Former Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has revealed he could have become eligible to play for England during his time in the Premier League, but he never seriously considered the switch because he feared the reaction from both sets of supporters.
The 49-year-old retired shot-stopper spent five years in the country, which would have made him eligible for the Three Lions after not being capped by Spain at the height of his career.
Almunia's Career and International Situation
In the 2007/08 season, Almunia dislodged Jens Lehmann as Arsenal's number one. However, his rise came when Iker Casillas was first-choice for Spain, with Victor Valdes and Pepe Reina also competing for recognition.
As Spain entered a golden era, winning two Euros and the World Cup from 2008 to 2012, Almunia was overlooked. Having signed for the Gunners in 2004, he openly discussed the possibility of playing for England, which could have seen him join Fabio Capello's squad at the 2010 World Cup.
Why He Never Made the Switch
Almunia said the idea grew after an interview, but he never seriously considered it. "I did an interview and the journalist asked me about the Spanish national team. I said, 'No, it's not possible, but it's possible I could try to play for England'," he told The Athletic in 2019. "So after that they all said, 'OK, he might apply to play for England because he has played there five years already.' Then the story was growing and growing and I couldn't stop it."
England failed to reach Euro 2008, and the goalkeeping situation remained uncertain under Capello, with Rob Green and David James featuring at the 2010 World Cup. Almunia felt he could have helped, saying, "I felt very happy in England — I loved English football, the country and the people. When things go well, you feel you can do anything. And I felt I could play for England."
However, he added, "But part of me inside was thinking, 'What the f*** are you saying? If you play for England, people in England will want to kill you. Then if you go to Spain in the summer, people in Spain will want to kill you too. What are you doing?' I'm not the kind of person that wants these kind of problems. I never considered it seriously."
Legacy and Upcoming Clash
Almunia made 175 appearances for Arsenal during his seven-year stint with Arsene Wenger's side. He briefly joined West Ham United in 2011, later becoming a cult hero at Watford before retiring in 2014.
He may keep an eye on England and Spain's clash this weekend, their first meeting since the Euro 2024 final. England boss Thomas Tuchel will hope his side can record a statement result against Spain to start the extended international break on a positive note.
