A former Aston Villa goalkeeper has landed a job at the board of directors for a Turkish giant.
Villa have seen plenty of players come and go from the club over the years. While many have been successes some have been failures at the Birmingham outfit.
However, one man who was at the club during one of its best spells in the 21st century was Brad Friedel.
The goalkeeper was added to Villa’s first team in 2008 and spent three years as the number one for the Claret and Blue. During his time at Villa Park, the club was a regular top-six side and played in the UEFA Cup.
While the American is now long retired, he has now earned himself a job in perhaps an unexpected environment.
Ex-Aston Villa goalkeeper Brad Friedel joins Besiktas board of directors
Since retirement, Friedel has aimed to stay within the footballing industry.
In 2016, a year after he left Spurs, he took up his first management role at the USA Under 19s. He spent a year in his role and also helped his country win the Under 20s CONCACAF Championship as the assistant coach.
In 2017, he was named the head coach of MLS side New England Revolution. However, this spell was riddled with draws. By the time he was sacked in 2019, he had drawn 21 of his 46 games, including eight in his final 12 games.
However, Friedel has now made his return to football. The former goalkeeper has taken up a position on the board of directors at Besiktas for the 2024/25 and the 2025/26 campaigns.
Read more: Aston Villa’s 1982 European Cup winning side – where are they now?
Another former Villian has taken his career abroad
While Friedel’s appointment might seem odd considering his playing career never took him to Turkey, he is not the first to adventure outwards.
Former Villa striker Savo Milosevic was the manager of Bosnia and Herzegovina until earlier this year while Adrian Heath was at MLS side Minnesota United until 2023.
Hopefully, over the next two years, Friedel can progress his career in Turkey and impress at Besiktas.
After such a long time away from football, the former Villa goalkeeper deserves his chance to do well.
The post I was an Aston Villa shot-stopper in the ‘prime Barclay’s’ era of the Premier League – now I’ve joined the board of directors for a Super Lig giant appeared first on Aston Villa News.