David James bankrupt! Former England keeper skint despite earning £20m



James played for Watford, Liverpool, Manchester City , Aston Villa, West Ham and Portsmouth

Goalkeeper also won 53 caps for England

James built up debts after his divorce in 2005

The 43-year-old filed debtor's petition to Hertford County Court

James now works as a pundit for BT Sport



David James has been declared bankrupt after blowing his £20million fortune from the game.

The former England keeper filed a debtor’s petition at Hertford County Court last Friday after building up massive losses.



James, 43, spent most of his career at the highest level of the game with Liverpool, Manchester City and England.



Incredibly his costly divorce from wife Tanya in 2005 is being cited as one of the reasons behind his decision to file for bankruptcy.



National service: David James made 53 appearances for England between 1997 and 2010

Highlight: James was part of the Portsmouth side that won the FA Cup in 2008 Wise words: James (right) now works as a football pundit for BT Sport

JAMES' TRANSFERS

1992 Liverpool £1.25m 1999 Aston Villa £1.8m 2001 West Ham £3.5m 2004 Manchester City £2m 2006 Portsmouth £1m

After finishing his career James moved into television and has been working for BT Sport this season as one of the studio analysts at Barclays Premier League matches.



Despite his contract with BT, James has been unable to prevent the banks forcing him to accept that his finances are in a desperate position.



He is currently taking his coaching badges and hopes to gain his UEFA ProLicence as part of his plans to go into management.



But the sport will be shocked by his precarious finances because he was always presented as the thinking man’s footballer during his playing career.



James, who began his career with Watford in the Eighties, always came across as a studious and controlled character during his hugely successful spells with a number of clubs.

Unhappy memories: James played in goal for England as they lost 4-1 to Germany as the 2010 World Cup Glory days: James spent four seasons with Portsmouth during his impressive 25-year career Agile: James gets down low to save a Dion Dublin penalty for Liverpool in November 1998

The former England keeper has written a regular column for The Observer over the years and has always donated his fee to charity.



Given his dire financial situation he may be forced to revise that altruistic decision as he looks to the future.



He went on to play for England and kept goal against Germany in the second round defeat at the 2010 World Cup in Blomfoentein.



Until the revelations, no-one inside the James circle was aware of the desperate financial situation that forced him to Hertford County Court.



Although James will be discharged from bankruptcy in a year, he has blown a fortune from his career with some of the top clubs in English football.



Despite a shaky start when he moved to Liverpool, he restored his reputation and went on to play for Aston Villa, West Ham and Portsmouth.



DAVID JAMES FACTFILE

Born: August 1, 1970 (age 43)

Height: 6 ft 4 in

Position: Goalkeeper

Clubs played for: Watford, Liverpool, Aston Villa, West Ham, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Bristol City, Bournemouth Club appearances: 805

International career: 53 caps for England Honours: League Cup (1994-95),

FA Cup (2007-08) Now: Pundit for BT Sport



When he played for Pompey, he was rumoured to be driving to training in an eco-friendly car that ran on linseed oil.



But His personal life went into meltdown when he left his wife Tanya in 2005 and was forced to pay her £3m as part of their divorce settlement.



He left her to rekindle a relationship with his childhood sweetheart Amanda Salmon and they have been together ever since.



They have been together for a decade and James intends to pursue his new career in television and coaching as part of his recovery.

