England goalkeeper Aaron Ramsdale is astounded by his meteoric rise from obscurity in the lower leagues to the World Cup.
Aaron Ramsdale, the goalkeeper for England, can’t believe he went from playing in a lower league to the World Cup. He says he’s still pinching himself.
Three years ago, Ramsdale was a young player who had never been heard of. His parent club, Sheffield United, had sent him on loan to AFC Wimbledon, so a World Cup spot would have seemed like an impossible dream.
The 24-year-old is now doing well with the top team in the Premier League, Arsenal. In 2018, he was on loan with Chesterfield, who were relegated from the fourth tier while he was there.
Even when Ramsdale finally made it to the Premier League with Bournemouth and then Sheffield United, he kept getting sent down.
But Ramsdale’s rough start to his career taught him a lot and gave him time to get better at what he did while he was out of the spotlight.
Now he is getting what he deserves because he was the best player for Arsenal during their unexpected rise to the top of the Premier League this season.
Even though Jordan Pickford is expected to be England’s number one goalkeeper when Garth Southgate’s team plays Iran in their World Cup opener on Monday, Ramsdale has forced his way into the conversation.
The goalkeeper is grounded enough to realize how hard it was for him to get to Qatar.
“There’s times when it is a pinch-yourself moment when I speak to my parents or my wife, especially after the first few years of my career in difficult situations,” Ramsdale said at England’s training base in Qatar on Friday.
“I’ve learnt so much in terms of different experiences. I’m now learning the side of the game being top of the table, being in Europe, being in the England squad.
“But those tough moments when certain people have a different outlook, I’ve been able to see from the other side.”
England’s run to the semi-finals of the 2018 World Cup was a big part of Ramsdale’s decision to move to Qatar.
“There were definitely a few tears shed from my dad when I got named in the squad,” he said. “If I actually make it on the pitch he might not return home. He might have a heart-attack.
“It’s special for family and especially my parents who have driven me up and down the country and around the world. He won’t have any nails left.”
In training, England goalkeepers Ramsdale and Nick Pope have been putting pressure on Everton star Pickford.
“I see it as it is,” Ramsdale said. “You need three goalkeepers to train properly to get the number one to his best.
“Whoever gets that first game will have our full support. You never know with tournament football. You always have to be ready to be called upon.”
