What Happened to England's 'Team of the Future' Predicted by Newspaper in 2007
Back in 2007, the Sun picked out England’s ‘Team of the Future’, though it’s fair to say their prediction didn’t come to fruition.
Up-and-coming stars from Manchester United, Arsenal, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool were all tipped for big things by the publication almost 20 years ago.
Hindsight is always 20-20, and this XI failed to match expectations as the bulk of the team endured testing careers, winning just 60 England caps between them. Here we run through what happened to those tipped to take the world by storm.
Goalkeeper: Ben Amos
Ben Amos was a highly-rated goalkeeper when he was breaking through at Manchester United, but he went on to make just seven senior appearances, five of which came in the League Cup.
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After a succession of loan spells, Amos departed United permanently for Bolton in 2015, before playing for Charlton and Wigan.
The 35-year-old is now the second choice for League One side Port Vale.
Right-back: Sam Hutchinson
Similarly, Sam Hutchinson also plies his trade in the third tier of English football with AFC Wimbledon.
Hutchinson initially retired in 2010 due to an ongoing knee injury, before reversing his decision in 2011. However, the problem restricted the defender to just five league appearances for Chelsea, and he left the Blues permanently in 2014 as he moved to Sheffield Wednesday.
Now 36, he’s struggling for regular action with the Wombles.
Centre-back: Micah Richards
Micah Richards was one of those who did go on to enjoy a successful career for club and country.
The versatile defender earned 13 England caps, represented Team GB at the Olympics and won the Premier League and FA Cup with Manchester City. Following spells with Fiorentina and Aston Villa, Richards is now a pundit on Sky Sports, BBC Sport and CBS.
Centre-back: Gavin Hoyte
Partnering Richards at the heart of the defence, Gavin Hoyte, younger brother of former Arsenal trainee Justin, struggled to break into the Gunners first team.
Arsenal loaned the younger Hoyte to a fair few EFL teams before he left permanently for Dagenham & Redbridge in 2012.
The 35-year-old still plays having joined Isthmian League South East Division side Sittingbourne earlier this year, while his international career amounted to three caps for Trinidad and Tobago.
Left-back: Robbie Threlfall
Rounding off the defence, Robbie Threlfall failed to make the leap from the Liverpool youth side to the first team.
Following a succession of loan stints at the likes of Hereford, Stockpot and Northampton, Threlfall’s time at Liverpool came to an end in 2010 when a temporary exit for Bradford was made permanent.
The defender would go on to play semi-professionally with Marine in 2016, though left the club and called time on his career in 2017 before the age of 30.
Central midfield: Dean Parrett
Dean Parrett was destined for the top when he joined Tottenham from QPR in 2007.
However, the midfielder made just four appearances for the north London side and was ultimately released by the club in June 2013 following a series of unsuccessful loan spells.
Parrett went on to play for a number of lower league sides, including Stevenage, AFC Wimbledon and Barnet, and in March 2022; signed for Biggleswade Town on a short-term deal before retiring.
Central midfield: Michael Johnson
Big things were expected of Michael Johnson.
After a youth career that took him from Leeds, to Feyenoord, Crewe, Liverpool, Everton and finally Manchester City, Johnson made his senior debut for the Cityzens in 2006.
The 37-year-old, though, retired early due to chronic knee issues and mental health struggles, and in 2015 he opened his own estate agent’s business in his hometown of Urmston.
Dietmar Hamann once likened Johnson to former Germany and Chelsea star Michael Ballack.
Central midfield: James Henry
Having come through the ranks at Reading, James Henry has enjoyed a fairly commendable playing career in the lower leagues.
While he struggled to break into the Royals setup, Henry has amassed in excess of 500 appearances across stints with the likes of Millwall, Wolves and Oxford, and now plies his trade with Aldershot.
In June, he signed a contract extension to remain at the club in the role of player/first-team coach.
Right wing: Theo Walcott
Of the 60 England caps between the XI, Theo Walcott is accountable for 47.
Walcott may have failed to hit the heights expected when he broke onto the scene with Southampton but he was a regular feature for Arsenal, where he spent 12 years.
After a move to Everton in 2018, the winger returned to Southampton in 2020, before the switch was made permanent in 2021.
In August 2023, the 36-year-old announced his retirement, and he now works as a studio analyst on Match of the Day.
Striker: Jose Baxter
Jose Baxter became Everton’s youngest ever senior player in 2008, and many tipped the forward to live up to the billing as the next Wayne Rooney.
Baxter’s career, though, went more the way of James Vaughan. After a loan stint with Tranmere, the Toffees sold the forward to Oldham in 2012 and he then went on to join Sheffield United in 2013. In May 2015,
Baxter was suspended by the Blades after failing a drug test, having tested positive for ecstasy. In 2020, he moved to American side Memphis 901 but retired in 2021 at the age of 29.
Left wing: Scott Sinclair
Rounding off the XI, Scott Sinclair’s best moments came with Swansea, and his form for the Welsh side ultimately earned him a move to Manchester City in 2012.
Playing time was hard to come by for City, and he eventually left for Aston Villa in 2015. Sinclair enjoyed success north of the border with Celtic before returning to England with Preston in 2020.
The winger would then return to Bristol Rovers in 2022, yet was released at the end of last season. Sinclair represented England from U17 through to U21 level, yet a senior cap never arrived.
The closest he came to international recognition was at the London 2012 Olympics as he represented Team GB.
Topics: Football, Premier League, England
Ben McAleer