2022 was nothing short of incredible for Andrew Redmayne.
The Sydney FC shot-stopper became a national hero in June last year, when he came off the bench to make the decisive save in the Socceroos’ do-or-die penalty shootout against Peru – which booked Australia’s spot in a fifth straight World Cup.
READ MORE: WHY VUKOVIC FELT HE ‘DESERVED’ TO GO TO THE WORLD CUP
His shootout antics included a dance along the goal-line which successfully put off the Peru players as they took their penalties, with Redmayne soon after dubbed the ‘grey wiggle’ as a result.
In season 2022-23, you can listen to Robbie weekly on his new KEEPUP podcast – The Players Pod, with Robbie Cornthwaite. He chats to Danny Vukovic and Andrew Redmayne on the 13th episode. Listen below or on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
But for the 34-year-old, there’s more to life than just football, continuing his studies outside the game to become a primary school teacher.
The Sky Blues keeper revealed on the Players Pod with Robbie Cornthwaite that he in fact finished his studies in Qatar during the World Cup.
“I’m still continuing my primary school teaching studies, which I actually finished at the World Cup, which was quite amazing,” Redmayne told the Players Pod.
“It just added to the whole event. I’ll still continue down that path. Although it might have shifted where my life might take me, it hasn’t changed my core values.
“I ticked off my final assessment just before, then got my final results at the World Cup and got the graduation certificate at the World Cup! It was quite cool.”
Redmayne spoke about the incredible year that was, which also saw him go to his first-ever FIFA Men’s World Cup – off the back of his heroics in Qatar a few months earlier – where he stamped himself into Aussie sporting folklore.
“From an off-field point of view (the Peru heroics) has changed my life a bit,” Redmayne said.
“From an on-field point of view I don’t think too much has changed. I almost try to shy away from that kind of thing at times.
However, his journey to the Socceroos squad has been a long and winding one, having truly established himself later in his career under Arnold at Sydney FC – becoming the first choice in 2017 after Danny Vukovic departed the club.
His form in turn led to him being selected by Arnold for the national team in 2019 and from there – the rest is history.
“I’d be long retired if it wasn’t for Arnie… and John Crawley,” Redmayne said.
Where I am now is chalk and cheese to where I was when I first started working with Arnie at Sydney FC. I’m over the moon for Australian football that we have someone like him at the helm.
