Goalkeeping Museum

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.

From the outset of the following season, Dasaev was promoted to first choice goalkeeper for both Spartak, and the Soviet national side. The Russian muslim always carried a copy of the koran on to the pitch with him and placed it in his goal.

By 1982, Dasaev was earning plaudits world wide for his performances during the World Cup in Spain, the highlight of which was probably a save from Scotland’s Joe Jordan which was simply magnificent; shifting his body weight quickly to turn the point-blank header to safety.

Very slim for a goalkeeper, Dasaev relied heavily on his superb reflexes, rather than trying to claim crosses against heavier and more powerful opponents.

In 1986, Dasaev participated in the World Cup in Mexico, the Soviet Union losing out to Belgium 4-3 in the second round, which was widely regarded as one of the greatest world cup matches ever played.

World’s Best

In the years, 1982, 1983, 1985 and 1988 Renat Dasaev was voted the world’s best goalkeeper, which is a special achievement, only the great Lev Yashin, another Russian, surpassed this feat, voted the best on six occasions.

The form of Renat Dasaev continued in an upward arc until 1988, when again in the European championships his performances peaked, helping the Soviet Union to the final where they met the Dutch, and in particular the unsurpassable Marco Van Basten. The Soivet Union held out for a long time, and even missed a penalty, but eventually succumbed to first Ruud Gullit, and then to a memorable Van Basten volley from an acute angle.

During the season following the Chamionship, Dasaev transferred to Sevilla in Spain, and found his new surroundings difficult to adjust to, missing his homeland, his form deteriorated until 1990 when he was axed from the Soviet team and replaced by Alexandr Uvarov.

Despite a relatively sad ending to his career, Dasaev will be remembered for an outwardly frail appearance but an astonishing ability to produce saves that would seem impossible.

Dasaev was the second most capped Soviet player of all time with 91 Caps spanning eleven years from 1979 through to the 1990 World Cup.

Watch Dasaev’s Great Save:

The great save versus Scotland is number 5 in this compilation of “Great Reflex Saves”