AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth’s second January recruit has arrived in the form of goalkeeper Darren Randolph.
The Irishman arrives from Premier League counterparts West Ham United following a three-year spell with the Irons.
Alongside an impressive international career, Randolph moves to Vitality Stadium having represented eight clubs and with a wealth of experience.
Here are five things you might not know about the club’s latest incoming…
1. Basketball beginnings
With 50 senior caps for Ireland under his belt playing football, the stopper also represented the Boys in Green in a different sport altogether.
Basketball was a second passion for Randolph as a youngster ahead of coming through the ranks with Charlton.
His father, Ed, played for Irish Super League side Sporting Belfast in the 1980s, inspiring Randolph to a European Championships appearance at underage level.
2. Six tiers of experience
Throughout an impressive playing career, the 35-year-old goalkeeper has achieved a feat which is completed by few players.
Randolph has made outings in each of the top six tiers of English football from the Conference South up to the Premier League.
Thanks to a string of five loans away from the Addicks during his early career, the Irishman had achieved the feat by the 2008/09 campaign.
3. Champions League pedigree
A move to Motherwell after departing Charlton added to the goalkeeper’s six tiers of experience with the Scottish Premier League entering the mix.
Not only did his stay with the Steelmen add outings in the SPL, but also two appearances at the pinnacle of club football – the Champions League.
A third-place league finish in the 2011/12 campaign teed up a double-header with Greek club Panathinaikos for qualification, however, both ties ended in defeat.
4. Record breaker
Randolph’s three-year stay at Fir Park proved a fruitful one, not only did he derive Champions League and Europa League experience, but he also became a record breaker.
Each of the three seasons were impressive for the stopper but none more so than the 2011/12 term.
Aiding Motherwell to third place Randolph kept 15 clean sheets in 38 SPL outings, making him their record holder for clean sheets in a single season.
5. Representing Ireland on four fronts
Over his aforementioned 50 caps for Ireland, the stopper has featured across four different competitions alongside friendlies.
With appearances in Euros and World Cup qualification campaigns, Randolph also made outings in the Nations League and at Euro 2016.
The latter saw the goalkeeper play every tournament minute for Ireland, in which they defeated Italy 1-0 in their final group game to tee up a round-of-16 exit to eventual runners-up France.
