-up emoji. No one really knows if he’ll even make the squad for the Brighton game.

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