Former Aston Villa striker John Carew has revealed that Prince William played a key role in persuading him to join the Birmingham club in 2007.
The Norwegian forward explained how his connection with the Birmingham-based football club began.
Carew said: “We met in Norway, during a dinner with the Royal Family. I remember we only talked about football, and shortly afterward, he invited me to England to watch an Aston Villa match, his team.
“He convinced me to move there in 2007.”
Former Aston Villa striker John Carew has revealed that Prince William played a key role in persuading him to join the Birmingham club in 2007.
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The striker had been enjoying an impressive spell at Lyon, delivering notable performances in the Champions League before making the switch to the Premier League.
Carew’s decision to move to Villa Park proved to be an excellent one, as he went on to establish himself as a cult hero among supporters.
During his time in the Midlands, the forward found the net 48 times across 131 appearances, whilst also contributing 12 assists in all competitions.
“For three consecutive seasons, I scored double figures in the Premier League,” Carew noted when reflecting on his spell with the club.
The Norwegian forward explained how his connection with the Birmingham-based football club began.
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His consistent goalscoring record cemented his status as one of Villa’s most reliable strikers during that era, with the Norwegian becoming a firm favourite at the club.
The bond between Carew and Prince William has endured well beyond his playing days at Villa Park.
Carew revealed: “In 2019, we watched the play-off final against Derby County together at Wembley, which secured our return to the Premier League.”
The bond between Carew and Prince William has endured well beyond his playing days at Villa Park.
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It was also during his time in Birmingham that Carew discovered a new passion that would shape his post-football career.
“In 2009, I was playing for Aston Villa. I was 30. Some of my friends in London worked in the film industry, and one day they said to me, ‘John, you look interesting to be an actor.’ I didn’t believe it at first,” he told Gazzetta dello Sport.
The Norwegian eventually embraced the idea and began taking acting courses, describing how the craft provided him with an outlet for emotional expression.