Greatest goalkeepers in the world ?
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 ;)
