I was in-between the posts for two iconic Premier League goals and went to the World Cup with Scotland but now I’m a driving instructor

A former Premier League star has swapped his life on the pitch for one on the road.

Ex-goalkeeper Neil Sullivan departed from the beautiful game back in 2013 and has recently got a job as a driving instructor. 

The now 54-year-old played 665 games for six clubs during a 25-year-long career which saw him stand in goal for two out of Big Six clubs, Chelsea and Tottenham.

Despite his impressive career and job portfolio however, Sullivan will always be remembered for his involvement in two of the Premier League’s most iconic goals.

Sullivan revealed to The Sun how he stumbled into being a driving instructor after previously devoting all of his life to football. 

 Neil Sullivan is an ex-goalkeeper who played for Wimbledon, Crystal Palace, Tottenham, Chelsea, Leeds and Doncaster Rovers

The ex-keeper revealed that ‘all I had ever known was football.

‘The only thing I had done successfully outside playing was teach my kids to drive, so it seemed the perfect thing to do.

‘I work for Learn Driving UK. I’ve been training for a year and I started properly last month.

‘It’s a world away from what I have done in the past but it’s incredibly satisfying helping people pass and getting them out on the road.’

Before Sullivan switched career fields earlier this year, the ex-Premier League star worked as part of the coaching staff in Leeds and then was in charge of Hull’s Under-18s up until 12 month’s ago. 

As Sullivan begins his new adventure he may get recognised by some Manchester United fans considering he was the keeper that David Beckham scored his hallway line screamer on at Selhurst Park in 1996. 

That isn’t the only memorable goal the 54-year-old was in-between the post for unfortunately as he was also unable to stop Paolo Di Canio’s sublime off-the-ground volley at West Ham in 2000.

Speaking about the two goals, he said ‘That’s the life of a keeper. For all the games, match-winning saves, clean sheets and penalty stops I made, the two matches that always come up are Becks and Di Canio’.

His time as a goalkeeper is remembered by being the man in-between the posts for David Beckham’s halfway screamer against Wimbledon

Sullivan was in goal for Di Canio’s sublime sublime off-the-ground volley at West Ham in 2000

The goals whizzing past Sullivan wasn’t all bad though as it was Beckham’s stunner which earned him an international call-up for Scotland.

Speaking about how Beckham’s goal benefited him, Sully said ‘I did an interview with FourFourTwo magazine a few months after that goal and talked about my grandfather being Scottish.

‘Then I got a call from Scotland manager Craig Brown, who either read it or someone showed him. 

‘I ended up playing 28 times for Scotland and went to the 1998 in France’ he added.

 Sullivan began his professional career as a 16-year-old after he was spotted playing for the Merton Borough team.

Speaking about his journey through the ranks he said ‘It was a pretty good side and a lot of our games were at Plough Lane, where I ended up playing for Wimbledon. 

‘We had a couple of players in that side that went on to enjoy careers in the game — Graham Stuart and Jason Cundy. 

From there Sully went on to make his debut for the Dons against Aston Villa in a 2-1 victory in April 1991. However he didn’t officially break into the starting line-up permanently until the 1994-95 season. 

The now 54-year-old started his player career with Wimbledon

He also played for Leeds United in the Championship

The Scot international then moved on to Tottenham. 

Speaking about his time at Spurs Sully said ‘when I turned up at White Hart Lane someone took my car and parked it. I genuinely thought it was being nicked. It was completely different to Wimbledon.’

After his departure from White Hart Lane, he linked up with another London team, this time Chelsea.

He spent one year with the West London side before joining Leeds. Sully finished his career with League One side Doncaster.