Alfie Whiteman: ‘Coming back from Sweden, I feel like I’m in a better position now’
Thu 23 February 2023, 06:50|
Tottenham Hotspur
Home-grown goalkeeper Alfie Whiteman believes his experiences both here at Spurs and on loan in Sweden have given him the perfect base on which to build.
With us since he was a child, the now 24-year-old has put pen to paper on a new contract until 2025.
Having been in and around our first team squad for a number of years, making his senior competitive debut against Ludogorets in the Europa League in November, 2020, the shot-stopper recently returned from a second loan spell at Degerfors IF, where he helped them avoid relegation from the Allsvenskan – the Swedish top flight – for the second season running.
With a combined total of 34 appearances under his belt for Degerfors and now back working with our first team in support of Fraser Forster and Brandon Austin, with Hugo Lloris currently on the sidelines, Alfie says he’s looking forward with optimism.
“I’ve been here since I was nine or 10 years old, so to extend (my contract) for another few more years is something I’m very proud of,” he told SPURSPLAY.
“My loan spell at Degerfors was great. Just as a life experience, to live in another country and move somewhere by myself, it was quite an adjustment coming from London, but something I really benefitted from. And then of course on the football side, being able to play games every week… as a keeper, it’s difficult, you’re coming on as a sub or getting the odd game here and there, so to be number one at a club and to play was something really beneficial and something that I was looking to do. The season-and-a-half there I think served me well and coming back now, I feel like I’m in a better position.
“When it comes to my career, I tend to try not to look at what’s happened – I’m just trying to look forward. As a team, it’s a collective effort, even for someone like myself who is not playing week in, week out. We’re all together in the changing room and training together, when we lose, we lose together and when we win, we win together and that’s the whole squad, not just the starting XI. To be part of such a group of elite athletes is something that I’m very grateful for.
“I’ve worked with Hugo for a while now. I think I was 17 when I was first on the bench, he was first team keeper and I’ve learned a lot from him. Even being the third and travelling keeper for a while in previous years, sitting next to him in the changing rooms and seeing him at half-time, post-game and pre-game, and also in training every day, he’s someone who I really look up to. Then of course Brandon and I have known each other a long time, we’ve come through the Academy so we have a real good mutual respect and push each other every day. And it’s been really nice to meet Fraser and work with him. He’s an unbelievable professional, a great guy and of course a top keeper who has played many games. All the talented keepers who came before as well, I was just trying to learn as much as I could from each one because everyone is different and can bring different things to the table, so in retrospect I’ve been very lucky to have that exposure to such top professionals.”
Away from the football element, Alfie remains a fan at heart.
“Like I said, I’ve been here since I was a small boy,” he added. “Even before that I was a mascot when I was around six years old – West Ham away, I came out with Robbie Keane but I wore Adel Taarabt’s shirt and shorts, so the shorts were like three-quarter lengths on me! I still have the kit at home. I’ve been a lifelong fan, you can see the stadium from my parents’ house, so just to still be involved, working and playing for the club… I’m living the dream.”
