Andrew Redmayne: from a barista course and the brink of retirement to World Cup qualification

The Socceroos goalkeeper’s penalty shootout save made headlines but his journey to Qatar has not been straightforward

Craig Goodwin and Andrew Redmayne of Australia celebrate their side's victory after a penalty shoot out following the 2022 FIFA World Cup Playoff match between Australia Socceroos and Peru at Ahmad Bin Ali Stadium in Doha, Qatar. 

Andrew Redmayne made me a coffee. I was at the training base of his club, Sydney FC, waiting to conduct some pre-season interviews when the goalkeeper caught me attempting to use the club’s machine and intervened. 

He had completed a barista course about three years prior, he said, because he’d been fed up with football and ready to retire at 27 to work at a friend’s cafe.