Former Barnsley goalkeeper David Watson has received international recognition today by being named in England manager Roy Hodgson’s coaching team for the 2012 European Championships this summer.
The 38 year old saw a prospective playing career with the national side cut short by a devastating knee injury that he suffered in September 1998. The shot-stopper came through the academy at Oakwell and was an ever-present in the 1996-1997 promotion season, before playing in 30 of their 38 games in the Premier League.
Watson suffered his career ending knee injury during a 3-1 home defeat to Norwich in September of the following season at the age of 25 and despite spending the next three years trying to recover, he was forced to retire in 2001.
Desperate to stay in the game the former England Under 21 keeper moved into coaching and has spent spells as goalkeeping coach at Northampton, Oldham, Huddersfield and Nottingham Forest before joining his current club, Birmingham in January 2008. During his time in the Midlands he has been credited with guiding the careers of current England No.1 Joe Hart and former England keeper Ben Foster.
Watson, who has also spent a spell as England Under 19’s goalkeeper coach will assist the new England manager during this summer’s tournament.
During his tragically short playing career Watson made 206 appearances for The Reds and also represented England at the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship were they finished in third position.