Club Appearances: 417 (326 for 1.FC Koln; 91 for Real Madrid)
National Appearances: 54 (Germany)
Height: 6ft 1in - 187cm
Date of Birth: 07/04/1967, Koblenz, West Germany
Biography
Bodo Illgner was the vociferous shot-stopping goalkeeper who achieved great things for club and country, winning the FIFA World Cup (1990, Germany), the European Champions League twice (1998, 2000, Real Madrid), World Club Cup (1998, Real Madrid), as well as numerous Budesliga and German Cup Runners-Up medals.
Illgner’s finest moments were in the FIFA World Cup of 1990 when he helped his native Germany to collect their third World Cup, on the way breaking English hearts with a penalty save in the semi-final. In the final, Illgner would claim an unsurpassable record: by becoming the first man ever to keep a clean sheet in a World Cup final.
While Illgner was undoubtedly ably assisted by one of the most consistently excellent backlines in international football, he is widely regarded as one of the finest shot-stoppers of all time. For his efforts he was awarded Germany’s Goalkeeper of the Year a remarkable four times in a row (1989, 1990, 1991, 1992) and European Goalkeeper of the Year (1991).
There are few figures from the history of goalkeeping who generate such resounding applause and respect from those who witnessed him play as John Thomson, of Glasgow Celtic, who lost his life on the pitch, making a one-on-one save against arch rivals Glasgow Rangers.
On September 5, 1931, John Thomson played his last ever game of football in an Ibrox derby. Such was his talent and commitment to the goalkeeping cause, one commentator, Hugh Taylor, in his book The Masters of Scottish Football (1967), christened Thomson “The Prince of Goalkeepers”. That label seems remarkably apt, given the high description Hugh Taylor provides of the young Celtic stopper:
And yet… and yet… the goalkeeper I nominate as prince of his trade was only twenty-two when he died, hardly in the flush of manhood. But even at that tender age, as far as footballers go, he had become a legend. For he was John Thomson, Scotland’s most loved player.” Read the rest of this entry →
As a defender, scoring an own goal is a real frustration, not to mention that its embarrassing. In this Champion’s League match between Manchester United and Celtic, Boruc of Celtic makes a great save from his own defender, and saves some blushes.
Having produced a fine penalty save against United in the home fixture, Boruc appears to enjoy playing United.
In the context of a match, a penalty awarded with the scores at 1-1 in the 70th minute is going to be a pivotal moment. In the context of football in London, when this happens in an Arsenal v Spurs match at these scores, it doesn’t get any bigger than this.
This was the situation that Almunia, of Arsenal found himself faced with when Kolo Toure brought down Berbatov of Tottenham Hotspur in this match:
The goalkeeper got down smartly to his right to keep out what was, in truth, a below par penalty kick from Robbie Keane of Tottenham. This ball was not in the corner, and not struck hard enough to beat a keeper going the right way.
All manner of things have conspired against us and meant we have a load of great posts written, but no-one to put them onto the internet - don’t panic, there’s a load more coming this weekend, and next week. You literally won’t be able to move for goalkeeping stories, videos and info!
In the mean time, if you’re bored and lacking something to do, I can personally recommend Bob Wilsons book “You Have to be crazy” as a light read. It really shows how you can get on in football despite the lack of an early start (i.e. getting a university education as well!). Also demonstrates that good goalkeeping is a many varied thing - there’s more than one way to skin a cat, and stop a ball… as long as the goal is not breached, you are effective. And that’s the bottom line.
In 1999, Carlisle began the final game of the season bottom of the Football Lague, with Scarborough 1 point ahead of them.
During their matches, Carlisle were going down, as they were drawing 1-1 in their match with Plymouth and Scarborough had just drawn themselves.
In the 95th minute, caution was thrown to the wind, and Jimmy Glass, the on-loan Carlisle goalkeeper, headed to join this last minute corner: Read the rest of this entry →
Peter Schmeichel always managed to make an impact on the football pitch. Usually for making show-stopping saves. However, every now and again, the great Dane would jog to the other end of the pitch to show his fellow teammates what they should have been doing for the previous 90 or so minutes Read the rest of this entry →
Iker Casillas is an extremely agile and athletic goalkeeper. Watch this great low diving reaction save - there are few who would have saved this well struck close-range shot: Read the rest of this entry →
Name: Bodo Illgner
The Museum of Goalkeeping - created by keepers & goalkeeping enthusiasts to celebrate the Art of Goalkeeping throughout the history of football!