David James (footballer, born 1970)

David James (footballer, born 1970)

David Benjamin James MBE is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is fourth on the list of all-time Premier League appearances, having played in 572 top-level matches. James held the Premier League record for most clean sheets with 169 until Petr Čech surpassed this record. He was capped 53 times by England between 1997 and 2010, and was first choice goalkeeper during the team’s Euro 2004 and the 2010 World Cup campaigns. James was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to football and charity.

About David James (footballer, born 1970) in brief

Summary David James (footballer, born 1970)David Benjamin James MBE is an English former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. He is fourth on the list of all-time Premier League appearances, having played in 572 top-level matches. James held the Premier League record for most clean sheets with 169 until Petr Čech surpassed this record. He was capped 53 times by England between 1997 and 2010, and was first choice goalkeeper during the team’s Euro 2004 and the 2010 World Cup campaigns. James was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 2012 Birthday Honours for services to football and charity. In October 2013, James took up a coaching position at Luton Town, the club he has supported since his childhood. The following year, he became the marquee player and manager of the newly formed Kerala Blasters FC in the Indian Super League. In December 2018, James was himself dismissed in December following an 11-match winless run. James rose to fame together with Liverpool teammates Steve McManaman, Jamie Redknapp, and Robbie Fowler, who were nicknamed the Spice Boys – an epithet named after the Spice Girls. He signed as a trainee with Luton’s local rivals Watford upon leaving school. He made 89 first-team appearances for Watford and was named the club’s Player of the Season for the 1990–91 season, when he kept goal in all 46 Second Division games as Watford escaped relegation. James made his Liverpool debut on 16 August 1992 in a 0–1 league defeat to Nottingham Forest.

On 23 August 1999, after 277 games for Liverpool, he was sold to Aston Villa for £1.1million. After just two years and 85 appearances, James moved to West Ham United for £3.3million. On 11 July 2001, he signed a four-year contract with West Ham. In 2010, at the age of 39, James became the oldest goalkeeper to appear in an FA Cup Final. James dropped down a division in 2010 to play for Bristol City and later played for League One side Bournemouth. He joined Icelandic side ÍBV Vestmannaeyjar in 2013 in a joint playing and coaching capacity, before officially retiring. He has also been a pundit on BT Sport’s football coverage. James’ frequent blunders earned him the nickname Calamity James. He put down his spate of errors to an overindulgence in playing computer games, which in turn affected his concentration. He also received a runners-up medal in 1996 in the FA Cup while being on the losing side against Manchester United. James won the Football League Cup with Aston Villa in 2000, Liverpool in 1996 and Portsmouth in 2010, as well as runners- up medals with Manchester City and West Ham in 2008 and 2009. He won a FA Cup semi-final against Bolton Wanderers in 2000 and a penalty shoot-out against Chelsea’s Chelsea in the ensuing winning goal in the 2011 FA Cup final. James has been a member of the Football Writers’ Association (FFA) Board of Trustees since 2007.