Goalkeeping Museum

Currently considered the best goalkeeper in the world by many, Gianluigi Buffon also sets standards when it comes to goalkeeping dress.

During the recent European Championship Qualifier against Scotland, played on a particularly cold and wet Glasgow evening, the Italian goalkeeper set a new trend by wearing a woolen hat, and a bench jacket underneath his goalkeeper shirt.

It is often said that “goalkeepers are different” and that one must posses a certain level of eccentricity to be prepared to spend so long trying to do the opposite of every other player on the pitch. Buffon, it seems, is no different!

Peter Schemichel, having enjoyed a long period with Man Utd, moved to their arch rivals, Manchester City to see out his career (having spent a year at Sporting Lisbon, and a brief spell at Aston Villa).

Despite his age, in this game against Liverpool, Schmeichel shows us the reflexes that made him one of the best keepers of the modern era.

As we were researching a profile of Peter Schmeichel (as we believe he is one of the greatest keepers of all time), we discovered this nice compilation of great saves made by the big Dane.

Schmeichel enjoyed tremendous success with Manchester United, and Man Utd enjoyed great success with Schmeichel - he was a linchpin in their 1990s dominance.

Enjoy this collection of some of his finer moments.

Watch the great Gianluigi Buffon’s incredible reflexes as he makes a near impossible save against Cagliari for his beloved Juventus.

This is one great save from a goalkeeping great who is still going strong. Expect more from “Gigi”.

Penalty shootouts provide goalkeepers with their opportunity to make a direct influence on a match - or tournament - it is the keepers moment to shine.

Oliver Kahn and Santiago Canizares shared the limelight in the world’s biggest stage in the 2001 Champions League Final, as the match between Kahn’s FC Bayern Munich and Canizares’ Valencia CF ended in deadlock after 120 minutes of normal play.

This penalty shootout ranks as one of the greatest ever in terms of drama and circumstance - a champions league final, which saw four penalties saved, and one missed.

Both keepers went into this match at the top of their game, and, for Kahn in particular, this match marked the height of his keeping powers.

Watch Oliver Kahn’s first penalty save low to his right, then marvel at the amazing reflexes he exhibits for the fourth pen: as he chooses to dive to his left and the taker aims directly at the middle of Kahn’s goal, with a hard, high shot. Miraculously, Kahn manages to get a solid hand on the ball, and tip it onto the crossbar.

Had that fourth shot gone in, it is very likely Valencia would have won the shootout, the match, and consequently the 2001 Champions League. In our opinion, that great penalty save therefore won Bayern Munchen the trophy.

Truly awesome.


The Spaniard, Santiago Canizares has enjoyed a long and successful goalkeeping career.

We discovered this amateur footage of a save from a Ronaldinho free-kick which he made at the age of 36.

This save demonstrates Canizares’ great agility, and he dives high to his left to turn away a free-kick from arguably the best outfield player of the past decade.

Canizares has made several show-stopping saves throughout his career, and this one is no different.

On the 19 May, 1973, the old enemies, England and Scotland met at Wembley in the (now no more) Home International Championship. The England goalkeeper, one Peter Leslie Shilton, made this phenomenal save, which will live on long in the memory of all England fans who were there at the time.

England won the game 1-0, which makes this special save all the more important: it was a match winner.

Peter Shilton would later become England’s first choice keeper for many years, finally finishing his international career well after his fortieth birthday.