I was a Premier League star with Arsenal and a Champions League finalist – now I’m a World War II history buff and had a ghost in my house
What could have been for Manuel Almunia.
Signed from Celta Vigo in 2004, the Spaniard was being groomed for the number one spot for one of the very best teams in the world.
Arsenal were just coming off of their Invincibles Premier League-winning season, and Arsene Wenger had masterfully managed a squad transition to compete in the Champions League final.
In 2005/06, Almunia graduated from a squad player to second choice, starting in the cups, and often in Europe.
The first choice, Jens Lehmann, took all 38 Premier League games from him and even the Champions League final.
That only lasted 18 minutes, though, with Samuel Eto’o beating him to a Ronaldinho pass, and getting wiped out, seeing the German sent off in an instant.
The game was scoreless at the time but Almunia was later twice beaten at his near-post, recording a 2-1 defeat, breaking Gunners hearts everywhere.
Arsenal ended the season trophyless for the first time in four years, and would continue that trend for the next eight, during which Almunia got three more cracks at the whip.
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Recovering from his trauma in Paris, Almunia impressed as a number one so much that he was considered for the England international team.
Having dislodged Bundesliga, Serie A and Premier League winner Lehmann, you’d think he would be a shoo-in for Spain, but Iker Casillas, Pepe Reina and Victor Valdes stood in the way.
Asked about his Spain chances he told a journalist it was impossible, but he could play for England due to earning citizenship, which created an almighty storm.
Even Wenger talked up his shot-stopper, saying "Of course he is good enough [for England] - he is the best.”
Fabio Capello was struggling with David James and Robert Green at the time, and Almunia certainly has a case to be better than both, but later admitted he regretted even making the comments.
“I felt very happy in England — I loved English football, the country and the people,” he said in 2019.
“I felt I could play for England. But part of me inside was thinking, ‘What the f*** are you saying? If you play for England, people in England will want to kill you. Then if you go to Spain in the summer, people in Spain will want to kill you too.
“‘What are you doing?’ I’m not the kind of person that wants these kind of problems. I never considered it seriously.”
That was, though, a career peak for the Pamplona-born star, who, when injured in 2011, found his place blocked by Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny upon his return.
Those two weren’t the only ones haunting him in north London either, with reports claiming Almunia was allowed to go home from training by Wenger as his wife was scared of a ghost in their house.
Explaining the incident, he said: "Once my wife saw this monk-like figure with a candle in his hand at the end of our bed. I didn't see him but I was s*** scared."
With things over at Arsenal, he left the club in 2011, later joining Watford where he became a protagonist in one of English football’s greatest-ever moments.
With the score level against Leicester in their championship play-off second leg, Anthony Knockaert won a penalty deep into stoppage time, with a single kick to send Watford out in front of their home fans.
Almunia had other ideas, though, astonishingly saving twice, before the ball was cleared upfield.
It then ended up in front of Troy Deeney for him to volley home, causing utter chaos at Vicarage Road as fans spilled onto the pitch to celebrate the incredible scenes.
Almunia was mobbed for his role in sending the Hornets through, which may well be his career highlight as it’s one that will go down in history.
And Almunia should know, as he revealed after his retirement that history is his second love.
"I don't see too many other players when I'm visiting museums," he explained.
"A lot of the lads aren't interested in culture and prefer instead to play golf, go shopping or play on their iPads - it is bad. Museums help me relax and learn, but I also enjoy them.
"It started when I was at Arsenal. In particular, I love the Imperial War museum. I've been there five or six times and I enjoy learning about the Civil War.
"I've read a lot about the Civil War and World War II and it is good to see actual action footage of them, and find out more about them.
"I like seeing who took part, while the museum itself is also beautiful. It is good for people to educate themselves and learn about the past.
"When you come to London as a visitor or to live, the museums are on your list of things to see and do.
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"I made a long list when I came here of things to visit and I had several museums on that list. The Natural History Museum is also lovely, it's huge, so you have to go two or three times to try and see everything.”
Later leaving his second home of London, Almunia is now a goalkeeping coach for Al Jazira in Abu Dhabi, happy to say goodbye to England knowing he played a part in the county’s footballing history.