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Curtis Anderson’s career has taken a different trajectory from his former England teammates.
The goalkeeper starred alongside Phil Foden and Jadon Sancho as the Young Lions won the Under-17 World Cup in 2017.
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Anderson saved and scored a penalty during their shootout victory over Japan in the last 16.
It was one of six appearances he made at the tournament, including in the final against Spain as England triumphed 5-2.
Their side that day featured future senior internationals, Marc Guehi, Callum Hudson-Odoi and Morgan Gibbs-White.
Foden also scored twice, whilst Sancho had been recalled by Borussia Dortmund to feature for their first team.
As for Anderson, he was never capped beyond under-19 level and now balances an office job with playing in the ninth tier.
Watching on as several of his former team-mates appeared at the 2022 World Cup proved particularly difficult for Anderson.
Speaking to The Times in 2023, he explained: “I really struggled because I was seeing so many of my old team-mates and people I had spent a lot of time with.
“And then there’s me, sat at home watching on TV, thinking, ‘How has this ended up happening?’”
Having progressed through Manchester City’s academy alongside Foden, he departed the club in 2019.
After seeing a move to Blackburn fall through, Anderson headed to the USA to join Charlotte Independence.
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What happened to Curtis Anderson?
Recalling the decision, which he made aged just 18, he said: “Me being a kid and thinking I knew everything, I was like, no, I need to go and play.
“Blackburn were clearly there — why not train, stay earning this money and go to Blackburn at the end of the season? Nobody told me to do that.”
However, he was back in England just a year later as he signed for then-Championship side Wycombe.
Anderson remained with the Chairboys for three years without making a first-team appearance.
It was after leaving the club in 2022 and a brief spell at non-league Lancaster City that he decided on a career change.
The 24-year-old has since worked for financial advice firm Markland Hill Wealth in Lancaster.
Life after Premier League football
Having earned a diploma in financial planning, he now holds the position of head of sports financial planning.
Explaining his decision to work in finance, Anderson added: “My interest in finance came from being at City, signing a pro [contract] and then two years later having no money left.
“When I look back, I wonder what I spent my money on. I don’t really know.
“I got an apartment, a car, and bought a Rolex thinking that’s the worst thing I could have bought — and it’s been the best thing I bought.
“That’s the only thing I could sell now for more than I bought it for.”
Anderson would go on to join Bootle during the 2022/23 season before leaving the club at the end of the campaign.
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After three months without a club, he signed for Kendal Town in October 2023.
The Cumbria side currently find themselves in the Northern League Division One, the ninth tier of English football.
Last season saw Kendal finish sixth in the table, just two points adrift of the play-offs.
