Inside ‘forgotten man’ Ollie Watkins’ journey – Conference South to England star
Ollie Watkins once admitted he would have to do “something special” to get the recognition he deserves.
And now he has. His 90th minute goal to sink the Netherlands and fire England into the final of Euro 2024 will go down as one of the most iconic in history.
Watkins can now add his name to the list of English footballers who changed their careers and lives with one swing of a boot, like Sir Geoff Hurst, David Platt, Michael Owen, David Beckham and Chloe Kelly.
READ MORE: Harry Kane shows true colours with Ollie Watkins comment after England beat Netherlands
In the blink of an eye, Watkins elevated himself from the forgotten man of the tournament to the star of the show. And in the process, proved beyond doubt his manager Gareth Southgate DOES have the ability to be pro-active to win the biggest games possible. Another substitute, Cole Palmer, set-up Watkins winning goal.
Aston Villa striker Watkins hates being famous, and struggled to adapt to a life getting stopped for selfies and autographs when shopping at the supermarket following his move from Brentford to the Midlands. But now he will have to get used to a whole new level of superstardom altogether.
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(Image: PA)
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In the meantime, he will be brought back down to earth on Sunday, when Southgate names him on the bench again for the final against Spain in Berlin. Southgate has no intention of leaving out talismanic captain Harry Kane.
But make no bones about it, this has been a fairytale journey for 28-year-old Watkins, who only has 14 caps for England to his name, and, until last night, had scored just three goals for his country.
The boyhood Arsenal supporter from Devon was never tipped to reach this level – having begun his career in Exeter City’s academy and after breaking through for the League Two side, being sent out on loan to Conference South outfit Weston-super-Mare.
(Image: Mark Atherton)
But after returning to Exeter where the goals began to flow, he earned a move to Championship Brentford, smashing in 26 strikes in the 2019-20 season. And when heartbreak came in the form of a play-off final defeat, it was followed by a £28m club record transfer to Aston Villa, before he set the Premier League alight.
Everything since must feel like an absurd dream – a hat-trick against then champions Liverpool in a 7-2 win, topping the scoring charts and reaching the Champions League, and finally making his international debut, when he scored with his first shot on target in an England shirt against San Marino.
(Image: The FA via Getty Images)
He suffered the pain of being selected in the provisional England squad for Euro 2020, but didn’t make the cut. Watkins had to watch on TV at home like everyone else when Southgate’s men went all the way to a final at Wembley, only to lose on penalties to Italy. And he didn’t make the 2022 World Cup squad either.
But now he has become an England hero – the man who took his nation to their first ever final on foreign soil. He’s even been named in Top Trumps’ next edition of ‘World Football Stars Top 200’ – the first time makers have had his face on one of the cards.
And if England can beat Spain in Berlin, his name will forever be etched in Three Lions folklore.
