Being a goalkeeper is a difficult job. You are the first person to blame if a goal goes in but if you manage to pull off an amazing save, your name will forever be written in footballing folklore. Here’s our list of ten of those goalkeepers whose efforts have earned them a spot on our list.
10. Jim Montgomery vs. Leeds United
The Sunderland goalkeeper produced this incredible double save to prevent Leeds United from equalising in the 1973 FA Cup final. Montgomery managed to beat away Trevor Cherry’s header and react instinctively to Peter Lorimer’s rebound onto the crossbar, all in a split second. He displayed incredibly quick reflexes and agility to keep out both of Leeds’ efforts and secure the victory for the Black Cats.
9. Łukasz Fabiański vs Wigan
Speaking of double saves, Arsenal’s Polish goalkeeper Arsenal’s Łukasz Fabiański does a good job impersonating Jim Montgomery with this double stop against Wigan.
The Pole has come in for some harsh criticism of late with some Arsenal fans deriding the error-prone goalie with the nickname ‘Łukasz Flappyhandski’. Those fans maybe would think twice after seeing Fabiański’s double save against Wigan.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JiC7LqcizW8
8. Artur Boruc vs Hibernian
Fabiański’s fellow countryman Artur Boruc continues Poland’s fine goalkeeping tradition with this outstanding stop against Hibernian. Hibs midfielder David Wotherspoon lets fly a ferocious half volley which is arrowing towards the top corner only for Celtic keeper Boruc to meet the ball at full stretch and divert it onto the post.
Continue to PAGE 2 for some more great saves…
7. Luis Suarez vs Ghana
While not a goalkeeper, Uruguay striker David Suarez displays remarkable reflexes to deny Ghana a certain winner deep into extra time at this summer’s World Cup quarter-final in South Africa. Suarez hailed his handball as “the best save of the tournament” and that the “Hand of God now belongs to me”. Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas walked away with the Golden Gloves for best goalkeeper in the tournament. On this evidence, Suarez can feel hard done by.
6. Jerzy Dudek vs AC Milan
There is definitely a theme emerging here with another Pole making the list. This time it’s the turn of Liverpool goalkeeper Jerzy Dudek who pulled off arguably the most memorable save in Champions League final history. Not only did Dudek save Andriy Shevchenko’s first header, he somehow managed to keep out the rebound through an instinctive flick of his left hand. Was it luck or was it skill? Whatever it was, Dudek’s heroics in extra time and in the penalty shoot out ensured that Liverpool won the Champions League on a thrilling night in Istanbul.
5. Claudio Bravo vs C.F. Universidad de Chile
Chilean goalkeeper Claudio Bravo produced this incredible penalty save in the league final against Colo Colo’s arch-rivals Univeridad de Chile. The player taking the penalty attempted a Paneka-esque chip. Bravo was initially fooled by this and dived to his right but as soon as he saw the ball in the air, he quickly adapted his body to reach up and swat the ball onto a post.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xMjBPwUzcvg
4. Gregory Coupet vs Barcelona
They say football players aren’t a clever bunch but Lyon goalkeeper Gregory Coupet used his head to great effect to keep out an errant backpass. His defender came under pressure from Barcelona attacker Rivaldo and forced a high backpass which threatened to loop over Coupet and into the Lyon goal. Coupet spotted the danger and backpedalled to reach the ball. Realising that the ball was out of reach, Coupet threw his head at the ball and produced a moment of magic as he headed the ball off the crossbar to prevent a goal. Not only that, he got up and saved the rebound from Rivaldo.
However, Coupet’s valiant efforts were to be in vain as Lyon lost 2-0.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iieYg7Sm8FM
Continue to PAGE 3 for the top three…
3. Rene Higuita vs England
Colombian goalkeeper Rene Higuita was an eccentric character. He was a dab hand at set-pieces and penalties, scoring 38 times for club and country. But undoubtedly his greatest achievement was the invention of the scorpion kick. Higuita pulled off his audacious save in a friendly against England where he leaped forward and cleared Jamie Redknapp’s goalbound effort with his heels.
2. David Seaman vs Sheffield United
David Seaman was approaching his 40th birthday when Arsenal took on Sheffield United in the 2003 FA Cup semi-final but he showed that age was no barrier to greatness as he made one of the best saves ever from a Paul Peschisolido header. Peschisolido headed the ball goalwards from only 6 yards out with Seaman heading in the opposite direction to the ball. He managed to shift his weight and change direction in a split-second and dive sideways towards the ball and claw it out from Arsenal’s goaline.
1. Gordon Banks vs Pele
At number one spot is Gordon Banks iconic save from Pele’s header in the 1970 Wold Cup in Mexico. Banks seemingly breaks the laws of physics as he dives backwards and across to divert Pele’s pinpoint downward header over the crossbar. After the match, Pele describes Banks’ save as the greatest he had ever seen. And who are we to argue with the greatest player of all time?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2gueytEK7E
Any other wonder saves that should have made the list?
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