Goalkeeping Museum

Name: Bodo Illgner

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. (more…)

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.” (more…)

Name: Jens Martin Knudsen

National Appearances: 65 (Faroe Islands)

Height: 5ft 9.5in (1.81m)

Date of Birth: 11 June 1967, Saltangara, Faroe Islands

Biography

Jens Martin Knudsen is best known for his woolly white bobble hat. Long before Gianluigi Buffon began donning woolens and other interesting attire, Mr Knudsen was wearing his woolly white hat at the Euro ‘92 tournament (and before then). (more…)

Name: Peter Boleslaw Schmeichel MBE

Club Appearances: 645 (Gladsaxe, Hvidovre IF, Brondby, Manchester United, Sporting CP, Aston Villa, Manchester City)

National Appearances: 129 (Denmark)

Height: 6ft 4in (1.93m)

Date of Birth: November 18 1963, Gladsaxe, Denmark

Biography

To be completed. In the meantime, enjoy the following saves by Peter Schmeichel:

• Peter Schmeichel Great Saves Video;
• Peter Schmeichel - Liverpool v Man City; and
• Peter Schmeichel - More Great Saves.

Check back here soon for the full Schmeichel profile.

Full Name: Lev Ivanovich Yashin

Club Appearances: 326 (Dynamo Moscow) - 1949-1971

National Appearances: 78 (USSR)

Height: 6ft 2.5in

Date of Birth: 22/10/1929, Moscow, USSR

Biography

Having been born and raised in Moscow, Lev Yashin spent his entire goalkeeping career at Dynamo Moscow, and enjoyed a tremendous period as national keeper of the USSR team.

Ice cold

Despite going on to be voted the World’s Best Goalkeeper a record six times (a record which still stands to this day) Yashin failed to be selected for the Dynamo Moscow football team on (more…)

Name: David Andrew Seaman MBE

Club Appearances: 954 (563 for Arsenal)

National Appearances: 75 (England)

Height: 6ft 4in

Date of Birth: 19/09/1963, Rotheram, England

Biography

David Seaman finished his career as the second most capped English goalkeeper (behind Peter Shilton); as one of the most decorated as a club player with Arsenal; and, notably, with an MBE from the Queen, for his services to English sport.

‘Safe Hands’

Seaman grew to become an extremely strong and capable goalkeeper, who was feared and respected by many in the tough climate of the English top division of the late 1980s and throughout the 1990s. His natural ball handling skill and assured nature earned him the nickname ’safe hands’ from his Arsenal and England teammates.

This would also later become the title of Seaman’s autobiography. (more…)

Peter Leslie Shilton(England) D.OB - 18/09/1949

International Appearances - 125

Clubs - Leicester, Stoke, Nottingham Forest, Southampton, Derby County, Plymouth Argyle, Leyton Orient, Coventry City.

Years Acitve - 1965-1996

Born and brought up in post-war Leicester, Peter Shilton’s sole ambition was always to be the best goalkeeper in the world, and he achieved this, perhaps for many consecutive years. From his early years with his native Leicester City, to the twilight of his career in the 1990 World Cup, Shilton was perceived as a driven and serious soul. It was this drive, dedication and ambition, coupled with a fair amount of natural talent that saw Peter Shilton surpass all appearance records, both national and international. (more…)

Renat Dasaev(Soviet Union)

Full Name: Rinat Fayzrakhmanovich Dasayev

D.O.B - 13/6/1957. Astrakhan

Clubs - Spartak Moscow, Sevilla(1979-1991)

Height - 1.87(6′2″)

Renat Dasaev, described by many as the finest goalkeeper of the 1980’s, was born in Astrakhan, on the Caspian Sea and played for his home town club until the age of 21, until the day Spartak Moscow arrived to play a friendly. Renat Dasaev’s performance that day was good enough to persuade Spartak Moscow to sign him immiediately; had it not been for that chance friendly, Dasaev’s talents may have run their course in that desolate outpost. (more…)

Harald ‘Toni’ Schumacher(West Germany)

D.O.B - 06/03/1954. Clubs - 1.FC Koln, Schalke, Fenerbahce, Bayern Munchen, Borussia Dortmund(1973-1996)

A goalkeeper who will ultimately bremembered for one moment of madness instead of many moments of greatness. Born in Duren, not far from Cologne, Schumacher joined his boyhood idols 1.FC after serving his apprenticeship as a boiler maker. Cologne used him infrequently during his first two years at the club due to the dominance of Gerd Welz. When the latter was injured in 1976, Schumacher was forced into the breach; initially, his performances were at times inspired, but predominantly inconsistent, earning him the inglorious nickname of ‘the fidget’. (more…)

Name: Luis Miguel Arconada Etxarri

Club Appearences: 551 - Real Sociedad - 1973-1989

National Appearences: 68 - Spain

Biography:

Luis Arconada was a fine exponent of goalkeeping, who chalked up many club and international appearances in his 16 year keeping career.

He played in the 78 and 82 World Cups for Spain, as well as the now infamous Euro 84 Final, which Spain lost 2-0 to France following Arconada’s error (see story and video below)

Aside from this error, Arconada was one of the greatest ever goalkeepers, and he was a key figure in Real Sociedad reaching the European Cup Semi Final in 1983. Arconada was also captain of Spain on a number of occasions. (more…)