Craig Forrest

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Craig Forrest
Image:Replace this image male.svg
Personal information
Full name Craig Lorne Forrest
Date of birth September 20, 1967 (1967-09-20) (age 40)
Place of birth    Coquitlam, Canada
Playing position Goalkeeper
Club information
Current club Retired
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
1985–97
1987–88
1996–97
1997–2002		 Ipswich Town
→ Colchester United (loan)
→ Chelsea (loan)
West Ham United		 263 (0)
011 (0)
003 (0)
030 (0)   
National team
1988–2002 Canada 56 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only.
* Appearances (Goals)

Craig Lorne Forrest (born September 20, 1967 in Coquitlam, British Columbia) is a Canadian soccer commentator and a former goalkeeper. He was the first-choice goalkeeper for Canada during the 1990s and either first or second choice at English club Ipswich Town from the late 1980s to mid-1990s. Forrest went on loan to Chelsea F.C. in 1997 and played with the likes of Gianluca Vialli, Gianfranco Zola, all under the guidance of the manager Ruud Gullit. A permanent move to Chelsea was turned down by the Ipswich Town Board of Directors. Forrest played a number of first-team games in the FA Premier League in the late 1990s with West Ham United.

Forrest joined Ipswich in 1984 and remained with the club until 1997, making 263 league appearances with the club. Forrest saw his first first-team action with 11 appearances on loan to Colchester United in 1987–88. From 1988–89 through to 1996–97, Forrest was in the Ipswich goal, including during 1991–92 season when the club won promotion to the Premiership by winning Division One which was in its inaugural year. Forrest was ever-present that season. He was amongst only 11 foreign players which started that season, of whom the most prominent were Peter Schmeichel, Hans Segers, Eric Cantona, Anders Limpar and Andrei Kanchelskis. In 1997 Forrest signed with West Ham with whom he remained until his retirement from football in 2002.

Debuting for Canada in 1988, Forrest earned 56 caps, the most of any goalkeeper in the history of the team, and also the most clean sheets before retiring from international football in 2002. The highlight of his international career was helping the Canadians win the 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup, in which Forrest was named tournament MVP and Most Valuable Goalkeeper for allowing a mere three goals and stopping two penalties in his side's five games. Also during his international career Canada had secured a 1–1 draw against Brazil only a month prior to them hosting the World Cup in 1994. Forrest had further success against Brazil, also registering a 0–0 draw in the Confederations Cup in 2001 in Japan.

Forrest was forced to retire from pro soccer due to complications from acquiring and recovering from testicular cancer. He began working as a sports analyst with Rogers Sportsnet upon his retirement from playing.

Forrest is also noted for his performances against Manchester United. In one performance against the Reds in 1995, Forrest conceded nine goals as Ipswich lost 9-0 at Old Trafford. At the end of that season Forrest was honoured with the Players Player of the Year award and also the fans Player of the Year award.[citation needed] Forrest made another visit to Old Trafford, nearly 5 years later, now with West Ham United. That match ended 7-1 to Manchester United.

Forrest is considered by some to be one of the best players ever for Canada's national football team and continues to play a major role in promoting the game in Canada,[citation needed] appearing frequently as a broadcaster for the men's national team and Toronto FC on sportsnet and the CBC. He has a reputation as a competent, knowledgeable broadcaster.[citation needed]

Forrest is now the Canadian FIFA Ambassador for SOS Children's Villages, he joins over 80 international stars who are official ambassadors which includes the likes of Andriy Shevchenko, Wayne Rooney, Ruud van Nistelrooy, Lucas Radebe, Carlos Dunga, Fabio Cannavaro, Roger Milla, George Weah, Samuel Eto'o and Hugo Sanchez.

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