Ben Foster details the little-known clause that second-choice goalkeepers have in their contracts

Ben Foster has given an insight into how a second-choice goalkeeper would typically negotiate his contract compared to an outfield player.

The 41-year-old, who announced his decision to retire from professional football in 2023 following a short spell at Wrexham, played for Manchester United, Birmingham City, West Brom and Watford during a 23-year career.

In total, he played 390 games in the Premier League, meaning only eight more goalkeepers have made more appearances in the competition.

He first appeared in England's top flight with Watford during the 2006/07 campaign before being made Manchester United's second-choice goalkeeper behind the experienced Edwin van der Sar.

More than 15 years later and on his popular Fozcast podcast, the subject of second-choice goalkeepers cropped up in conversation with former England goalkeeper coach Dave Watson.

Here, Foster discussed the ins-and-outs of negotiating a contract as a club's second-choice keeper.

"When you're a number two goalkeeper, for example, it would be different [to a normal contract]," he said.

"It would be a lot more incentive-based. The basic wage isn't going to be as high as the first-team goalkeeper but if he plays, his appearance fee would be much higher.

"If he's sat on the bench in the Premier League, I can guarantee he's going to be getting a bonus of some sort. And that's just for being on the bench. When you're a sub goalie, you have to have that in your contract."

He added: "The outfield will get something but a [second choice] goalkeeper will get more because he knows his job that day – and for most of the season – will be sitting on the bench. The chances of getting on the pitch are very slim."

Foster was the second-choice goalkeeper at Man Utd. Image credit: Getty

Foster often talks about his former clubs on the podcast and last year, he spoke about being one of the first goalkeepers to use a modern-day penalty hack during the 2009 League Cup final.

While playing for Manchester United, a young Foster earned the Man of the Match award against Spurs, with the game finishing 0-0 before Foster helped his team come out victorious on penalties.

The now-retired keeper revealed that the shootout was the first time he had used the 'famous iPod' as an aid to predict where certain penalty takers place their spot kicks.

"So basically yeah, Steely the goalkeeper coach he basically had them all on the iPod and he was showing me which way they all go," he said on Fozcast.

"So the first penalty I saved was Jamie O'Hara, the Jamie O'Hara clips were telling me he was going to put it to my left, so I make the save. Boom.

"Then I think it was David Bentley, and he put it wide but our lads were brilliant like we were ruthless. We had Anderson, Ryan Giggs, Carlos Tevez just dispatching penalties, Heurelho Gomes in goal for Spurs didn't stand a chance."