Featured Image Credit: Fozcast
Topics: Ben Foster, Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Edwin Van Der Sar
Ryan Smart
Topics: Ben Foster, Manchester United, Sir Alex Ferguson, Edwin Van Der Sar
Ben Foster has revealed he had a genius contract clause at Manchester United that earned him an eye-watering sum - despite being the lowest-paid player in the squad.
Foster signed for United in 2005 from Stoke, and went on to make 13 senior appearances for Sir Alex Ferguson's side over five seasons.
He acted as understudy to Edwin van der Sar and Tomasz Kuszczak, only earning playing time in the Premier League when they were injured or otherwise unavailable.
As such, Foster was the lowest-paid player in United's senior squad, despite going on to earn his first England senior cap in 2007.
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But the goalkeeper was able to earn extra money through a clever clause negotiated as part of his contract.
Foster earned just £5,000 a week and £160,000 a year during most of his time at Old Trafford, but had a £20,000 appearance fee as part of his contract.
In his penultimate season at the club, he played two Premier League matches while covering for Van der Sar.
As a result, he earned a total of £40,000 in appearance money on top of his £160,000 salary.
Foster then signed a new contract ahead of the 2009/10 season and was given the opportunity to become first-choice goalkeeper following an injury to Van der Sar, but struggled to perform across nine league appearances and was replaced by Kuszczak.
He did, however, net an additional £180,000 in appearance bonuses to more than double his basic wage for the season.
Speaking on his podcast, 'Fozcast', the former West Brom, Watford and Wrexham goalkeeper explained: "When I first signed my contract at Manchester United, when I very first signed it, I was on £5,000 a week. Obviously, the lowest-paid player in the squad.
"But I had a clause in there where, if I played a first team game for the team, a Premier League game it had to be, a 20 grand appearance fee.
"And the final pre-season match, we were playing a mini tournament in Germany, Edwin van der Sar saved a penalty in the last minute against Bayern Munich and broke his hand.
"I started the season, and every game I was getting £20,000. And I was thinking, 'This is incredible. This is absolutely phenomenal. I'm on five grand a week and I'm getting four times my weekly wage. Just for playing 90 minutes'."