Aaron Ramsdale used to stay at home of Premier League cult hero but was ‘a lot quieter’
AARON RAMSDALE used to regularly enjoy sleepovers at the house of a legendary Bolton Premier League star.
And he used to be a “lot quieter” than he is these days out on the pitch.
The five-cap England stopper, 26, is currently doing his best to try to help Southampton climb off the bottom of the table.
He joined the Saints from Arsenal in the summer and has also appeared for Bournemouth and Sheffield United in the top-flight.
However, he still has some way to go to surpass ex-Finland star Jussi Jaaskelainen’s tally of 436 Prem appearances.
The former Bolton and West Ham man’s own son Will, 26, is following in his father’s footsteps in goal at National League Woking.
And he and Ramsdale used to be inseparable as Jaaskelainen revealed at the launch of Ladbrokes’ “Gaffer of all Accas”.
He said: “Aaron and my son were close friends growing up, and they played together for a couple of years in Bolton’s academy, and because Aaron’s parents lived in the Midlands, quite often he would stay at my house.
“The boys were always playing football in the garden, and obviously I would get involved with them.
“It was great, they were wonderful times for me and my family.
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“Both boys were really nice kids, and I know Aaron is a bit of a character now, but he was a lot quieter when he was younger.”
Jaaskelainen added: “You know, him and my son, Will, were both a little smaller than they perhaps should have been at their age, and I know the coaches at Bolton weren’t really happy about that, because they couldn’t kick the ball long enough.
“But you just need to be patient with that kind of thing, because when you see the talent they had, and then they start growing, all of a sudden, you’ve got some great players there.
“I have to say, at that time with Bolton, from a goalkeeping perspective, the coaches were very good, and it’s why the boys are where they are today.”