Greatest goalkeepers in the world ?

**Gerrit** · 22/04/2005, 5:45 PM

Inspired by the Fabien Barthez topic... Who do you find the best goalies in the world ?

Currently there's a few of them that are really outstanding.

In France I have always admired Gregory Coupet (Lyon) and Mickael Landreau (Nantes). Both are top class keepers since years, and it's incredible how experienced Landreau is despite being only 25 (he first made the Nantes premier squad at the age of 16).

Gianluigi Buffon may be a bit clownesk sometimes and got in bad papers a few times after being assaulted of Nazi sympathies (which was completely not the case though) but he is undoubtly a superb goalkeeper. Has a rather spectacular style as well, and is a great leader for a defense. And a specialist in stopping penalties.

Shay Given : sober, reliable, has the experience he needs, world class !

Oliver Kahn : his best years may be over, but even at the age of 35 he is still a great goalkeeper on which you can rely (few exceptions last year but he had private problems back then). A great leader for a defense, experienced goalkeeper, great reflexes but also great authority in the penalty zone.

But my absolute number one is definitely Iker Casillas. Made the premier squad of Real Madrid at 17 and never lost his place, meanwhile he is also undoubtful number 1 choice for the Spanish national side. A sober goalkeeper, but man what a fantastic reflexes ! Also has much experience despite his young age.

In the rather recent past:

Peter Schmeichel was my prefered choice in his generation. A goalkeeper with great reflexes, authority in the penalty zone, a very good footballer as well that could serve as a sort of second sweeper, knows how to lead a defense, reliable, strong. And he made a few goals even !

Jose Luis Chilavert used to be a great goalie with fantastic keeping capacities in his best days, but also a free kick specialist who scored several goals for both Velez Sarsfield and Paraguay. Also a very charismatic person who was loved by all the fans of all clubs he played for.

I don't know for sure where he is now, but Recber Rustu is a great goalkeeper with fantastic reflexes. Probably the first world class goalkeeper Turkey ever had, and he was a key player in Turkey's bronze medal winning squad at the latest World Cup. He failed in Barcelona, but many Turkish players fail abroad due to home sickness, once back in Turkey they almost always retrieve their old form and prove they're still tip top.

Kasey Keller was a favourite of mine when he played for Leicester. I watched Premier League football every weekend on the Belgian TV and was wild about his rather spectacular yet very efficient goalkeeping style. Had the bad luck never to be a certainty in the USA squad because with Brad Friedel they had a second keeper of great class. I'd prefer Keller anytime though.

Nigmatullin from Spartak and later Lokomotiv Moscow and the Russian national squad, was one of those goalkeepers that in my opinion could have reached much higher. Great goalkeeper, sober and not too often in the spotlights off the field, but a great goalie.

And there comes the one with whom many of you most likely will have a mock... But one of the reasons why I became an Aston Villa supporter, was Mark Bosnich, who I still think could have stayed a top goalkeeper for many more years if he didn't go off the right track. With Villa though, he was by far my favourite player and he did great things for AVFC.

There's my list. Now sound off... And I wonder if any Man U fan here will name Roy Carroll

**Soper** · 22/04/2005, 6:07 PM

Nicky Broujous

Nah, in all seriousness, I have a few that I like.Leo Franco from Mallorca is one to watch I think.Also, Sebastien Frey, another in the long tradition of good French keepers

Casillas of course is a great keeper, as is Given.I always like Sasa Ilic after watching him for Charlton versus Shams in Tolka, not world class or anything though.Cech is good too, as is Robinson from spurs.

Honourable mentions for the past go to Schmeichel, Tim Flowers, Zubizerreta, Packie Bonner, and Andreas Kopke.

**Gerrit** · 22/04/2005, 6:12 PM

Cech indeed top class as well, I forgot him...
Zubizarretta ?

**Soper** · 22/04/2005, 6:19 PM

haah, zubizarretta was a legend!

**tonycuna** · 22/04/2005, 7:43 PM

At the moment, I think Given is living a wonderful season, and this is good for us.

Then one between Buffon or Dida, maybe is the best today.
I agree with the good class of Coupet from O. Lyon, and Cech, but I think that the Chelsea Gk take good advantage from a wonderful organization at the back, from Mourinho's way. I still can't see Cech with a poor defence, show the same class..

I like very much Pato Abbondanzieri from River Plate. I like his leadership, and he's very good to block penalties

From the recent past I always loved David Seaman, cause I started to support Arsenal when Graham's reign was near to the end. That was my first years as a Gooner, and what a wonderful defence! Seaman, Dixon, Bould, Adams, Winterburn

I liked Zubizarreta too, along with Campos from Mexico and Taffarel from Brazil

**De Town** · 22/04/2005, 8:00 PM

Digger O'Brien by far

**Closed Account 2** · 22/04/2005, 10:19 PM

Akinfeev of CSKA Moscow, having a great season in the CL and now UEFA Cup, only 18.

**Gerrit** · 23/04/2005, 2:05 AM

The lad's only 18 ?? Bright future ahead then...

Taffarel was class indeed, very underestimated but very reliable... Jorge Campos was very spectacular but don't know if it's really the most reliable lad to put between the posts...

**Colie** · 23/04/2005, 2:11 AM

Buffon, best in the world; no doubt.

**gustavo** · 23/04/2005, 12:14 PM

the guy kameni is gonna be a prospect thats for sure ... best at the mo probably between casillas buffon and cech also watch out for lastuvka another czech who plays for shatkar donetsk

**brine3** · 23/04/2005, 12:43 PM

Francesco Toldo is my favourite goalkeeper. I'll never forget his performances at Euro 2000, especially against Holland in the semi-final in Amsterdam. Pity that shot from Wiltord in the 93rd minute of the final crept under his hand.

**stojkovic** · 23/04/2005, 1:30 PM

Currently ;
Czech
Given
Dida
Buffon
Cassillas

Recent Past ;
Kahn
Barthez
Fillol
Chilavert
Zubizaretta
Schmichel

Ever ;
Yashin
Banks
Schumacher
Maier
Zoff

**ciaran76** · 24/04/2005, 9:01 AM

Neville Southall was a top keeper in the 80's too.
Very underestimated i think. He won player of the year award in 1987 or around that time.

**tonycuna** · 24/04/2005, 10:04 AM

Yep, good gk Southall..
Also Walter Zenga was wonderful in late80s and early 90s, they called him "uomo ragno"-"spiderman"

I liked very much him!

**Green Tribe** · 24/04/2005, 10:19 AM

Originally Posted by tonycuna

Yep, good gk Southall..
Also Walter Zenga was wonderful in late80s and early 90s, they called him "uomo ragno"-"spiderman"

I liked very much him!

hey tony!

= I liked him very much

prego, prego!

**tonycuna** · 24/04/2005, 10:43 AM

Originally Posted by kerr's tribe

hey tony!

= I liked him very much

prego, prego!

UUUUUUHHHH you're right!!!!

What a gaffe!, sorry, it's not an usual thing,

I woke up ten mins ago...

Thanks

**Gerrit** · 24/04/2005, 5:08 PM

Very spectacular keeper was also Rene Higuita, his so called "scorpion save" has been on TV worldwide...

Jacques Songo'o without any doubt the greatest African goalkeeper, has had magnificent years with Deportivo La Coruna.

**Plastic Paddy** · 24/04/2005, 5:21 PM

David Marshall. A legend aged only 20.

Five points clear and romping...

PP

**Éanna** · 24/04/2005, 5:45 PM

IMO Casillas, Cech, Given and Buffon are the best around at the moment. Not much between them at all

**Thomo** · 24/04/2005, 7:08 PM

Current:
hlidebrande
cech
given
frey
pelizollli
toldo

past:
kahn
scmeicheil ( bad drunken spelling)
flowers

and of course teh best of course for teh future past and present : manuel almunia