Life After Everton: Episode 3. Jack Rodwell
In a new mini-series for the Official Everton Podcast, we're speaking to former Blues about their careers and life journeys after leaving Goodison Park. Our latest guest, Jack Rodwell, joined Everton aged seven and rose through the ranks to make his First-Team debut in 2007 aged just 16. He went on to play for England's senior team four years later and would collect a Premier League title winner's medal at Manchester City before falling to League One – and falling out of favour – at Sunderland. In another fascinating edition of the Official Everton Podcast, Rodwell explains what he would now say to a 16-year-old version of himself, why he refuses to have regrets about his rollercoaster football journey, and discusses what drove his successful climb back to the Premier League with Sheffield United last season. Rodwell also talks about Wayne Rooney's role in his ascension through Everton's Academy sides, missing the 2009 FA Cup final, how "ultimate professional" Phil Neville was really "one of the lads", and living under the scrutiny of the Sunderland 'Til I Die cameras. The Southport-born midfielder goes on to pay tribute to his ex-City colleague Gareth Barry and express his hopes Sunderland and another of his former teams, Blackburn Rovers, one day reestablish themselves as pedigree top-flight clubs.