Ben Amos started his professional career at Manchester United and spent 14 years at the Reds before leaving in 2015 after making just seven first-team appearances
Ben Amos started his senior career at Manchester United
Ben Amos started his senior career at Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
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Former Manchester United goalkeeper Ben Amos doesn't have many regrets from his time at Old Trafford - but he does admit he have should have left the club sooner.
A boyhood United fan, Amos came through the ranks at the Reds before making his first-team debut, aged 18, during a League Cup tie against Middlesbrough in September 2008.
At the time, Amos was United's fourth-choice keeper behind Edwin van der Sar, Ben Foster and Tomasz Kuszczak, but Sir Alex Ferguson saw something in him and gave him a chance to impress.
Although Amos didn't put much of a foot wrong on his debut, he had to wait more than two years for his next competitive match for the Reds, when he featured in the League Cup against Wolves in October 2010.
Amos went on to make seven appearances in total for United - one of which came in the Premier League - before leaving at the end of his contract in 2015. He moved to Championship side Bolton Wanderers on a permanent deal, having spent the second half of the previous season on loan at the Trotters.
It was one of six loan moves Amos made during his time at United, with Peterborough United, Molde, Oldham Athletic, Hull City, Carlisle United the others. Amos gained some valuable first-team experience at those clubs, but he wishes he could have left United for good sooner than he did.
Speaking to the Manchester Evening News, Amos said: "I've been a United fan since I started watching football. Obviously it was always my dream, Peter Schmeichel was my idol and all that stuff when we went to go and watch them when I was a kid. I just kept punishing, working my hardest in the academy.
Ben Amos spent 14 years at Manchester United
Ben Amos spent 14 years at Manchester United(Image: Getty Images)
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"Then I think there was an injury or something and I obviously got an opportunity to play in the League Cup. I think I was 18, so that was amazing."
"I think I played seven times, but that was all under Sir Alex. If I was performing well, I'd normally get an opportunity in the Cups, League Cup," Amos continued. "He played me in the Champions League and the Premier League. Just one of those things, really.
"I think [David] De Gea was bought for £20million, which was a big chunk at the time. And obviously a world-class keeper, so it's pretty hard to get in front of the likes of those guys. I definitely stayed a couple of years too long, with hindsight. I was still hoping for those opportunities, but when Sir Alex left, I didn't get any more.
"You don't have regrets if you can help it, but if I could have my time again, I think you'd do that. I'd probably have left when Sir Alex left, and go out and get some more experience."
Amos worked in the United senior set-up with Ferguson for five years before the legendary former United manager left the club and retired from football at the end of the 2012/13 season.
While Amos didn't get as many first-team opportunities as he would have hoped, he still had a good relationship with the Scot, who kept a "personable" bond with most United players.
Ferguson, now 84, joined United from Aberdeen in 1986 and ended up spending 27 years at Old Trafford, becoming the club's most successful manager with 38 major trophies in that time.
Ben Amos, Nemanja Vidic, Darron Gibson, Rio Ferdinand, Michael Carrick and Danny Welbeck of Manchester United pose with the FIFA World Club Cup after the 2008 final win over LDU Quito
Ben Amos with his former Manchester United teammates during Sir Alex Ferguson's time at the club
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"In terms of Sir Alex, he kept a certain distance with players, especially younger players. But he would also be personable, if that makes sense," Amos added. "He wouldn't walk past the corridor and not speak to you. He'd have something to say to you as he was walking past.
"But you've heard it all before, he knows my mum and dad's name. And it's maybe 10 years since he's seen them and he'll remember the name. It's just stuff like that that's obviously a special touch, he's just got that.
"You've heard players mention before about how he'll tell them they're not playing. But he's got a game in mind for next week and he'll be walking with them on the pitch, telling them face to face. Just kind of managing expectations and egos and all that stuff that goes on at football clubs."
Amos made 43 appearances for Bolton during his first full season at the club, keeping eight clean sheets. But he lost his place as their No.1 goalkeeper in 2016 to Mark Howard and moved out to Cardiff City on loan.
He would go out on loan to Charlton Athletic and Wigan Athletic - both on loan - before signing for the Addicks on a permanent deal in 2019. Amos, however, was limited to just one League Cup appearance in the Covid-impacted 2019/20 season before he then established himself in the XI during the following campaign.
Ben Amos during his time at Wigan Athletic
Ben Amos during his time at Wigan Athletic(Image: Getty Images)
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Amos' next move was back to Wigan in 2021, where he penned a two-year contract. In his first season, he helped the Latics win the League One title and return to the Championship at the first time of asking.
The 1990-born shot-stopped ended up spending three years at Wigan, keeping 26 clean sheets in 83 appearances, before leaving the club in 2024 to join Port Vale.
Amos, who was part of the Port Vale side which won promotion from League Two in 2024/25, had been at the Staffordshire outfit up until his contract expired last month.
Now a free agent, Amos has been training with the PFA during their pre-season programme this summer, as he continues to look for a new club. He has been part of the out-of-contract squad for the last four weeks and played the first half of a 2-2 draw against non-league Hednesford Town on Tuesday.
Reflecting on his time at PFA pre-season so far, Amos said: "It's been unbelievable. I think this is like my fourth week I think I've been here. Obviously really hard work, they've pushed us every day.
Ben Amos played for Port Vale last season
Ben Amos played for Port Vale last season(Image: Getty Images)
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"But just invaluable, like the sessions that they've put on, the games, obviously the facilities for recovery, everything has been laid on for us, so even to the food, the food has been unbelievable.
"When you're away from here, if you're not on the PFA camp, you just can't recreate it. You can do all the fitness work you want, all the ball work, but you just can't compare to this kind of training and service."
Amos turned 36 in April and is approaching the twilight of his career, but he still feels he can offer something to a club in the Football League ahead of the new season.
"I feel like I'm getting better all the time," Amos finished. "Yes, I'm without a club in 20-something of July, which I've never been in that position before, but I don't feel like I've ever been in a better position in terms of how I feel. It's just the dynamic at the moment, the market and what have you. Hopefully, I won't be waiting too much longer.
"I feel like I've got a lot more to give. I want to go until I'm 40 and maybe beyond. The market will dictate at the end of the day, it always does. The good thing is I know I'm in a great place, ready for whenever that happens."
Amos, who has been linked with a move to Tranmere Rovers, is hoping to find a club before the first round of the Carabao Cup, which is due to take place on the weekend of August 8-9.