Former Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper, Alfie Whiteman has reportedly made the decision to bring his career as a professional footballer to an end.
The 27-year-old called time on his career at the end of the previous season, when he was only 26. Whiteman advanced through the club’s youth divisions before signing his first professional contract. He was a member of Ange Postecoglou’s Europa League-winning team.
He had two loan stints during his time at Tottenham, both with the Swedish club Degerfors, but he never really seemed like he would make it into the first team and was always at the bottom of the hierarchy.
His lack of first-team opportunities led him to pursue other interests, such as media work, photography, and theatrical classes.
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According to The Athletic, when Spurs let him go at the end of the season, he expected to carry on with his football career.
Whiteman Claims To Be Unhappy As A Footballer
However, according to the Daily Star, the shot-stopper acknowledged that he was unhappy as a professional football player and made the decision to hang up his gloves on his own terms during the summer. He is currently pursuing a career in photography.
He revealed: “I signed for Spurs at 10 years old. Then I left school at 16 and went straight into this full-time life of football.
“When I was around 17 or 18, living in digs, I just had this feeling inside of, ‘Is this it?’ Getting on the mini bus, going to training, doing the Sports Science BTEC and going home to play video games. I realised, ‘Oh, I’m not happy here’ from quite a young age.
“The stereotype of a footballer is generally quite true. It’s the golf, washbag culture. I was that young footballer. I wanted the Gucci washbag and I drove the Mercedes. You all just become a reflection of each other.
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